Self-Guided Walking Tours to Explore Barcelona

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[{"address":"Columbus Monument","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":41.37581826398846,"longitude":2.1777757999999947},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Columbus Monument"},{"metadata":{"width":1000,"height":1541},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FY2yOQlx4hXb2sAE6IkF2%2F9aaa816bbbc817ad20ea4ded832f70ec.jpg?alt=media&token=024193f9-8226-4e41-953a-b02a0d66851b"},{"type":"text","content":"The Columbus Monument is a 60m monument to Christopher Columbus found at the lower end of Rambla street in Barcelona. It commemorates Columbus's reporting to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella upon his return to Spain from the first American expedition.\n\nThe monument was built in 1888 for the International World's Fair held in Barcelona that year. The bronze statue of Columbus, crowning the monument, was sculpted by Rafael Atche. Originally, the statue was intended to point westward in the direction of the New World, but instead, it points east, reportedly, towards Columbus's home town of Genoa in Italy. Underneath the statue, there is an inscription reading: \"Tierra\" (land). Down below are the series of sculpted images of the people related to Columbus, important scenes from his voyage to the Americas, the places he visited, as well as the scene of him meeting King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in Spain.\n\nTip:\nTake the time to go around the monument which has four groups of sculptures at the base, as well as a wine bar and a store selling some great souvenirs/gifts that aren't as mass-produced as what you'll find at the street vendors.\nYou can then take an elevator to the viewing platform from which you can enjoy a sweeping view of the area. For that, you must pay an admission fee.\n\nViewing Gallery:\nDaily: 8:30am-8:30pm"}]},{"address":"La Rambla","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":41.385608713993264,"longitude":2.1698166000000008},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# La Rambla"},{"metadata":{"width":940,"height":600},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FY2yOQlx4hXb2sAE6IkF2%2Fbarcelona-ramblas-01.jpg?alt=media&token=57df4dd3-7b1f-4a12-814d-ad55bf7f2bd8"},{"type":"text","content":"La Rambla is Barcelona's main thoroughfare packed with colorful shops, cafes, restaurants and just as colorful leisurely crowd. It is by far more than just a street but a live manifestation of Barcelona's adventurous and independent spirit. The street runs for 1.2 kilometers from the Christopher Columbus Monument at Port Vell to Plaça de Catalunya in the center of the city, and is particularly dense at the height of a tourist season. The pavement cafes and souvenir kiosks, lining the street, attract numerous city guests much as the local pickpockets, beware, so it's always good to keep one's eyes open, just to be on the safe side.\n\nThe prices here are a bit steeper than elsewhere in the city, but then again, excitement does come at a price, you know, and La Rambla sure gives tonnes of it. One of Spain's greatest poets, Federico García Lorca, once said of La Rambla that it's \"the only street in the world which I wish would never end.\" Ahh...\n\nTip:\nYou have to walk on Las Rambla to get to the famous La Boqueria market, which has tons of places to eat and many great options. However, if you want excellent food at half the price and to be able to actually sit and enjoy your meal, go to Mercado de Santa Caterina, which is a 10min walk from La Boqueria."}]},{"address":"Güell Palace","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":41.378915013989996,"longitude":2.174185400000006},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Güell Palace"},{"metadata":{"width":1000,"height":1500},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FY2yOQlx4hXb2sAE6IkF2%2FPalau_G%C3%BCell%2C_Antoni_Gaudi%2C_Barcelona_2.jpg?alt=media&token=eee7488e-5b8f-4ea6-a6ce-8064e0359798"},{"type":"text","content":"Palau Guell (or Guell Palace) is a town mansion in the Raval district, created by Catalonia's #1 architect Antoni Gaudí for the industrial tycoon Eusebi Guell. Gaudí was commissioned to the project in 1885 and the palace was opened in time for the World Exhibition of 1888.\n\nA magnificent Modernist building, this is one of Gaudí's early works in Barcelona and is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as \"Works of Antoni Gaudí\". Designed as a multipurpose building, with flats, event and exhibition spaces, there were just 18x22 meters of floor space available to build it.