Barcelona › Places and landmarks
Castellers
Human towers of up to ten storeys, built by teams standing on one another’s shoulders.
Castells are towers of people: a broad base of dozens of team members, then storeys of two to five people standing on shoulders, and at the top a child who raises a hand to crown it.
The tradition comes from the Tarragona area and is on UNESCO’s list of intangible heritage. In Barcelona the teams build them on Plaça de Sant Jaume at La Mercè, in September.
More in Barcelona
La RamblaThe tree-lined promenade from Plaça de Catalunya down to the sea, Barcelona’s busiest street.
Plaça de CatalunyaThe great square where the old town meets the 19th-century Eixample.
La BoqueriaBarcelona’s most famous market, under an iron roof just off the Rambla.
Gran Teatre del LiceuThe opera house on the Rambla, opened in 1847 and rebuilt after a fire in 1994.
Plaça ReialAn arcaded square with palm trees and lamps designed by a young Antoni Gaudí.
CathedralThe Gothic cathedral of Santa Eulàlia, with thirteen white geese in its cloister.
Plaça de Sant JaumeThe square where the government of Catalonia and the city hall face each other, on the old Roman forum.
Columbus MonumentColumbus on a 60-metre column at the bottom of the Rambla, pointing out to sea.
Gothic QuarterThe maze of narrow medieval lanes at the heart of the old town, on top of Roman Barcino.
Palau de la Música CatalanaA concert hall of Catalan Modernism, all mosaic, stained glass and sculpture.
Sagrada FamíliaGaudí’s basilica, under construction since 1882; it lies beyond this small map, in the Eixample.
TapasSmall dishes to share at the bar: patatas bravas, pan con tomate, croquetas and anchovies.