Porto Barcelona Day 23 - Second Day in Barcelona

Our second day in Barcelona was a Monday where we decided to attend a walking tour in the morning. We took a metro train from Verdaguer Station to Jaume I Station then we walked to Pla de la Seu, a popular square and a common meeting place. Cathedral de Barcelona is sitting at the very spot.

We were early and were looking for the Donkey Tours Barcelona guide. We managed to find him, his name is Eric Gill. Since we were early he recommended us to visit the cathedral first and it's free entering the church in the morning. Behind the ladies is Plaça de la Seu another attraction just next to Barcelona Cathedral.

Barcelona Cathedral also known as The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia. It is the Gothic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona. The cathedral was constructed from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries, with the principal work done in the fourteenth century. 

Here we were queuing to go into the church with a security check at the entrance.

The beautiful interior of the cathedral slowly filling up with visitors admiring the grandness of the church while some were praying. 

A typical high ceiling of fine architectural seen in most major cathedrals in the European world.

The cathedral has a secluded Gothic cloister where 13 white geese are kept, the number explained by the assertion that Saint Eulalia was 13 when she was martyred by the Romans. Who was Saint Eulalia? Saint Eulàlia is the co-patron saint of Barcelona, alongside Saint George. She was a young teenager when she died a martyr’s death after refusing to deny that Christ is the Son of God.

The Palau de la Música Catalana (a musical theatre) was built between 1905 and 1908 by the modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. The building is located in the district of Sant Pere, one of the most beautiful areas of Barcelona. GPS : 41.387712, 2.175492

The only concert hall declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO  in December 4, 1997, which is currently an essential meeting point for the cultural and social life of Catalonia. The ticketing booth housed in a pillar.

This is Eric Gill, the guide in action as he took us through the time of Middle Ages and stories relating the area.

Mercat del Born - After Barcelona fell to Bourbon troops in 1714, this area of the city was levelled to make way for a huge citadel. In 1863 the citadel was demolished and replaced by a large park (El Parc de la Ciutadela) and a huge covered square that is “Mercat del Born” market.

Closed on Mondays hence we were unable to visit it. During the construction of the building in 2002, many artifacts of  nearly 3 centuries old were found mainly crockery and other household items. This discovery was important and able to give an insight of the details of the lives in Barcelona during the 1700's.

Fossar de les Moreres is a plaza was built over a cemetery where defenders of the city were buried following the Siege of Barcelona at the end of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714. Adjacent is Santa Maria del Mar. GPS : 41.383757, 2.182327

Santa Maria del Mar - (Saint Mary of the Sea) is a church in the Ribera district, built between 1329 and 1383 at the height of Principality of Catalonia's maritime and mercantile preeminence. It is an outstanding example of Catalan Gothic with a purity medieval buildings.

Everyone of us were watching closely the eternal flame burns on the top of the standing structure, a symbol of permanent tribute.

Along the tour we sometime were distracted by food display like this.

Plaça del Rei - the royal palace enclose in a harmonious square during the Middle Ages. The distinguished watch tower of the King that was used in or from the 13th to the early 15th centuries.

The Museum of the History of Barcelona is a history museum that conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the historical heritage of the city of Barcelona, from its origins in Roman times until the present day. It's somewhere within Plaça del Rei of  the Gothic Quarter.

Today these ancient walls remain but have blended with other newer buildings that were built over the years hence not a truly scene of the era of the Middle Ages.

Listening to Eric about the Greater Synagogue of Barcelona which is one of the oldest in Europe and the last one to be discovered, the old Jewish quarter of the city, which still retains its medieval architecture.

Walking in the narrow streets like the time during the Middle Ages as we gathered and know things about the live of the Jewish.

The Ancient Synagogue of Barcelona is believed to be an ancient synagogue located in Carrer de Marlet GPS : 41.382534, 2.175813.

It has been described as one of the oldest synagogues in Europe. After many centuries of use for other purposes, the building re-opened as a synagogue and museum in 2002.

