Colon Hotel in front of Barcelona Cathedral

To finish this hotel series for now, I leave you with a view of Colon Hotel right in front of Barcelona Cathedral in Barri Gotic. I know the picture is no big deal but if you look it up on a Barcelona map you'll find out how well located this renown hotel is. With time Barcelona Photoblog pretends to be a little helpful guide to visitors so the more information the better, specially finding accommodation in town. I have often wondered why so many travel guides offer those tiny pictures that may ruin your logical enthusiasm prior to the discovery of a new city. They are like a very small window, you want to look inside and capture as many details as possible, full of illusion as you are, and there's no way to stick your head inside to take a look around. So whenever possible I will try to show you some hotels, museums, etc that may not be of photographic interest but will surely let you lean on the window and take a glimpse at Barcelona.

Updated 07/2023: 

Hotel Colón: Exquisite Accommodation in the Heart of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter

But now let us go through the imaginary window and  demonstrate why it is a great option when it comes to finding accommodation in our city:

Nestled in the heart of Barcelona's historic Gothic Quarter, Hotel Colón stands as an exceptional choice for the discerning traveler seeking unrivaled comfort and convenience. With its proximity to the iconic Barcelona Cathedral, this splendid hotel offers an unforgettable experience, refined accommodations, and unique offerings that transport guests to the heart of Barcelona's rich cultural tapestry.

Unparalleled Location near Barcelona Cathedral:

Hotel Colón boasts an enviable address, perfectly situated just steps away from the revered Barcelona Cathedral. This privileged location allows guests to immerse themselves in the architectural wonders and storied history of the Gothic Quarter. Meandering through its labyrinthine streets, visitors will encounter hidden gems, picturesque plazas, and charming boutiques that paint a vivid portrait of Barcelona's exceptional past.

Elegance and Comfort Redefined:

Step into Hotel Colón and be transported to a world of refined elegance and supreme comfort. Each meticulously designed room and suite reflects a harmonious blend of contemporary sophistication and local charm. The hotel offers an array of thoughtfully curated accommodations, ranging from cozy single rooms to spacious suites, ensuring every guest finds their ideal sanctuary amidst the bustling city.

Impeccable Amenities and Exquisite Dining:

Hotel Colón's commitment to providing an unforgettable stay is exemplified by its impeccable amenities and attentive services. Take in breathtaking panoramic views of Barcelona's majestic skyline and the resplendent Barcelona Cathedral from the hotel's enchanting rooftop terrace. This idyllic space offers the perfect retreat to unwind and savor delectable culinary creations crafted with precision and passion. Indulge in the flavors of traditional Catalan and Mediterranean cuisine, elevating your gastronomic journey to new heights.

Beyond the Hotel's Thresholds:

While Hotel Colón delights guests with its opulent offerings, Barcelona beckons with its myriad attractions, awaiting exploration beyond the hotel's thresholds. Just a stone's throw away, the magnificent Barcelona Cathedral enthralls visitors with its Gothic grandeur, unveiling centuries of history through its intricate architecture and soaring spires. Immerse yourself in the city's cultural scene, from marveling at the visionary works of Antoni Gaudí to discovering the Roman and medieval treasures scattered inside the perimeter of the old city walls and of course, do revel in the captivating ambiance of tapas bars, seafood restaurants, and bustling local markets.

Hotel Colón stands as a testament to refined hospitality, embracing Barcelona's rich history and remarkable culture. Its exceptional location near the Barcelona Cathedral provides a gateway to the city's architectural marvels and hidden treasures. Through its exquisite accommodations, impeccable amenities Hotel Colón is the perfect ambassador of Barcelona.

Why not sharing your impressions with Barcelona Photoblog while you enjoy the impressive views of the Cathedral from Hotel Colon then? 

Quick Tips for Choosing a Hotel in Barcelona

Jorge Franganillo

Whenever you book a trip, one of the most important decisions to make is where to stay. Even if you're hoping to spend your time out and about, a good night's sleep is essential. You don't want to be kept awake by partying downstairs, next door or outside. And you certainly don't want to spend your time in Barcelona staying in a dirty or unsafe room. Whether you go for cheap and cheerful, or you're looking for the ultimate luxury, choosing the right hotel could make or break your vacation. Try using the tips below to pick the right place for you and have an enjoyable time in Barcelona.

Set Your Budget

The first thing you should decide is how much money you want to spend on your hotel. If money is no object, you can look at four and five-star hotels that have everything you could need. But if you need to watch your wallet, it's better to set yourself a budget. There are different levels of accommodation you could choose from, from hostels or pensions to budget and luxury hotels. If you want to stick to somewhere in the middle, look at three-star hotels.

Choose Your Requirements

You need to think about what you're looking for in a hotel. Barcelona has a lot to offer in terms of accommodation, so narrowing down your wishes will help. Perhaps you have to have a pool, or you want somewhere with a bar. Are you looking for a hotel in a certain location or one with a gym? Remember that the price will be influenced by the location and facilities. So don't expect to find everything you could ever need at a budget hotel.

