Ayre Hotel Gran Vía ****

Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia.  It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea and is the second most populated city in Spain.  It boasts excellent infrastructures and exceptional transportation systems as well as many cultural offerings.  The Mediterranean climate and amount of tourist activities (beach, museums, expositions, open-air sculptures…) make Barcelona an important city for business and also for shopping, especially in its historic centre. 
One of the most attractive areas for tourists is Las Ramblas, where one will find markets, painters, artists, and actors. 
This remarkable city is set among Roman ruins, medieval neighbourhoods and some of the most beautiful examples of Modernism and Vanguard style of the 20th century.  Several of the emblematic buildings of the Catalan architechts, Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Doménech I Montaner, have been declared World Heritage Sites.

Details of Interest

Oficial time: UTC +1, Madrid, Berlin
Oficial language: Spanish
Oficial currency: Euro
Population: 1.606.000
Electricity: 220 V

Visits & Excursions

The Montjuic Fountains
Waterfalls and fountains with changing forms are situated in different areas along the Mara Cristina Avenue, with the main attraction being the monumental fountain set on an elevated platform at the end of the avenue with a view of the National Palace in the background.  One may also enjoy the city’s wide variety of ornamental fountains and their audiences that add charm to the streets and plazas on which they are located.

El Pueblo Español
The Poble Espanyol was constructed in 1929 for the International Exposition of Barcelona as a centre dedicated to the Arts.  It is one of the few monuments belonging to an International Exposition that allows visits.

Olympic City
Barcelona is home to the facilities that hosted the Olympic Games of 1992.  Many of the facilities are located on the Montjuich Mountain.  There one will find, among many other facilities, the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, the Sant Jordi Palace, the Picornell pools and the Montjuich diving pool.  Not far away is the FC Barcelona stadium including its museum, which is the second most visited museum of Catalonia.  One may also find the Villa Olímpica neighbourhood, where the Olympic athletes stayed and where different beaches, restaurants and leisure areas are located.

Parks in Barcelona
Barcelona offers many parks.  The most famous are the Güell Park, designed by Antoni Gaudí and located in the Gracia district, the Montjuich Park and the Park of Ciudadela, located in the centre of the city and where one will find the Parlament of Catalonia and the Zoo, famous for having been home to the albino gorilla Snowball until his death.

The Holy Family
The Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family, known as the Holy Family, is the work of art that Gaudí left unfinished and that is still being constructed today, by donations, in the same way as the cathedrals of the Middle Ages. It is expected to be finished around the year 2020.

Las Ramblas
One of the most attractive and bustling places is Las Ramblas, the walkway situated between Plaza Catalonia, the centre of the city and the old port. There one will find stands selling press, flowers, birds, domesticated animals, as well as actors, street performers, cafeterias, restaurants and stores.  Little markets are usually set up along the port.

Cultural Offerings
Barcelona offers visitors extensive cultural offerings, such as museums and theatres as well as a lively night life that is well known all over Spain.  Barcelona is also known for its important business areas, especially in its historic centre.

• Information subject to change.
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