Tour of Barcelona, one of the most important cities in Europe, a mere 35 minutes from Can Bonastre Wine Resort. Getting around the city is easy, but it is important to keep a few key points of reference in mind. The quintessential center of Barcelona is the square Plaça de Catalunya, below which are located the historic quarter and most of the museums and other places of historic interest in the city.
The famous Rambla runs from Plaça de Catalunya to the statue of Columbus, next to the port. To the east of La Rambla is the beautiful and romantic Barri Gòtic, or Gothic Quarter, while the Raval neighborhood lies to the west. From the statue of Columbus, to the east, the avenue Passeig Marítim crosses Moll de la Fusta wharf and Port Vell (Old Harbor). The picturesque Barceloneta area leads to the Port Olímpic (Olympic Harbor). To the west, Paral·lel Avenue takes us to Plaça de Espanya square where Montjuïc, one of the mountains of Barcelona, rises above the city.
The other mountain, Tibidabo, marks Barcelona’s northern limit. The popular Diagonal Avenue, which crosses the city diagonally, is another significant point of reference.
Between Plaça Catalunya and Diagonal Avenue lies practically the entire L’Eixample section of Barcelona, product of the famous “Pla Cerda”, or Cerda Plan, which sought to unite the city center with nearby communities that today form part of Barcelona proper. Over the years, these former villages (Gràcia, Les Corts, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, etc.) have retained their historical and cultural identities. The main artery of the L’Eixample, a square grid of city blocks, is the avenue Passeig de Gracia, where Gaudi’s famous La Pedrera building is located.
Other important points of interest are La Sagrada Família, Ciutadella Park, the Barri de la Ribera neighborhood and L’Illa Diagonal shopping center.