Spain and Portugal Day 4 - Barcelona

On our last day in Barcelona, we decided to take it easy in the morning and enjoy breakfast at our hotel. Afterward, we joined a free walking tour that took us to some really cool places. But, before heading to the meeting point, we stopped by two beautiful homes that were designed by the famous architect, Gaudi. We had seen some of his work at the La Sagrada Familia the day before, so we could recognize his unique style right away.

Our tour guide Daniel was awesome! He took us to some of Barcelona's historical sites that we might have missed otherwise. We learned so much about the city's history, from Roman times to the present day. He even talked about the Spanish Civil War, the General Franco dictatorship, and efforts to create a separate Catalan nation. We visited places like Kings Square, where Christopher Columbus returned from his voyage to the Americas, and saw some breathtaking churches like the Barcelona Cathedral and Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar (the People’s Church). We also explored the Jewish Quarter and learned about the discovery of one of Europe’s oldest synagogues. Daniel even pointed out some great places to eat and visit.

Wilfred the Harry a founder of Catalonia

St. George slaying a dragon (my favorite saint)

This building was bombed during the Spanish Civil War

After the walking tour, we decided to explore more of Barcelona. Our next stop was the Parc de la Ciutadella. This park was built in the 1800s for the World's Fair, and it was stunning. We loved walking through it and taking in the beautiful sights. Then we went to the Mercado de la Boqueria, a busy market full of stalls selling everything from produce and meat to prepared food. We were tempted to try some of the food, but it was too crowded and we weren't too hungry.

The Catalan flag

We then headed to the Barcelona History Museum, which mainly focuses on excavations of old Roman ruins. The museum was underground, and there were walkways built over the ruins so we could see them up close. It was really fascinating.

By this point, we were getting hungry, so we headed to a tapas cafe that Daniel had recommended. It was delicious and our favorite place we ate during our stay in Barcelona. Then we just wandered around the city, taking in the sights and sounds. We even bought a little wooden noise maker from a vendor to show to our nieces. It was a beautiful day, and the sun even came out, so we stopped for gelato.

The Barcelona Cathedral was sponsored by Samsung? So disappointing...

We spent some time people-watching in Parc de la Ciutadella, which was a great way to relax and take in the beautiful surroundings. As the sun set, it started to get colder, so we walked around the park to stay warm. We found some more monuments and interesting areas of the park, and it was a great way to end our time in Barcelona.

Afterward, we headed back to our hotel to grab our bags before catching a plane to our next destination - Seville. It was a wonderful day, and we felt like we got to see so much of Barcelona.