Use Booking Sites

The easiest way to find a Barcelona hotel that's perfect for you is to use booking sites. Visit Venere or a similar site and browse through the many hotels available. You'll be able to look at photos and read information about each hotel. Then you can book your stay without having to leave the site. Most sites also have ratings and reviews too, so you can see what other guests thought.

Check the Photos

Having a look at a hotel's photos is always a good idea. If you love photography, it's an even better idea. You could find a hotel that's perfect for taking a few shots. If you can, try to find photos taken by guests too. Doing so will give you a more accurate picture of the state of the hotel, and not just a carefully-controlled professional image.

Read Reviews

It may seem obvious, but reading hotel reviews is essential. You don't want to check into an awful establishment, only to find it could have been avoided if you had read the reviews. However, they're less important for more expensive hotels. And if you want to stay closer to the center of Barcelona, you probably won't find anywhere horrible.

There are lots of hotels to choose from in Barcelona, and some of them are beautiful buildings. Just take your time choosing one to make sure you don't get duped.

Step Back in Time at Barcelona's Historic Hotel El Palace

Step into the Gilded Age of Travel at Barcelona's Hotel El Palace

Tucked away on a tree-lined boulevard in the heart of Barcelona lies a timeless grande dame that transports guests back to the glamorous era of early 20th century travel. Hotel El Palace Barcelona, originally opened in 1919 as an outpost of César Ritz's famed luxury hotel chain, oozes old world charm and elegance. From its ornate façade guarded by liveried doormen to the antique furnishings within, El Palace brings to life a bygone time when travel was still an exclusive pursuit of royalty and the cultural elite.

The Remarkable Rise of César Ritz

The storied history of El Palace Barcelona begins with legendary hotelier César Ritz, the pioneering founder of the international Ritz brand. Born in 1850 in the small Swiss village of Niederwald, Ritz was the thirteenth child in a family of farmers. His mother noticed young César’s intellect and insisted he receive an education, sending him to a Jesuit boarding school. There he learned German, French, and English—skills that would prove invaluable.

At 15, Ritz became an apprentice waiter at a hotel in Brig, Switzerland. But he was dismissed after a few months, deemed to lack faculties for hospitality. After a period of uncertainty, ambitious Ritz left for Paris in 1867 to seek his fortune. The bustling city was hosting the Universal Exposition, creating many hospitality jobs. Though starting as a waiter apprentice again, Ritz quickly moved up, honing his skills at top restaurants like Voisin.

Ritz exhibited exceptional talent for remembering guests’ names and preferences. His amiable personality also attracted important contacts like the Prince of Wales. But Ritz’s budding career was interrupted by the 1870 Franco-Prussian War. When Voisin closed due to scarce supplies, Ritz returned to Switzerland. In 1873 he went to Vienna for another Universal Exposition and met European royalty while working at a fine restaurant there.

For the next decade, Ritz spent winters serving elite clientele on the French Riviera and summers in the Swiss Alps. In 1889, the Savoy Hotel in London recruited Ritz and chef Auguste Escoffier to manage their new luxury property. During his decade at the Savoy, Ritz pioneered innovations like in-room bathrooms and introduced standards of service and cuisine never before seen in hotels.

But Ritz dreamed of launching his own luxury hotel. In 1898, he opened the esteemed Hôtel Ritz Paris. Its elegantly appointed rooms and refined dining attracted royalty, business magnates, and creatives. The terms “ritzy” and “puttin’ on the Ritz” stem from this gilded era.

After conquering Paris, London and Madrid, Ritz, who at the beginning was reluctant to build in Barcelona, was advised by Francesc Cambó, a local politician and intellectual, on the need of building yet another magnificent first-class hotel, this time in Barcelona considering pending events like the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. No expense was spared to create Ritz's vision of a palatial urban oasis. When Hotel Ritz Barcelona opened in 1919, it immediately became the city's premier luxury destination.

Although Ritz managed to expand his holdings globally he finally had to pass his empire to his heirs and retire to Switzerland due to declining health. When he died in 1918, César Ritz was remembered as the founder of modern luxury hospitality.

A Storied Past Through War and Peace

In its early years, El Palace cemented its status as the place to see and be seen in Barcelona. Well-heeled travelers arriving on luxurious cruise ships docked nearby eagerly made their way to the hotel's elegant spaces. Over the decades, famous guests have ranged from Spanish royalty like King Alfonso XIII to luminaries like Ernest Hemingway and Salvador Dalí.

The sprawling Ritz also became a cultural hub for Barcelona's high society. In the 1920s, its ballrooms hosted splendid masquerade galas, concert performances and art shows that attracted the city's creatives and socialites. The hotel's bar served as a lively spot where intellectual figures like Federico García Lorca and José Ortega y Gasset convened for cultural lectures, organized by the prominent women Isabel Llorach and Francesc Cambó.

But after the boom of the 1920s, troubling times loomed with the Spanish Civil War's outbreak in 1936. During the conflict, El Palace became a refuge for prominent families seeking shelter. Despite the war's chaos, the hotel maintained an aura of civility and calm. The tireless staff provided any comfort or service required, even sleeping onsite overnight when commuting was dangerous.

