You may come for golden beaches, catalan gastronomy and gaudí masterpieces, but the people of barcelona are the real highlight — from museum curators and tour guides to architects and street artists, we discover the beguiling city through the eyes of its doting residents
TANIT
THE TOUR GUIDE
EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT HOW WELL THE CITY WORKS — HOW CLEAN, SAFE AND EASY GOING IT IS. But I think the architectural elements are probably the biggest surprise to people. They’re really unique once you compare with other cities round the world. Getting lost in the Gothic Quarter is like being immersed in a fairytale.
SEPTEMBER IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT. Good weather, none of crowds and noise of the peak-tourism period. You also have my favourite event, La Mercé [a festival each September celebrating the city’s patron saint]. The party stretches across all of Barcelona, with a full week of events, activities, concerts, spectacles, colour, gastronomy and happiness.
I THINK THE CITY CHANGED AFTER THE 1992 OLYMPICS. Before then, it was a little chaotic and not so organised. In the past 10 years, especially, it’s been trying hard to improve all infrastructure and services — we’re one of the cleanest cities in Europe and have amazing (and cheap) public transport.
MY FAVOURITE SPOT IS MIRABÉ, A PEACEFUL OASIS JUST A 15- TO 20-MINUTE DRIVE FROM THE CITY. You can enjoy a Catalonian delicatessen meal paired with a glass of Cava and observe how the colours of the sky change from the top of Tibidabo Mountain, then how the lights turn on across the city. Just a perfect way to end a busy day.
etapatapa.com
JORDI - CHIEF ARCHITECT
I first saw the Sagrada Familia when I was little — I lived nearby. Sometimes I used to play in the park opposite the Passion façade. I was surprised by how tall the Nativity Towers were and how the Passion Towers were growing, but it was part of my everyday surroundings, always under construction, and I was aware that it belonged to all of us.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2018 من National Geographic Traveller (UK).
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2018 من National Geographic Traveller (UK).
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Dianne Whelan
THOUGH NOT A SEASONED HIKER TO BEGIN WITH, THE FILMMAKER BECAME THE FIRST PERSON TO COMPLETE THE WORLD'S LONGEST TRAIL NETWORK
NIGERIA
The country's many communities come together over hearty meals with plenty of heat
Katie Hale
A VOYAGE TO THE GREAT WHITE CONTINENT IS BOTH A DREAM COME TRUE AND A CALL TO ARMS, TO PROTECT OUR ICY POLES AND, IN TURN, OUR PLANET
WILTSHIRE
BEYOND THE MAIN ATTRACTION OF STONEHENGE, WILTSHIRE HAS EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE ANCIENT SITES, GIANT CHALK HORSES AND COSY PUBS IN HISTORIC VILLAGES
BATH
Thermal baths and Regency heritage have put this Somerset city firmly on the travel map - and this year the spotlight will be on former resident and literary great Jane Austen, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of her birth
GRANADA
In this Andalucian city, flamenco is an art form as well as a way of life not just for traditional dancers and singers but also for hip-hop stars, classical guitar legends and street artists
India's Golden Triangle
LINKING DELHI, THE TAJ MAHAL AND THE PINK CITY OF JAIPUR, WITH DETOURS FOR TEMPLES AND TIGERS, THIS IS THE PERFECT ROUTE FOR FIRST-TIMERS. WORDS: POOJA NAIK
FORGED BY FIRE
A SUBTROPICAL ISLAND IN THE ATLANTIC, MADEIRA HAS RUGGED VOLCANIC MOUNTAINS THAT RISE ABOVE THE CLOUDS, NATURAL SWIMMING POOLS DOWN AT SEA LEVEL AND MORE THAN 1,900 MILES OF HISTORIC AQUEDUCTS TRACING THE LANDSCAPES IN BETWEEN
ADRIFT IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
A KAYAKING EXPEDITION THROUGH NORWAY'S LOFOTEN ISLANDS OFFERS WHITE-SAND BEACHES, ROYAL ENCOUNTERS AND THE CHANCE TO CHANNEL YOUR INNER VIKING
the RETURN
ON A PRIVATE GAME RESERVE IN SOUTH AFRICA'S KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE, AN UNLIKELY CREATURE IS MAKING A TENTATIVE COMEBACK - AND VISITORS ARE OFFERED A GLIMPSE INTO THE CONSERVATION EFFORTS TO SAVE IT AND OTHER NATIVE WILDLIFE
