Gaudi, Good Friday & Gelato

Three weeks ago, over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, three friends and I made our way to Barcelona. A city I’d never visited before and hadn’t heard a bad word about, so I was keen to see what the fuss was about and discover the Catalonian culture.

In typical tourist-style we first visited the works of Gaudi scattered across the city including the famous Sagrada Família. Beforehand, I thought it would just be a classic hotspot for photos and wouldn’t amount to much but I have to admit, its fairly breathtaking in its scale and intricacy. We then made our way into the Gothic Quarter, the historic centre of Barcelona, which was another standout. Plenty of cafés and bars in a maze of tightly packed authentic streets and squares ensured you were never left without something to look at.

The highlight of our city break had to be the view from the top of the Turó de la Rovira. After a 20-minute hike to the top, you’re greeted with the incredible Barcelona backdrop spanning the entire length of the city on one side and the Catalonian landscape on the other. On our way back down we were lucky enough to encounter a quiet local tapas restaurant in the residential area at the foot of the hill. It’s safe to say we overindulged but also collectively agreed it was possibly the best meal we’d ever had.

With a little spare time we decided to visit Camp Nou, a little out of our way but we knew we’d regret it if we didn’t go. Unfortunately, Barca were playing away that weekend so we settled for the cheaper of the two tours and a quick gaze at the overpriced football shirts, before heading back to the city to find a rooftop bar we could watch the sunset from.

I wish we could have stayed for longer, three days didn’t do the city justice and I’d recommend Barcelona to anyone lost for summer trip ideas. The weather didn’t disappoint either, even for early April – the shorts were out and the factor 50 was on!