| Barcelona has a lot to be proud of. A city literally | | | | architecture and history. Some of the seven and a |
| stuffed with spectacular architecture, historical and | | | | half thousand animals on display include pelicans, |
| cultural places of interest, fantastic food and a | | | | American buffalos and red kangaroo, as well as a |
| vibrant nightlife, it is no wonder tourists flock to the | | | | specialist primate collection which the zoo is famous |
| area. There is more to Catalunya than Barcelona | | | | for. |
| sightseeing however, including a glorious coastline, | | | | There is an aquatic park within the zoo that provides |
| beautiful mountains and a fierce independent spirit | | | | a home to bottlenose dolphins among others. Dolphin |
| that will be felt by even the least informed visitor. | | | | shows can be seen throughout the warm summer |
| Make sure you have a map detailing the places of | | | | months, and this can make a refreshing escape from |
| interest when you arrive in Barcelona; it is surprisingly | | | | the heat of the city. An acclaimed research program |
| easy to get lost in Barcelona's bustling streets. A | | | | at Barcelona zoo is well known for sympathetic |
| good place to start your tour is Gaudi's Park Guell, an | | | | breeding of animals in captivity and protection of |
| open space filled with pieces of Gaudi's work including | | | | endangered species, which would otherwise become |
| benches, archways, walls and balconies. It is a place | | | | extinct. |
| where Gaudi's imagination really ad free reign, and | | | | The main avenue in Barcelona, La Rambla is a riot of |
| you feel almost that the works of art are more | | | | color and bustle with flower stalls and street |
| natural than the plants and trees. | | | | performers at regular intervals along the promenade. |
| From here you can move easily on to Gaudi's iconic | | | | The main hotels and restaurants center around La |
| work, the Sagrada Familia. This church was started in | | | | Rambla, but you may get a better deal and more |
| 1882 but was not finished when Gaudi died in 1926. | | | | authentic dishes if you explore a little further out. |
| Various attempts have been made to complete the | | | | One place not be missed is the Boqueria, a fantastic |
| work to Gaudi's designs but the church is still not | | | | food market to one side of La Rambla, with exotic |
| entirely finished and probably never will be. If you | | | | delicacies you have never even imagined. |
| don't think you can capture the spirit of the church in | | | | The port area received a face lift with the Olympics |
| your own photographs, you might want to check out | | | | in Barcelona in 1992. The Olympic village was situated |
| the stunning images available in postcard stands that | | | | right on the coast and the area is marked by the |
| surround the building. | | | | dual towers of the Arts Hotel, Mapfre Towers and |
| The Barcelona zoo was founded in 1892 and is | | | | Nova Icaria Square. The main Olympic sites can be |
| located in the Ciutadella Park, next to the old town or | | | | found on top of Montjuic, a hill overlooking the city, |
| Ciutat Vella. This is a great place to visit especially of | | | | and can be reached by cable car. |
| you have children that are likely to lose interest in | | | | |