from

barcelona, with
love

Meet the team:

RINA ELECCION, 18, GERMANY

Jamie Charnock, 23, England

NATHEY POMAR, 21, AUSTRIA

LAURA TIMMANN, 22, GERMANY

Johanna thoresen, 21, germany

Emma Pearce, 21, England

Alana Breen, 23, Ireland.

BIENVENIDOS AMIGOS!
Welcome to Barcelona the capital of Catalonia. This
cosmopolitan city has a magnetic, cultural charm that remains unbroken with time. As one of the busiest ports on the Mediterranean,
there are endless bars, cafes and restaurants where you can soak up
your spare time.
Although Barcelona is the second biggest city in Spain, it has the
power to make you feel at home straight away. Give yourself the
chance to get lost in its beauty whilst exploring the many different
streets. Divided up into barrios or zones, it feels like lots of smaller
towns, brought together. Each barrio has its own unique character
drenched in history, however each section of the jigsaw that is Barcelona, fits together perfectly meaning you never feel out of place or
uncomfortable.
As this guide will prove, there are many reasons why you should
visit Barcelona at least once in your lifetime. As you browse through
this guide, you will have your eyes opened to whole new Barcelona.
From tourist spots to hidden gems, we have it all for you!!
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and explore

A COLOURFUL HISTORY OF BARCELONA:

The origins of the name of Barcelona are
unclear, but there are various legends about
the citys foundation: Some people think
that Barcelona was founded by Hercules;
another theory in the 3rd century BC refers
to the Carthaginian General Hamilcar Barca, Hannibals father, who named the city
Barcino after his family.

Nevertheless, the real expansion took place when

the original walls were pulled down and the
area lEixample was constructed. This growing
industrial prosperity was reflected in Barcelonas
architecture and the city also hosted the world
exhibition in 1888. One of the most popular
architects at that time was the Catalan Antoni
Gaud, who designed buildings like the Sagrada
Familia or Parc Gell in Art Nouveau.
In 15 BC, the Romans establis
Castile and Aragon were united when Isabella
hed a military camp, centred on a hill
I of Castile married Ferdinand II of Aragon in
called Mons Taber, which was located near
1469 and Madrid became the centre of political
the Contemporary City Hall, Plaa de Sant
power.
Jaume. The small colony was called Iulia
As a consequence of the War of the Spanish
Augusta Paterna Faventia Barcino.
Succession (1701 1714), the bourbon Philip V
The city was conquered by the Visigoths in finally conquered Barcelona on September 11th
the early 5th century and became capital
in 1714, which led to Catalonia losing its authorof the whole of Hispania. The Arabs conity and political power.
quered the city in the 8th century and by
At the beginning of the 20th century, Barcelona
1137, all of Catalonia was under control of was transformed into a modern city, which came
the Count of Barcelona.
to an abrupt end with a dramatic coup dtat
From the 4th to the 13th century, a major
against the government of the so called Segunexpansion took place and a second wall was
da Repblica in 1936. The Spanish Civil War
built around the Cathedral of Santa Mara between Republicans and Nationalists, who were
del Mar. The citys growth increased by
led by General Francisco Franco, ended in the
the beginning of the industrialisation and
victory of the Nationalists in 1939. At that time,
Barcelona flourished particularly because
the autonomous institutions of Catalonia (Genof the trade with former colonies, such as
eralitat de Catalunya) were abolished. Catalan
Cuba and Costa Rica.
language was suppressed in public places,

schools and publishing and there was a lack of

Catalan culture and identity. After 36 years of
Francos dictatorship, King Juan Carlos I came to
power, which led to the transition to democracy.
Catalonias Statute of Autonomy was recognized
in 1978.
Barcelona gained international recognition by
hosting the Olympic Games in 1992 and today,
its considered one of the most popular tourist
destinations in the world.
Catalonia and Independence
Due to the linguistic, historical and cultural
differences in comparison to the rest of Spain, a
lot of inhabitants define Catalonia as a nation.
In a symbolic referendum in 2009, 95 per cent
of the voters were in favour of Catalonias independence from Spain and wanted it to achieve
statehood, but there was a low voter turnout
(only 27 per cent). On Catalonias National
Holiday (La Diada), 11 November 2013, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated in
Catalonia for the independence from Spain
and the right to decide about their future. To
draw attention to their claim to independence,
they formed a human chain across Catalonia,
with a remarkable length of 400 kilometres.
On 9 November 2014, Catalans want to hold a
referendum on Catalonias political future and
take a vote on the independence from Spain.

Getting around in barcelona.

The first thing you need to know about transport, and also the
thing that may leave you most confused when arriving in
Barcelona, is how to get from the airport to the city.
There are many different ways to make this journey, including
taxis, shuttle busses and trains. The taxi service, although relatively
cheap compared to most taxi services, would not be the recommended choice, as the airport offers much better options.
An Aerobus runs regularly between the airport and the city centre, making it easy for visitors to make their flight with plenty of
time to spare! The cost of a single ticket is 5.75 and a return is well
priced at 9.95 and lasts for 9 days, if you are staying in Barcelona
for a bit longer.
There is also a train that runs from the airport, however you will
have to change to the metro when you get closer to Barcelona,
which may not be a lot of fun when youre dragging that person-sized suitcase around in the heat!!

