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and contemporary vibe. The theme is
stamped magnificently on the landscape
of the city by architect Antoni Gaudi,
whose Sagrada Familia – a basilica and
UNESCO World Heritage Site – begun
construction in 1882 and has only just
reached its halfway mark.
Art lovers can have a ball in Barcelona,
the birthplace of Gaudi, Dalí, and Miró
among others. Picasso also spent his for-
mative years in the city, and his creative
exploits from the time can be admired at
the ever-popular Picasso Museum. Set
within the five medieval stone mansions,
Picasso’s collection showcases the artist’s
formative years, which were spent in the
city, housing over 3,500 paintings.
Hunger pangs
Like so much of Europe, eating is much
more than a necessity in Barcelona,
and Catalonia’s capital is renowned for
the range and creativity of the edibles
available at everything frommarkets and
street stalls to fine dining restaurant and
family-run cafes. There is also a satisfying
lack of chains or fast food joints, and
avoiding the tourist areas ensures that
foodies can enjoy the authentic and
high-quality food the city is famed for.
Traditional Catalan cuisine to try
includes
paella, cannelloni
and the Cata-
lan salad of black pudding, boiled eggs,
vegetables and olives, while tapas is
Need toknow
•
LocalsspeakSpanishandCatalan, althoughwithinEnglish iswidelyspoken
in tourist areas, hotels and at museums.
•
Stick tobottledwaterwhile in thecityas tapwater isunpalatable. Bottles
are available to buy on every corner and cost around 2 euros.
•
Spanish law requires everyone to carry photographic identification at all
time so keep your passport handy–but keep it safe too!
•
The currency of Barcelona is the Euro, with an exchange rate of approxi-
matelyRM10=2.08euros (check thisbeforeyou travel as ratesfluctuate).
•
The flight time from KL to Barcelona is 13.5 hours, although with some
airlines youmay have to connect in another European city on route.
•
Barcelona has a subtropical-Mediterranean climate with mild winters
(December-February)andasummerseasonthat lastssixmonths!Agood
time to visit is September-October, when the weather is still pleasant
(around 20 degrees Celsius) but cooler during the height of summer
(July-August averages at 30 degrees Celsius).
•
94%of thecountry’spopulation isRomanCatholicsoSundays inBarcelona
are pretty quiet. Lots of restaurants and bars are closed, check museum
and gallery opening times before you visit.
•
As with all tourist cities, petty theft is a risk so keep all your personal
belongings safe fromprying hands.
•
Malaysia is six hours ahead of Spain, so expect a bit of jetlag when you
arrive. The best way to cope is to get lots of sunshine and eat meals at
regular time to try and re-set the body clock.
Much of the architecture
that attracts the eye is
Gaudi’s design
Cannelloni is
a staple of the
Catalan diet
Paella is one
of the more
traditional
dishes