If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Barcelona, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, is the country’s second largest city and the capital of the Catalonia province. The seaside city combines the modern with the historic and has been a favorite of artists for centuries. Pablo Picasso frequented the coffeehouses here, long before he was the darling of the French Riviera. So did Joan Miro and Salvador Dali.

Works of Gaudi

Perhaps the best known Barcelona artist, however is the architect, Antoni Gaudi. His early 20th century Art Nouveau works can be seen throughout the city, in parks, churches, and apartment buildings. One of the most spectacular is the Sagrada Familia Church (pictured above) in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter.

Art in Barcelona

Barcelona is filled with art museums. There’s the Picasso Museum, the Fundacio Joan Miro, and the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, just to name a few.

Other Barcelona Sights

When you get your fill of art, head out to one of the city’s long stretches of white sand beach. Wherever you are in Barcelona, you’re never far from the sea. Or, relax and observe the passing crowd, just as those earlier artists did, almost a century ago.

Getting to Barcelona

Barcelona is easy to get to from the United States and Canada. You can fly non-stop from New York, Chicago, or Miami. Barcelona is also a major cruise port and from May through October, many ships depart for Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona.

(photo credit: istockphoto)