Destination Spotlight

8 Fun Facts About Barcelona

Spain’s second most populous city is a traveler’s delight, with lovely architecture and a rich culture. Here are eight things you should know about Barcelona:

• Construction on Guadi’s masterpiece the Sagrada Familia began in 1882. Over a hundred years later, the massive church is still being built.
• Park Guell is another of Gaudi’s famous creations in Barcelona, featuring beautiful tiled mosaics along with footpaths created under viaducts.

• Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Barcelona, but Catalan is also widely spoken, with an estimated 95% of Barcelona’s population understanding the language.
• La Rambla, the main street in Barcelona, originally functioned as a stream filled with sewage. In the 14th century, the stream was diverted and the street was developed.

• Barcelona was planned with a grid system, with the corners of buildings cut off to help alleviate traffic jams. This gives the buildings their octagonal shape.
• Casa Mila is the last private residence that Gaudi designed. An unusual building, it caused some controversy upon its construction, with some even concerned that the building’s appearance would lower land values in the area.

• Barcelona was the capital city of Spain from 1937 to 1939. Today, it remains the capital of the region of Catalonia.
• A sculpture of a goldfish—designed by Frank Gehry—dominates the shoreline. It was constructed as part of the city’s preparations for the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Ready to walk through this masterpiece of a city? Spend a Summer in Spain with WorldStrides!