Monumento a los castellers is located in the densely-built Barrio Gotico. Its creator — architect Antoni Llena — got at least 600 thousand euros from the government for his work and continues to embellish Barcelona. The monument consists of thick steel pipes intertwined like a barbed wire. Though the thing looks unfriendly it’s loved by kids – it looks like “cobwebs” at playgrounds of our childhood.

It is located at Placa de Saint Miquel GPS : 41.382037, 2.177082

Within the proximity of the walking tour area we ended the lovely morning session by taking the metro train back to the hostel at Jaume I Station.

The last Chinese meal we had was in Lisbon and we were craving for another Chinese food, we found Yue Huang Restaurant while walking back to our hostel from Verdaguer Metro station.

A plate of char siew pork with dry noodle.

Beef soup noodle.

And a bowl of wanton soup to try.

We were happy to have a Chinese meal after so many days in Spain and simply because we miss Chinese food. After that we will be bringing our bicycles out to continue with our sight seeing.

Plaça de Catalunya in English is "Catalonia Square"; sometimes referred to as Plaza de Cataluña, its Spanish name) is a large square in central Barcelona that is generally considered to be both its city centre and the place where the old city (Barri Gòtic and Raval, in Ciutat Vella) meets the 19th century-built Eixample. GPS : 41.386160, 2.170295

It is especially known for its fountains and statues, its proximity to some of Barcelona's most popular attractions, and the flocks of pigeons that gather in the centre.

Some of the city's most important streets and avenues meet at Plaça Catalunya which are Passeig de Gràcia, Rambla de Catalunya, La Rambla, and Portal de l'Àngel.

 The plaza occupies an area of about 50,000 square metres. 

Within the Catalonia Square is the Monument to Francesc Macià. This unusual monument is the work of Josep Maria Subirachs and was inaugerated in 1991. An abstract statue consists of a bronze bust of Macià in front of an inverted concrete staircase. The unfinished staircase symbolises the ongoing history of Catalonia which is being constructed day-by-day.

La Rambla Walk is just next to Catalonia Square and as expected it was crowded on a Sunday afternoon. We were pre-warned of pickpockets and  were well prepared for any eventuality.

The Mercat de la Boqueria (Boqueria Market) is officially known as Mercat de San Josep. It is a municipal market located on Las Ramblas. This charming market is an ideal place to buy fruit and vegetables, although in recent years it has become a popular tourist attraction. We shall not go in today but will come back soon.

La Rambla, also known as Las Ramblas, is one of Barcelona’s main thoroughfares and one of the most visited areas in the city. This fascinating street is 1.3 km long connecting Plaça de Catalunya to the city’s old port.

The Mirador de Colom, also known as the Columbus Monument, is an impressive pillar dedicated to the explorer Christopher Columbus in Barcelona with an observation deck at the top. It stands 60 metres tall and sits at the end of La Rambla. It is also very close to the city’s port.

In front of Jo is the Rambla de Mar,  a wavy wooden walkway that begins at the bottom of the Ramblas next to the Port Autònom building on Moll de la Fusta and stretches across to the wharf opposite.

At the end of the wharf is shopping mall known as The Maremagnum, one of Barcelona's most distinctive shopping malls. Located right at the heart of the port, it is a good place to bring the family to do some shopping, grab a bite to eat or simply sit and watch the boats go by

It is surrounded by museum, port, cruise terminals, exhibition hall and other spaces that the port could offer.

Jo and the sunset time at the wharf next to Maremagnum Shopping Mall.

The cruises docking at the terminals.

Out we went to explore other attractive seaside activities and places.

Cruising through bars and restaurants to get to the other side of the coastline.

Sant Miquel Beach is situated between the beaches Sant Sebastià and Barceloneta. It was transformed into a beach in 1755 and is one of the oldest of the city.

The building behind the ladies is W Barcelona. W Barcelona sets the scene with a stunning look and truly iconic. 

The evening setting at the beach with amazing colour, beautiful sky welcoming a lovely evening in the city of Barcelona.

It was time to get back to Primavera Hostel and obviously W Barcelona would be wonderful maybe next time.

Our favourite restaurant, Cafeteria Los 4 Vientos,
 just below the hostel for a good meal before we say good night and looking forward visiting new places tomorrow.