When it comes to getting around the city, there are many different
transportation modes to keep you connected, and whats even better is that you can use the same ticket on both the metro and buses
throughout Zone 1 of Barcelona.
The TMB, or Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona, offers a wide
variety of tickets. A T10 is a good option for short stay visitors, reasonably priced at around 10 this ticket allows you to have ten rides
throughout your stay. Alternatively there is a T50/30 if youre planning on staying longer. This ticket allows you to make 50 journeys
over 30days for 42.50.
If youre not one for the hot and crowded metros, or even if you are,
then you should definitely take the time to travel around Barcelona
by foot. It is such a beautiful city and you can walk from one end of
the city to another in about an hour!

A day away from Barcelona Figueres,

the home of Salvador Dal
Train: Renefe from Paseig De Gracia, Barcelona
Price: 24 return
Museum price: 12 adult/ 9 student
Opening Time: 9am-8pm (last admission 7.15pm)
Website: http://www.salvador-dali.org/museus/teatre-museu-dali/en_index/
If you are a Dal devotee or perhaps you just fancy a day outside Barcelona,
then head to the small costal town of Figueres and the fanciful Dal Theatre-Museum. Approximately 2 hours on a Renfe train from Barcelona you feel
like you are transported to a different world. From the towns train station, it
is an easy 15-minute walk to the museum. You cant miss it: Its painted pink,
studded with golden loaves of bread and topped with monumental eggs and a
colossal dome.
The Dal Theatre-Museum is the largest surrealist object in the world replacing
the towns former Municipal Theatre that was destroyed during the Spanish
Civil War.
The building holds a vast array of artwork, from Dals earliest pieces to his
final paintings. Alongside this much of the art in the building is movable and
coin operated, for example the artists personal 1941 Cadillac, so make sure you
take those spare 20cents you never thought youd need. Another highlight of
the museum is the Mae West room. From just the right spot, youll see that the
sofa lips, fireplace nostrils and painting eyes make the face of a sultry actress.
Dal designed every inch of this museum and it is noticeable throughout, you
may find yourself questioning your sanity from
time-to-time but you cant help feel this is exactly
what the artist, who is entombed in a crypt below,
wanted.
The museum is well worth the miles travelled and
euros spent, however it is worth noting the queues
can be lengthy, so it is best to buy a ticket online
before you arrive!

Open Air Film Festival at Castle

Montjuc

Where: Castle of Montjuc gardens-Moat of Santa Eullia

Metro: L3/L5/L1 Plaa Espaa
Price; 6.50
Time: Opening: 20.30 Concert: 20.45 to 22.00 Screening: 22.00 to 00.30
Website: http://salamontjuic.org
The outdoor cinema at the castle Montjuc is a magical experience for anyone
visiting Barcelona in July and August. Located within the walls of the Montjuc
castle, the screenings transform the castle into an outdoor cinema. They give
cinema-goers the chance to sample both local and foreign language films
within the setting of the castle with the spectacular views of Barcelona below.
The cinema opens up in the summer every year, showing a variety of films in
their original language. Films vary from classics such as Breakfast at Tiffanys,
to foreign and independent movies including Submarine and El Padrino. Each
screening begins with live music performed by a local band as viewers gather
in the walls of the castle at sunset. A short film will follow, before the main
show at 22.00. There is also a small bar allowing viewers to purchase food
and drinks; chair rental is also available however most people bring their own
snacks and chairs.
The experience of watching a film at sunset in this quirky and beautiful setting
is rather wonderful. It is a must for anyone visiting Barcelona looking for an
alternative way to spend their evening; the views over the city not to mention
the bus journey up to the castle are spectacular.

Jamboree
Address: Plaa Reial 17 08002 Barcelona
Metro: L3 Liceu and Drassanes
Price: N/A
Opening Times: 20.00 - 06.00 (Club from 0000)
Website: http://www.masimas.com/en/jamboree
After a few drinks the conversation always turns to one thing. Where to dance.
For all of you who love dancehall, hip hop and good old rnb, instead of trailing
around for hours listening intently outside every club as we did, head straight
for Jamboree in Plaa Reial. Prices vary depending on your gender and the
day of the week, but are never over 10, and if youre a large group women
will normally get in for free. Although this is good reminder that sexism and
misogyny are still alive and well in the heart of Barcelona, the music inside is
good enough to shrug off the rude bouncers. Remember that here everyone
runs on Spanish time, so its best to enjoy a few drinks before heading to the
club around 1:30am on weekends, and any time after two on any other night
to avoid a lengthy queue. Once inside youll be greeted with two dance floors,
a large downstairs dance floor playing hip-hop, rnb and raggae, and a smaller
upstairs floor playing 80s/90s classics. Honestly we never made it to the upstairs dance floor, as the likes of Lauryn Hill, Snoop Dogg, Notorious B.I.G and
Tupac left us transfixed downstairs, so if you love RnB this is the place for you.
The only downsides to the club were the lack of AC, which made it unbearably hot at times, especially on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights when the
dance floor is packed, and the drink prices, which at 10 for a vodka and coke
provided an expensive cool down.
Open till 6 Jamboree offers hip hop lovers a
haven in a city otherwise filled with
commercial pop music. With Jamboree also
offering live music and flamenco concerts before
opening as a club as well, theres no excuse not to
check it out.