TRAVEL REVIEWS Barcelona Spain - That Sensational Second City of Spain by Linda Plummer What more could you want out of life than a tremendous trip to Barcelona?! Second city of Spain and major Mediterranean port, bustling Barcelona incorporates a delightful historic mix of Roman remains, medieval quarters and 20th century avant-garde art. It also possesses beautiful beaches nearby! Nature lovers need not travel far to be able to hike through hills that are part of the Coastal Mountain Range and Catalonian Pyrenees. Not only is Barcelona a tremendous artistic source, there is also penty for the children to do. How they will love the beaches that surround the city, the Aquarium, Zoo, Maritime Museum, Museum of Barcelona Football Club, Olympic Stadium and nearby theme park! For shopoholics, the Barcelona Shopping Line will greatly appeal! The velvet night vibrates with night clubs, discos, shows, restaurants, bars, cafés ... not to mention theaters, cinemas, opera and classical music concerts. Needless to say, Barcelona is a culture-vulture´s dream come true with most places of historic interest being situated in the Old Town. The Old Town spreads north-west from the harbor and, at its heart, is the Gothic Quarter or Barrio Gótico. El Arco de Triunfo can be found there, plus the impressive Cathedral of Ciudad Condal. Adjacent to the Gothic Quarter is the Barrio de la Ribera, also of medieval origin, where several historic buildings have been turned into museums, such as the Palau Aguilar which is, nowadays, the Picasso Museum. The renowned Las Ramblas of Barcelona is a series of lively streets that combine to make a broad avenue leading to the harbor and Mediterranean Sea. What a superb atmosphere they possess! To the south-west lies the fortress-topped hill of Montjuic, where the Barcelona Olympic Stadium and some fine museums are located. At the southern end of the Ramblas lies Barcelona Harbor and Port Vell. This area now combines high-class restaurants with trendy clubs and bars. To be found in the central area of Barcelona (the Eixample) are the fantasy works of Gaudí such as Park Güell, Palau Güell and Casa Milà La Pedrera. However, Gaudí is best remembered for the part he played in the construction of the Cathedral of Barcelona - La Sagrada Familia. So ... boomerang on over to Barcelona and get to know Gaudí! About the Author Linda Plummer is webmistress of http://www.top-tour-of-spain.com Top Tour of Spain providing information on Spain for travel, food, language and living.