\n\nSome of the facade elements make it look like a Venetian palace. The interior is centered around the main guest room fitted with tiny observation holes, hidden in the ornate walls and ceiling, through which the owner could sneak peek at the guests, from the upper floor, prior to greeting them in person. The two large oval gates at the front, featuring iron-work in the form of seaweed, resembling a horsewhip, made it possible for the high-society guests to arrive in their carriages straight into the horse stables at the basement. From there, they could then climb upstairs.\n\nWhy You Should Visit:\nLocation just off the famous Las Ramblas and being less well-known means fewer tourists and a great way of saving time yet managing to see some nice Gaudí work right in the old quarter of the city.\n\nTip:\nThe roof terrace is the pièce de résistance, with colorful chimneys, decorated with broken tiles and mosaics, no two of which are alike! Altogether there are 20 chimneys, which also serve as ventilation shafts.\nOn a rainy day, the roof is closed, mind you, so you better check the weather forecast upfront so as not to visit here when it's wet outside.\n\nOpening Hours:\nTue-Sun: 10am-8pm"}]},{"address":"Mercado de La Boqueria","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":41.38191946399145,"longitude":2.1719848999999902},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Mercado de La Boqueria"},{"metadata":{"width":1000,"height":562},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FY2yOQlx4hXb2sAE6IkF2%2Fbarcelona-mercado-boqueria-12.jpg?alt=media&token=f4526c03-8207-42a5-8a02-c9dafadb40fb"},{"type":"text","content":"Located to the north of Las Ramblas and a couple of blocks south of Catalunya Square, the Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, commonly known as simply La Boqueria, is extremely busy no matter what time you go, but the vendors are so quick and used to it and the market is so large that the crowds are quite tolerable. The first-ever mention of a marketplace here dates back to 1217 when the stalls were installed near the old city gate to sell meat; however, it wasn't until 1826 that the market was officially recognized.\n\nLa Boqueria is a great place to learn about Catalan traditional food, to take yourself on a tapas tour, to learn about and sample jamón (usually served with cheese), to buy the world's freshest saffron (sold in various-sized small boxes) and fresh-caught seafood (no fish Sundays and Mondays) or buy tasty culinary souvenirs to take home. There's also a sit-down counter/bar-like place, called Kiosko, that offers fresh fish cooked right there for you. And, of course, there's an abundant choice of olives and fantabulous fresh fruit!\n\nExplore deep into the market where some of the better stalls are. Try a little of everything and you won't be disappointed.\n\nTip:\nKeep in mind that there are lots of pick-pocketers in the area. Whether by yourself or with friends, it's a good idea to watch your belongings.\n\nOpening Hours:\nMon-Sat: 8am-8:30pm; closed on Sundays"}]},{"address":"Plaça Nova","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":41.38425341399262,"longitude":2.175112900000009},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Plaça Nova"},{"metadata":{"width":1000,"height":667},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FY2yOQlx4hXb2sAE6IkF2%2Fancient-roman-gate-placa-nova-barcelona-catalonia.jpg?alt=media&token=cffa647d-0aa4-41e2-b6eb-60bbe30aae3c"},{"type":"text","content":"laca Nova in Barcelona is a treasure trove for art lovers to feast their eyes on. The place reflects the history of Barcelona in its entirety depicted in the historical passageway on the wall. Among other notable things here are the sand cast friezes, designed by Pablo Picasso, adorning the famous Architects’ Association of Catalonia building. There are also beautiful pieces of Gothic art and architecture around as well.\n\nThe exact year of origin of Placa Nova, one of the four main entrances to the Roman City of Barcelona, is not known, although historians lean towards 1358 as the year from which its documented record can be traced.\n\nTip:\nAround August 16, the day of Sant Roc, the square hosts a festival reflecting many unique traditions and festive elements of Barcelona, making it one of the most unique celebrations of the city."}]}]