Different variants

Puerto Olímpico:

On the occasion of the Olympic Games held in the city in 1992, it was decided to plan a new "ensanche" (enlargement) which would project the city toward the sea. The result of this project was the Nova Icària.  

Its function was originally to house the Olympic athletes, but it then became the newest neighbourhood of the city, fully integrated in the new Barcelona which arose from '92.  

It was designed by the architects Mackay, Martorell, Bohigues and Puig Domènech and covers a surface area of 150ha, of which 100 are green areas and facilities.  

The neighbourhood was inspired by the Cerdà (who designed the Eixample) plan and is made up of 200 buildings. The new architectural ensemble is completed with twin skyscrapers, the "Mapfre tower" (built by the architect Bruce J. Graham) and the hotel De Les Arts (by Iñigo Ortiz and Vázquez de León). At 150m, they are the tallest buildings in Spain.  

At the feet of these gigantic towers is the Olympic Port, also inaugurated on the occasion of the Olympic Games, and which has become one of the spots with the best atmospheres in the city, with Restaurants, shops and night clubs.  

Montjuic:

Montjuïc mountain (Jewish mountain) has been, throughout its history, the protagonist of many events, some glorious and victorious, others less so. As a result, this emblematic mountain offers the visitor many different facets, including history, culture, leisure and sport.  

The historical symbol and oldest monument (end of the 17th century) is the Castell de Montjuïc (Castle), from where there are beautiful views of the city. The castle, which now houses the Museu Militar, has been, in part, a symbol of oppression oven the centuries, as it was used to torture and execute the leaders of the Setmana Tràgica in 1909 and Lluís Companys, president of the Generalitat de Catalunya in 1940, among others.  

The world fair of 1929 transformed the city, in the same way that the Olympic Games did in 1992. Examples of this transformation are the Pl. d'Espanya itself with its Venetian Towers; Av. de Maria Cristina (restored in 1985); the Palau de Victòria Eugènia and the Palau de Alfons XIII, both from 1923; the pavelló Mies van der Rohe; the Palau Nacional, from 1929, which houses the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya; the Palauet Albéniz; the Museu Arqueològic; the Teatre Grec, etc.     

However, the most outstanding construction and still today an important tourist attraction is the Poble Espanyol (Spanish village), an area which evokes some of the most important monuments of Spain, such as for example the towers of Ávila. Moreover, the offer of restaurants and entertainment makes it an ideal place for dinner or drinks at night.  

More recent are the Fundació Joan Miró, from 1975, containing a permanent collection by this great Catalan artist and other temporary exhibitions, and the parc d'atraccions, from 1966 (now closed).  

The last transformation of Montjuïc was for the Olympic Games in 1992, with the stadium, the swimming pools, the Palau Sant Jordi and other facilities (Anella Olímpica). The Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc, although inaugurated in 1929, was completely restored (only the façade remained). There you can also see the Galería Olímpica, where you can relive the Games.  

The Palau Sant Jordi, with a capacity of 17,000, is one of the most spectacular monuments left by the Olympics. Also, not too far away, you can see the Torre de Calatrava, which undoubtedly identifies the Barcelona of 92, thanks to its design.  

Although you can get to Montjuïc with the number 61 bus from Pl. d'Espanya, your best bet is the Transbordador Aèri , which offers spectacular views of Barcelona from the air. You can also take the funicular from Paral.lel and the teleférico which goes all the way to the castle. From Pl. d'Espanya to the Columbus statue runs Avenida del Paral.lel, inaugurated in 1894, which became famous as a synonym of entertainment, the Montmartre of Barcelona. Here you will find the Molino (a music hall), and several other theatres.  

Magic Fountain by National Palace

Palau Nacional.- This was the flagship construction of the 1929 Fair. It is a big, luxurious palace similar to those of the European royalty.       

The architects in charge of building this impressive structure were Enric Català i Català and Pedro Cendoya Oscoz.  

The broad oval room, the widest in Europe, stands out in this monumental building.  

In 1934 the Palau Nacional became the Museu d´Art de Catalunya, but in view of the rising of '36, it was transferred to Paris.  

The architects Gae Aulenti and Enric Steegmann have now embarked on restoring the Palau, and reorganizing its interior, in order to improve the conditions of the museum.

Magic Fountain.- Situated at the end of the Paseo de María Cristina, in the Plaça de Carles Buigas, who was the inventor of this water, sound and colour spectacle. To the rhythm of different melodies, the water adopts different shapes and colours. It works at night in the summer.

Torre Agbar:  

According to Jean Nouvel, the shape of the Torre Agbar was inspired by Montserrat, a mountain near Barcelona, and by the shape of a geyser rising into the air. Jean Nouvel, in an interview, described it as having a phallic character.[6][7] As a result of its unusual shape, the building is known by several nicknames, such as "el supositori" (the suppository), "l'obús" (the shell) and some more scatological ones.[6] It is also somewhat similar in shape to Sir Norman Foster's 30 St. Mary Axe in London, often called "the Gherkin". It has 30,000 m² (323,000 ft²) of above-ground office space, 3,210 m² (34,500 ft²) of technical service floors with installations and 8,351 m² (90,000 ft²) of services, including an auditorium. The Agbar Tower measures 144.4 m (473.75 ft) in height[8] and consists of 38 storeys, including four underground levels.  

Its design combines a number of different architectural concepts, resulting in a striking structure built with reinforced concrete, covered with a facade of glass, and over 4,500 window openings cut out of the structural concrete. The building stands out in Barcelona; it is the third tallest building in Barcelona, only after the Arts Hotel and the Mapfre Tower, both 154 m (505.25 ft).  

A defining feature of the building is its nocturnal illumination. It has 4,500 LED luminous devices that allow generation of luminous images in the façade. In addition, it has temperature sensors in the outside of the tower that regulate the opening and closing of the glass blinds of the façade of the building, reducing the consumption of energy for air conditioning. It will house the head office of the Aigües de Barcelona Group (Spanish: "Aguas de Barcelona", English: "Waters of Barcelona").

Excursions

Photos