TRAVEL
B
arcelona,theCatalancapitalofSpain,isa richand
variedbuffetforthesenses:easilyexplorable,stunningly
beautiful,byturnsgracefulandgritty.Itisa placetobe
strolled,sipped,andsavoured.Andthebestwaytodoit is
onthecoast.Yes,there’sa shortlistofculturalcan’t-missesandmust-
seesintheheartofthecity,especiallythemodernist-meets-surreal
workofarchitectAntoniGaudí.Butbeyondthat,glimmeringin
thedistance,isthecoastalzonewhereyoucanexperiencethebest
ofthecity,fromancienthistoricalsitestoanultramodernsuperyacht
marina and club at Port Vell (Old Port), within a walkable mile or so.
BeginyourapproachonLasRamblas,thegrandalbeitoverrun
thoroughfarebestusedasa gatewaytothesea.Turnandwalk
throughtheBarriGòtic,hometoeverythingfromRomanruins,
moleculargastronomyrestaurants,tenements,andtattooparlours.
It’sintenseinthewayonlya portneighborhoodcanbeandsetsyou
upformorecontraststhatawaitonthecoast.
Despitethesevariedlayerstherewillalwaysbetwomainconstants
inBarcelona:tapasandart.Payyourrespectstothesetraditionswith
a doubledoseonthehistoricCarrerdeMontcada.Herea museum
dedicated to Spain’s original bad boy Pablo Picasso sits just down theThecity’sbeachesofferthe
perfectbalanceofBarcelona’s
cultural and social offerings