Fodor's Spain 2016 by Fodor's Travel Guides

Author:Fodor's Travel Guides [Fodor’s Travel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fodor's Travel Publications
Published: 2015-10-21T00:00:00+00:00

Worth Noting

Fodor’s Choice | Gran Teatre del Liceu.

Barcelona’s opera house has long been considered one of the most beautiful in Europe, a rival to La Scala in Milan. First built in 1848, this cherished cultural landmark was torched in 1861, later bombed by anarchists in 1893, and once again gutted by an accidental fire in early 1994. During that most recent fire, Barcelona’s soprano Montserrat Caballé stood on La Rambla in tears as her beloved venue was consumed. Five years later, a restored Liceu, equipped for modern productions, opened anew. Even if you don’t see an opera, don’t miss a tour of the building; some of the Liceu’s most spectacular halls and rooms, including the glittering foyer known as the Saló dels Miralls (Room of Mirrors), were untouched by the fire of 1994, as were those of Spain’s oldest social club, El Círculo del Liceu. The Espai Liceu downstairs in the annex has a cafeteria; a gift shop with a wide selection of opera-related books and recordings; and a 50-seat video theater, where you can see a documentary history of the Liceu and a media library of recordings and films of past productions. | La Rambla 51–59, Rambla | 93/485–9914, 93/485–9900 | www.liceubarcelona.cat | Guided tour €14, 25-min express tour €6 | Guided tours weekdays at 9:30 and 10:30 am, express tours daily in the morning (at 9:30, 10:30, or 11:30, depending on the day) and at 6:30 pm | Station: Liceu.

Monument a Colom (Columbus Monument).

This Barcelona landmark to Christopher Columbus sits grandly at the foot of La Rambla along the wide harborfront promenade of Passeig de Colom, not far from the very shipyards (Drassanes Reials) that constructed two of the ships of his tiny but immortal fleet. Standing atop the 150-foot-high iron column—the base of which is aswirl with gesticulating angels—Columbus seems to be looking out at “that far-distant shore” he discovered; in fact he’s pointing, with his 18-inch-long finger, in the general direction of Sicily. The monument was erected for the 1888 Universal Exposition to commemorate the commissioning of Columbus’s voyage, in Barcelona, by the monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, in 1491. Since the royal court was at that time (and, until 1561, remained) itinerant, Barcelona’s role in the discovery of the New World is, at best, circumstantial. In fact, Barcelona was consequently excluded from trade with the Americas by Isabella, so Catalonia and Columbus have never really seen eye to eye. For a bird’s-eye view over La Rambla and the port, take the elevator to the small viewing platform (mirador) at the top of the column. The entrance is on the harbor side. | Portal de la Pau s/n, Rambla | 93/302–5224 | €4.50 | Mar.–Sept., daily 8:30–8:30; Oct.–Feb., daily 8:30–7:30 | Station: Drassanes.

Port.

Beyond the Columbus monument—behind the ornate Duana (now the Barcelona Port Authority headquarters)—is Rambla de Mar, a boardwalk with a drawbridge designed to allow boats into and out of the inner harbor. Rambla de Mar extends out to the Moll d’Espanya, with its Maremagnum shopping center, IMAX theater, and the excellent Aquarium.

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