Villa Alba in Barcelona

The Neighborhood

Welcome to a FridaysFlats experience! Meet your surroundings The house is located on a very quiet residential street, away from the hustle and bustle of the city center. You are right at the bottom of the iconic hill of Montjuic, and just to visit all its attractions could easily take you a week. Just to quote a few, the wondrous botanical gardens (Jardi Botanic Istoric, Jardins de Joan Brossa & Jardins de Mossèn Costa i Llobera) some museums (the majestic Museo Nacional de Arte de Catalunya, the newer Caixa Forum, the Catalan Museum of Archeology, the stunning Fundacio Joan Miro, hosting the most famous Catalan artist’s works, Poble Espanyol where you can explore miniature versions of traditional spanish architecture), the funicular and the cable car you can hop on for jaw-dropping views of the entire marina & old city), the Teatre Grec if you’re into the dramatic art, Palau Sant Jordi where legendary bands play their live music, and the former Olympic village. Neither of these, however, rival the panoramic view of the city and Mediterranean sea you will get from up there. The closest neighborhoods Sants is the closest neighborhood to the house. Lots of things to explore on its quirky little streets, around the iconic Plaça d'Espanya, including a former bullring from the 1900’s (now the city’s most unusual shopping center- Arenas de Barcelona), or the Font Magica’s captivating show of choreography of lights, water and music. For those into more “off the beaten path” options, there is also a former women’s prison that has been transformed into a museum on Calle Provença. Located on the other side of Montjuic, the very pittoresque Poble Sec is the ideal neighborhood for bar hopping, as its famous Carrer Blai is packed with “pinchos bars” that offer small basque tapas. The surrounding area features some of Barcelona’s most iconic entertainment venues (Sala Apolo, Sala Barts, Teatre Victoria, El Molino, etc). No shortage of entertainment options between these two neighborhoods. Due to the fact that the Sants Estacio is the most well connected train station in the city, organizing trips around and outside Barcelona is pretty convenient. If you want to go to the beach Barcelona’s beaches are many and offer a wide variety of dining, spots and other entertainment activities. All of them are accessible through the Yellow Metro Line (L4). For example, around Port Olimpic you will find people playing volleyball most of the year. The Barceloneta area is the most lively stretch of the beach, especially during the night, but if you’re not into crowds, here’s our tip: Bogatell is one of Barcelona’s newest beaches, so not that many people know it. Renovated in the 90s when the city’s coastline was rehabilitated to host some of the Olympic festivities, it is now a local favorite, not just for sunbathing and water sports, but also for everyone enjoying ping-pong, beach volley, or football. Due to its recent urbanization, this 700m stretch of perfect sand is one of the best quality seafronts Barcelona has to offer. In case you want to do some shopping Arenas the Barcelona, the former bullring converted into a shopping mall offers a variety of interesting stores, but let’s face it: the place is so cool that it’s worth a visit as a historic landmark, even if you don’t want to shop. Bonus, on the top floor there are a few nice restaurants where you can enjoy the local cuisine with a breath-taking view. Pro Tip: If you want to go to a traditional market, the Mercat de Sants sells great meats and produce for affordable prices - the same things you will admire in the city center’s Mercat de la Boqueria you can buy in this market for a better price. Some central landmarks The city’s epicenter is Plaça de Catalunya, situated in the middle of the old town neighborhoods Barri Gotic and El Born. The city’s most luxurious street (Passeig de Gracia) and it’s most famous (La Rambla) both stem from this large square. The area is full of museums, monuments and interesting cultural venues like Museo de la Marina, MACBA (for Contemporary Art) or the Catalan Cultural Center, plus some fun and interesting stuff for kids of all ages (Big Fun Museum and Museum of Illusions or the Wax Museum). The Gran Teatre del Liceu (Opera) is also on La Rambla. Everything is easily accessible by metro, bus, taxi or walking. The center of Barcelona is a very lively place, with its contagious exuberance constantly spilling out onto small streets and cute Plaças packed with cafes, bars and local designer shops. The iconic La Rambla is an eclectic kilometer-long stretch of restaurants, bars, cultural venues, street vendors, convenience stores, fashion boutiques and just about anything else you can think of. Explore palaces, history rich sites like Plaça Reial, admire street performers and avoid flower sellers. There’s an El Corte Inglés department store right in the middle of Plaça de Catalunya. A notable stop on La Rambla is its famous Boqueria, a fresh-food market with over 300 stalls that sell produce, meats, cheeses, fish, seafood, nuts, fresh juices and many other incredibly delicious things to munch on. There’s also a local food school where local chefs and sommeliers share their wisdom. If you’re not afraid of a little hike, head uphill to find other iconic Barcelona landmarks, like the local’s favorite Villa de Gracia, or Gaudi’s other masterpiece: Park Guell. Either way you go, something awesome is waiting to be discovered. Contemplate the gothic architecture around Barcelona’s 800 years old Cathedral, all covered in gargoyles. See Columbus’s statue, admire the yachts in the marina and stroll through the Barceloneta streets onto the nearest beaches for the Mediterranean vibe. Elegant colonial buildings surround you. Shadowy arches. High windows. Fading wooden shutters. Travel back in time as you wander the narrow streets. The buildings lean overhead, almost touching.