Tucked between the mountains and the sea, Barcelona is synonymous with art and style, which is evident in its museums, restaurants, and unique architecture. The Catalonian capital is also closely linked to artists and visionaries including Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and Antoni Gaudí.
For an artful stay, book a room at El Palace Barcelona, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. This grande dame is more than 100 years old, and unabashedly classic and luxurious with fabric-covered walls and antiques. Specialty rooms include a Ronnie Wood-suite which marries Art Deco style with a dash of rock and roll. Its restaurant, Amar Barcelona, is helmed by former El Bulli head chef Rafa Zafra.
Any first-time visitor should make a pilgrimage to the Sagrada Família cathedral, Gaudí’s magnificent masterpiece which has been under construction for more than 130 years. His other whimsical designs include the Casa Batlló, a residential building that looks like it’s covered in dragon scales, and Park Güell, a green oasis that is a wonderland of Gaudí’s imagination.
View of Sagrada Familia from Placa de Gaudi. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Equally stunning is the Hospital de Sant Pau, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This Art Nouveau former medical complex embraces beauty as a core principle of healing, and the result is a shimmering tiled confection that would look at home in a Wes Anderson movie.
2023 is the 50th anniversary of Pablo Picasso’s death, with extensive exhibits planned in Spain and France. Head to the Gothic Quarter to explore the Museu Picasso, which showcases the artist’s earliest works as well as his connection to the city. Don’t miss the Fundació Joan Miró which houses Miró’s graphic work, as well as the Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavillion, which debuted in 1929.
For stylish and delicious eats, try Gala for its tapas and cocktails, as well as its Alice-in-Wonderland-themed design, and Vinitus for tapas in a sleek setting.
For a taste of Barcelona in your own home, click here for recipes and insight from chef Rafa Zafra.
Like what you see? Get it first with a subscription to aspire design and home magazine.