Unique buildings
Barcelona"s Casa Vicens (1883-1885), declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005, a unique oasis of calm with an Oriental and Moorish flavour, stands in the peaceful
neighbourhood of Gràcia. The building is covered with spectacular green and white tiles.
The tiny church of Sant Felip Neri is tucked away in a hidden corner of the
Gothic Quarter: a little square with a romantic atmosphere which bears the same name. The austere-baroque style façade bears the scars of bombing. The restoration and cleaning of the building sought to preserve the painful memory of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).
El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria is a unique and exceptional place that brings together three centuries of our history. Below the cast-iron structure of the iconic 19th century marketplace lies the Barcelona of 1700, the prosperous city that suffered the siege of 1714 and that put up an epic and heroic resistance before Catalonia's national liberties were eventually lost, yet to be restored three centuries later.
The area around the Plaça de les Glòries is packed with surprises and attractions. In addition to the imposing presence of the Glòries Tower and world-class cultural facilities such as the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, the concert hall, L"Auditori, and the design museum, the Museu DHUB, you can now enjoy the new market "Encants Barcelona", a mini retail world that is well worth discovering.
The Estació de França, Barcelona"s grand station, is a showcase of good taste and monumental architecture. Despite its size and beauty, few trains run from the station today. As we approach the lobby and platforms we"ll discover a building whose elegance has often been compared to the old Gare d"Orsay in Paris.
