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Sports in Barcelona

Since the Olympic Games hit Barcelona in 1992, the Catalan city flourished even more in case of sports. Various parks have been built and citizens were animated to do more for their health. Today, one quarter of all inhabitants is said to do sports regularly. Possibilities to do so vary from popular activities like soccer, basketball, tennis or running to regional opportunities such as sailing, beachvolleyball and (wind-) surfing.

Of course, people are not only motivated by the Olympic buildings, which have been constructed throughout the whole city and especially in the south-western part of the town. There are also several famous personalities such as the former tennis star Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, the current FC Barcelona star Ronaldinho or the basketballstar Pau Gasol, who plays an amazing season in the NBA. Inspired by these sportsmen, people go and do running on the boardwalk in order to get into shape for the Barcelona Marathon. Or they train their fitness in order to strengthen their soccer performance when playing on one of the several soccer fields which are spread all over the city. Moreover, there are various parks, e.g. the “Parque de la Ciutadella Villa Olímpica”, and green spaces throughout the city, which are equipped with little running tracks or invite to do cycling, hiking (especially the Montserrat Natural Park) or just to take a walk. Visitors who would like to improve their golf skills can enjoy their time in the warm climate and explore some of the various surrounding golf courses. Many sportsmen also come to Barcelona in order to do water sports in the Mediterranean Sea. Due to the windy climate at the sea, it is possible to do every kind of surfing. Especially windsurfing, kitesurfing and surf riding are famous and attract many people among the different beaches of Barcelona up to the Costa Brava. A very special event will take place in the north of Barcelona from the 11^th - 13^th of May, 2007: the Formula 1. It will perform one out of its worldwide 19 races in Spain on the  “Circuit de Catalunya”. The track exists since 1991 and attracts fans from all over the world as it is known for its modern style and its fast circuit.

However, visitors should be aware of more than just sports sites and certainly need some time to rest as well. Therefore, it is important to have a well-located accommodation in Barcelona and some interesting sightseeing attractions nearby. This will give the stay a cultural touch and it will also appeal to the sportsmen's preferences in case of the lunch schedule and the meals itself. Many sportsmen prefer their own food or have a certain timetable because of their training, which makes it difficult to stick to the hotel's offers. Apartments are an ideal alternative allows visitors to make up their own personal plan for a sporty stay in order to enjoy their time in Barcelona.

Churches in Barcelona – From Sant Pau del Camp to the Sagrada Familia

Barcelona looks back on a very old history, which is reflected in its many different “Barrios” (quarters) and in its buildings. Most significant and telling buildings are certainly the churches and cathedrals, which are spread all over the town and which mark each district's origins in case of both architecture and atmosphere.

 

The oldest church in the Catalan metropolis is called the Sant Pau del Camp, which is located in the nowadays district of Raval and which is the only Roman building in Barcelona. Some foundation can still be seen nearby. The Benedictine monestary was originally constructed in the 9^th century and was rebuilt in the 11^th and 12^th century after it had been destroyed by the army of Almanzor. Further destructions made additional rennovations necessary and nowadays one can see different epochal influences, which underwent Barcelona. However, the Sant Pau del Camp is not that flamboyant compared to the higher decorated church of Santa Maria del Mar, which was built in the 14^th century (1329 – 1370) and which attracts the most marriages in Barcelona because of its breathtaking interior. Due to the fact that it was only ruined by the anarchists during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, it has kept its straight plain architecture and one can clearly see the gothic structures. It is located in the quarter of Born and was built for the sailors and mechants of Barcelona, as the the church is dedicated to Saint Mary of the Sea, the patron saint of sailors.

One more famous ecclesiastical building in Barcelona is the Cathedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulalia. Or also known as La Seu. The cathedral is located in the heart of the city and its history reflects the different stages of the city's development. Already in 343 A.D., the Romans built a basilica on the same ground, which was then destroyed completely in 985 by the Moors. Later, it was replaced by a Roman cathedral again in the 11^th century. However, one more time the church was demolished by King Jaume II, who reconstructed it as a gothic cathedral in the beginnings of the . Only the chapel of Santa Llucia remained. The construction of the main cathedral itself took from 1298 to 1460 and additional works on the gothic facade were finished in the late 19^th century. While many changes have been made in case of the cathedral, the Santa Llucia chapel has kept its cosy character and the famous 13 geese. Each goose represents one year in the life of the martyr Santa Eulalia, who was tortured to death in the 4th century by the Romans for her religion.
Certainly the highlight of Barcelona is the Sagrada Familia with its lovingly detailed decoration and its huge dimensions. The popular Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí started planning this monumental work in 1883 and kept working on it until his death; which does not mean that he finished his lifework. On the contrary, constructions still go on and there are people who claim it to be a neverending endeavor although the original plans for the cathedral already have been reduced to a third of its former layout. Rising difficulties with adding further parts and the problem of failing funds complicate the building and extend its completion.

