One thing you should be prepared for when visiting Barcelona for the first time is that you will have to go back again. You will never be able to cram all the sights and activities into one trip, and you will be left wanting to know more about this very special area. So relax, enjoy what you can do this time and keep in mind those activities that you will want to try next time.
For art lovers, one of the must visit buildings is the museum dedicated entirely to Picasso. This is housed in a medieval mansion, and contains over three thousand pieces, the most important collection of his work in Spain today. The museum allows you to travel through the various phases of Picassos work, from Malaga, his home town, to Paris, then Russia, and finally to Barcelona. Not surprisingly the main focus of the exhibition is on his Barcelona phase.
The old town of Barcelona, or Ciutat Vella, is right on the harbor of Barcelona. It is made up of the gothic sector, or Barri Gotic, which houses a fascinating cathedral, the Ribera area and the harbor area or Port Vell. To find the old town you just need to take a stroll down the main avenue on Barcelona, the flower stall lined La...