OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
1. Güell Pavilions
Av Pedralbes 7 • 93 317 76 52 • Open 10am–4pm daily; phone in advance for guided visits (Spanish and Catalan only) • Adm
Gaudí designed the gatehouses and stable, known collectively as the Güell Pavilions (see Museu d’Història de Barcelona (MUHBA)), for his patron Eusebi Güell in the 1880s. You can admire the enormous dragon, inspired by the myth of the Garden of the Hesperides, which lunges out of the wrought-iron gate, and visit the complex as part of a guided tour.
Dragon, Güell Pavilions gate
2. Jardins de la Rambla de Sants
C/d’Antoni de Capmany s/n
This elevated park, which stretches for almost a kilometre from the Plaça de Sants to the La Bordeta district, is built above a disused railway track. It provides a peaceful stroll, with some refreshing bursts of greenery, in amongst the high-rise apartment blocks and old factory buildings.
3. El Refugi 307
C/Nou de la Rambla 175 • 93 256 21 00 • Guided tours at 10:30am (in English) on Sun, and by prior arrangement • Adm • www.barcelona.cat/museuhistoria/en
More than a thousand underground shelters were built beneath the city during the Spanish Civil War, when Barcelona was under bombardment by the nationalist forces. Shelter 307, with 400 m (1,312 ft) of tunnels, contained an infirmary, a toilet, a water fountain, a fireplace and a children’s room. It is now part of the Museu d’Història de Barcelona and provides a fascinating glimpse into the misery endured by city residents during the war.
4. Mercat de la Llibertat
Pl Llibertat 27 • 93 217 09 95
The Mercat de la Llibertat in Gràcia was built in 1888 and is notable for its beautiful wrought-iron and ceramic decoration. As well as a fabulous range of fresh produce, it also boasts some excellent stalls selling everything from original photographs to fashions.
5. Parc del Laberint d’Horta
These lovely 18th-century gardens (see Parc del Laberint d’Horta) are filled with classical statuary, little pavilions and ornamental ponds, but it is the fabulous – and surprisingly tricky – maze at their heart that is the big draw.
Pavilion, Parc del Laberint d’Horta
6. Bunkers del Carmel
C/del Turó de la Rovira s/n
Barcelona has a handful of disused bunkers – a reminder of the aerial attacks that took place during Spain’s long civil war. Chiselled into the side of a hill in the working-class El Carmel district, the roof of this bunker acts as a viewing platform. It’s become a popular place to enjoy a few beers and contemplate the city’s skyline as the sun goes down.
7. Basílica de la Puríssima Concepció
C/d’Aragó 299 • Open 7:30am–1pm & 5–9pm Mon–Fri (to 8pm Aug); 7:30am–2pm & 5–9pm Sun • www.parroquiaconcepciobcn.org
Dating back to the 13th century, this basilica was originally part of the Santa Maria de Jonqueres monastery. It was moved stone by stone to its current site in the 19th century. Head for the charming Gothic cloister, which is filled with greenery and birdsong, and bordered by slender 15th-century columns. The basilica regularly hosts concerts.
8. Convent de Sant Agustí
Pl l’Academia s/n, C/Comerç 36 • 93 256 50 17 • Open 9am–10pm Mon–Fri, 10am–2pm & 4–9pm Sat • Café: lunchtime Tue–Sat
The 15th-century Convent de Sant Agustí is now a cultural centre, with a lovely little café underneath the arches of what remains of the cloister. Relaxed and family-friendly, it is a great place to spend an afternoon.
9. Plaça Osca
This lovely, leafy old square in the Sants neighbourhood is flanked by cafés and bars, with tables spilling out onto the pavements. Rarely frequented by tourists but increasingly popular with trendy locals, it boasts a clutch of great spots to enjoy artisan beers and organic tapas.
10. Parc de Cervantes
Every spring, hundreds of people converge on the gardens in the Parc de Cervantes to admire the blooms of 11,000 rose bushes of 245 varieties. Grassy lawns extend around the rose gardens, dotted with picnic areas and children’s playgrounds.
The lush lawns and rose bushes of the Parc de Cervantes