 

If people also want to find accommodation near Paseo de Gracia to wake up to the sights of other famous buildings like the Casa Milà or the Casa Batllo by Gaudi, museums like the MACBA or parks like the Parc de Güell, it is highly recommended to spend at least a weekend in Barcelona. That should be enough to enjoy the culture as well as to relax the wheather and the friendly atmosphere. Accommodation can be found easily but should be compared to other offers. Therefore, visitors should think about renting an apartment instead of paying higher prices for hotels. There are also providers, which offer both hotels and apartments, which makes comparisons easier and the organization more comfortable.

Architecture and Influence of Gaudí in Barcelona

Visitors who come to Barcelona have various reasons for doing so such as the climate, the beaches, the nightlife and different events, the culture and the architecture. Especially the last point is very characteristic of Barcelona and attracts yearly a huge range of visitors. The city puts a lot of effort into the construction of new buildings and the restoration of existing ones in order to maintain its unique town character which is coined by one of the most famous architects of the world: Antoni Gaudí.  People consider him as one of the most influencing and controversial creators in Barcelona and just taking a look at the Sagrada Familia clearly shows his popular and checkered status.

 

Antoni Gaudí was born nearby Barcelona on the 25th of April, 1825. Although not being one of the best pupils in school, he specialized in drawings and layouts and started working in different architect's offices right from the beginning. Furthermore, he got to know the industrialist Eusebi Güell at an inicial stage of his carreer. This contact was highly important as he supported Gaudi in his creative layouts and financed many of his projects. Gaudí in return dedicated many parks or buildings to him like the Parc de Güell or the Finca Güell. Touring throughout Barcelona, visitors will notice the all-over existence of Gaudí and it is highly recommendable to walk up the Passeig de Grácia and  to pass both the Casa de Batllo and the Casa Milà. The Casa de Batllo was built in the beginning of the 20^th century (1905 – 1907) and many sculptors helped creating the outward appearance, which tells the story of Saint Georg, the patron of the Catalan capital. The Casa Milà was built right after the Casa Batllo and is also known as “La Pedrera” (“The Quarry”) because of its bulky facade, which is made of concrete and iron. After visiting both houses, the Parc de Güell invites its visitors to relax in a perfect melting of nature and architecture. Furthermore, there is a wonderful view of the whole city and a small finca off the park's central terrace, where Gaudí used to live for a while. Certainly the highlight of all his buildings is the Sagrada Familia with its lovingly detailed decoration and its huge dimensions. Gaudí started planning this monumental work in 1883 and kept working on it until his death; which does not mean that he finished his lifework. On the contrary, constructions still go on and there are people who claim it to be a neverending endeavor although the original plans for the cathedral already have been reduced to a third of its former layout. Rising difficulties with adding further parts and the problem of failing funds complicate the building and extend its completion. Further visits to Gaudí-buildings could be made to the bishop's palace of Astorga (in Castilla-León), the Palau Güell, the Casa Vincens and others in the heart or in the region of Barcelona. However, there are also non-Gaudí buildings like the tower AGBAR, which still provide his unique touch. The tower contains bureaus and was financed by the water supply company of Barcelona (Aguas de Barcelona). Its architect Jean Nouvel designed the tower in order to render homage to Gaudí and included some of Gaudís former considerations. Moreover, there was even the idea to take up the design of Gaudís 5-continent-towers from the year 1920 and have them built on the former WTC-area. Can there be better signs for his ongoing influence?

 

If visitors want to get in touch with all this scenery and explore Barcelona's characteristic houses built by Gaudí, they should be prepared for more than just this. Architects and artists like Frank Gehry or Pablo Picasso have added their characteristics and helped shaping the city, consistently supported by the town council. Visitors can even feel the flair of one of these famous persons. They can rent apartments near the former first studio of Picasso, which is located in the Carrer de la Plata;a perfect start into a stunning stay.