Barcelona is the setting for this round, where the map is the real city and the ball rolls across its actual streets. The course is built from real attractions, using the Basílica de la Sagrada Família and other landmarks as the holes. Skip is a local guide who knows every nook of these neighborhoods. This full round of 18 holes covers 10.9 km with a par of 56, using 162 portals to move across the map. A few crumbs might fall along the way.
The Basílica de la Sagrada Família is a minor basilica and an expiatory temple. Located in the Eixample district of Barcelona, this Catholic church remains under construction. Architect Antoni Gaudí designed the building in a style of Catalan modernism and Gothic Revival. It reaches a height of 172.5 meters and is recognized as a bien de interés cultural and a Cultural Asset of National Interest. Parts of the site were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. The inception of the project was in 1882, and it now draws 4,561,848 annual visitors.
Ricardo Bofill is the architect of the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya. This public theatre building in Barcelona is a musical theater building and a Cultural Asset part of the cultural heritage of Catalonia. It was created by the Culture Department of the Catalan Government to normalize and enhance the theatre and dance in Catalan language and their creators. I have always found the scale of the place impressive when I am gliding over the roof. It is a significant spot for anyone interested in the local arts and the specific way the city preserves its heritage.
Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas is the architect behind the Arc de Triomf. This triumphal arch is built in the neo-Mudéjar style and reaches a height of 29.8 meters. You can find it located at the northern end of the Passeig de Lluís Companys. It is recognized as a Cultural Asset of Local Interest. It was built as the main access gate for the 1888 Barcelona World Fair. I've always found the red brickwork quite striking against the city sky, making it easy to spot from a distance as you approach.
Let me show you the Palau de la Música Catalana, a concert hall in Barcelona. The building is a prime example of Catalan modernism and was designed by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. It was built between 1905 and 1908 for the Orfeó Català, which is a choral society founded in 1891. The hall was inaugurated on 9 February 1908. Today, it is a bien de interés cultural and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I've noticed the colors here are quite something.
You might expect a simple sweet shop, but this is actually the Museu de la Xocolata. Located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, it is a chocolate museum. It is a private institution owned by the Gremio de Pastelería de Barcelona. I've found that the scent around here is much better than the usual city smog. It is a great spot for you to learn about the treats we all love in a dedicated space, and it is a landmark that stands out in the neighborhood for its unique theme.
The archbishop of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain, holds his seat at the Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia. This Catholic cathedral and minor basilica had its inception in 1298. Construction of the building took place from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries, though the principal work on the cathedral was done in the fourteenth century. You can see the results of these centuries of building in the structure's 26 meter height and the cloister, which was completed in 1448. It is a significant site for visitors to the city to observe.
Look closely at the Catalan modernism style of this building before taking it all in. Palau Güell is a palace designed by the architect Antoni Gaudí and was built between 1886 and 1888. You can find it in Barcelona, Spain, where it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Works of Antoni Gaudí. It is also designated as a bien de interés cultural. I've seen many things from the air, but the detail on this one is something you have to see from the street.
Look at the rows of trees lining this pedestrian street. La Rambla is a rambla and an urban ensemble that stretches for 1.2 kilometres. It is recognized as a Cultural Asset of Local Interest. For those visiting, this street connects the Plaça de Catalunya in its center with the Christopher Columbus Monument at Port Vell. As you walk, you can pick out how it forms the boundary between the neighbourhoods of the Barri Gòtic to the east and the El Raval to the west. I've always found the shade here quite helpful when the sun gets high.
You will first notice the massive structure of the Drassanes Reials de Barcelona, which houses the Museu Marítim. This maritime museum is a bien de interés cultural and attracts 300,339 annual visitors. The building itself was the royal arsenal of Barcelona and was dedicated to shipbuilding between the thirteenth century and eighteenth century. The first mention of these arsenals appears in a 1243 document that indicated the boundaries of the city. I find the scale of the old shipbuilding halls quite impressive.
Mercat de Sant Josep - La Boqueria is a market hall located in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. This public market had its inception in 1914 and features a style of cast-iron architecture and Catalan modernism. You can enter the market from La Rambla, and the site has urban protection heritage. I always find the colors of the stalls quite striking from above, making it a favorite spot for those of us with wings to watch the crowds below.
The Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona had its inception in 1995 and opened to the public on 28 November 1995. Located in the Plaça dels Àngels within the Ciutat Vella district, it has grown to attract 715,745 annual visitors. Beyond its role as an art museum, the site operates as both an educational institution and a creative residency. I've noticed it's a great spot to see how the El Raval neighborhood blends modern energy with tradition, especially since the museum is a Cultural Asset part of the cultural heritage of Catalonia.
Plaça de Catalunya is a square in central Barcelona. The Eixample was built in the 19th century, and this square is the place where that district meets the old city. Today, the area is generally considered to be the city centre of Barcelona. You can pick out how it functions as a transport hub for people moving through the heart of the city. I have seen plenty of commuters rushing through here on their way to other districts, though they rarely stop to look around at the surrounding architecture.
Mare de Déu de Betlem is a church building. This site is recognized as a bien de interés cultural and is also a Cultural Asset of National Interest. You can see that the building was designed in the baroque architecture style. Construction on the church was started in 1681, and the architect responsible for the design was Josep Juli major. It is a significant example of this particular style within the city, and its status as a national asset ensures that its architectural details are preserved for all who visit.
This isn't just another open space for lounging. Plaça de Sant Jaume is a square and urban ensemble located at the center of the Old City of Barcelona. It carries urban protection and functions as the administrative heart of both the city and surrounding Catalonia. As you look around, you can pick out the City Hall and the Palace of the Generalitat of Catalonia. It is a heavy-hitting spot for local government. I usually find the best vantage points for people-watching from the edges of the plaza.
Pablo Picasso is the focus of this art museum in Barcelona. I can show you where 4251 of his works are kept, housed within five adjoining medieval palaces on Montcada Street in the La Ribera neighborhood of the Old City. It opened to the public on 9 March 1963 and has seen 1,130,500 annual visitors. The Government of Catalonia declared the Museu Picasso a museum of national interest. It is a great spot to see how his style evolved over time.
You will first notice the Palau de Mar, which is the sole building of Barcelona's old industrial port still standing. This structure is the home of the Museu d'Història de Catalunya, a history museum that began in 1996. Before becoming a museum, the Palau de Mar was the General Stores. I find it a great spot to stretch your legs while you learn about the region, especially since the museum sees 191,978 annual visitors. It is a wonderful way to experience the city's past while standing in a piece of its industrial architecture.
Berenguer de Montagut was the architect of the Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar. This minor basilica is a Catholic parish church located in the Ribera district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Built between 1329 and 1383, the building is designed in the Catalan Gothic style. Its inception was in 1359. Because of its significance, the church is recognized as a Cultural Asset of National Interest and is also listed as a bien de interés cultural. You can see the influence of the Catalan Gothic style throughout the structure as you walk through the Ribera district.
While it may look like a cathedral, this is the Basílica de la Mercè. It is a Catholic parish church and a minor basilica located in Barcelona, Catalonia. The inception of the building was in 1765, and it was designed by the architect Josep Mas i Dordal. You can see the influence of the baroque architecture style throughout the structure. This site is recognized as a Cultural Asset of Local Interest. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy, who has been the patron saint of the city since 1687.