When war erupted, the hotel transformed into a worker-run cafeteria under the CNT and UGT unions, providing vital meals for Barcelona's hungry population. After the war, the grande dame emerged physically unscathed. But isolation under Franco's regime affected its glittering clientele. However, the hotel continued operating with world-class service and dignity.

The Grande Dame Regains Her Luster

By the 1950s, Barcelona had begun opening up to the world again. With major events at the city's expo grounds, El Palace found itself welcoming international guests once more. A renaissance during the 1960s-70s won the hotel global acclaim and designation as a Leading Hotel of the World for its refined amenities.

In 2019, extensive renovations prepared El Palace for its next 100 years by sensitively restoring original details while incorporating modern comforts and conveniences. From its elegant facade to the restored interior design, the hotel brings Barcelona's gilded early 20th century era back to life. The César Ritz spirit continues through the staff's genuinely warm hospitality.

Famous Guests Over the Decades

El Palace’s premier location and accommodations have attracted many celebrity guests. Salvador Dalí repeatedly stayed in his favorite luxury suite during sojourns in Catalonia, once famously bringing up a taxidermy horse as a gift for his wife Gala, to the astonishment of hotel staff.

Retired bandleader Xavier Cugat, who popularized mambo music in 1940s Hollywood, spent his later years living at El Palace, filling its ballrooms with lively tunes in the 1970s and 80s. In 1987, Freddie Mercury met opera singer Montserrat Caballé at the hotel's bar, catalyzing their creative collaboration on the song "Barcelona" for the 1992 Olympic Games.

Many other luminaries have repeatedly made El Palace their home away from home when visiting Barcelona over the decades, including a diverse array of Hollywood actors, opera singers, rock stars, bullfighters, famous painters, directors, fashion designers, irreplaceable writers, distinguished members of high society from nobility to heads of state, from illustrious politicians to Arab sheiks, from Masons to Nazis, from Republicans to Franco's troops. The list is so extensive that it makes no sense trying to include them all here.

To celebrate the hotel's 2019 centennial, El Palace unveiled a photo exhibition with images of its glamorous past events and famous faces. The hotel's prestigious history and restored elegant spaces continue to transport guests back to Barcelona's golden era of luxury travel today.

Barcelona's Leading Luxury Destination Through the Years

In many ways, the history of El Palace mirrors that of Barcelona itself. The hotel was the city's premier luxury destination from the moment its doors opened in 1919, attracting affluent travelers and hosting high society events. In the carefree 1920s, its ballrooms and restaurants were the epicenter of Barcelona's buzzing cultural scene. El Palace was witness to pivotal historic moments like the 1929 World's Fair and the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.

During the economically depressed postwar years, the hotel weathered challenges but continued as an oasis of refinement. By the 1960s, a rebirth of Barcelona's cosmopolitan spirit coincided with El Palace's renewed golden era. The city became an international travel hotspot once again, and the hotel its glittering social hub. The 1992 Summer Olympics spotlighted Barcelona on the world stage, drawing renewed interest in its Belle Epoque splendor.

Today, extensive restoration work ensures El Palace remains Barcelona's most illustrious luxury hotel. Its timeless elegance comes alive in the ornate facade, the crystal chandeliers glittering in palatial event spaces, the frescoed ceilings and marble floors.

For over a century, Hotel El Palace Barcelona has maintained its stature as the crown jewel of Catalan hospitality. It continues César Ritz's legacy as the pinnacle of discreet luxury experiences, attracting discerning travelers today as it did Barcelona's elite in its 1920s heyday. A fascinating living link to the city's past remains vibrantly alive within El Palace's historic walls.

Condes de Barcelona Hotel at Passeig de Gracia 73

Barcelona hotels are really scarce in Barcelona Photoblog, simply because it is difficult for me to take good pictures of some buildings that are normally boring, at least from the outside. Nevertheless, considering that spring and Easter holidays are around the corner I have decided to show some well known hotels that might give visitors a hint or at least serve as an appetizer before booking a room in our city. The fact that I pick up these hotels does not mean I emphasize on any of them. They all caught my attention in a certain way and are 4 star hotels after all so they might be good choices for you when searching for accommodation in our city. In any case I will insert a link to their site if available.

Here goes the first one: Condes de Barcelona Hotel. What is special about this hotel? The location of course, Passeig de Gracia 73-75. It is a beautiful modernist building facing La Pedrera or Casa Mila by Gaudi. The rest you can read by yourselves on their site above. Considering the area I am sure the price must be something to take into account but hey, who knows?.

Centric Point Hostel: Passeig de Gracia 33, Barcelona, Spain

Not too long ago, I uploaded three pictures about hotels in Barcelona. I suggested they could be right although it was not an affirmation. After some thought I reckon that talking only about hotels wouldn't be fair with the hostel business or better yet with young people who want to enjoy Barcelona on a low budget.

I have to confess here that whenever I think of hostels many dark, shabby places come to my mind. Every city has scary hotels, motels or hostels. But you know cliches are not to be taken too seriously. The other day, I noticed a group of young boys and girls were having a chat on the corner of Passeig de Gracia and Consell de Cent. They had come out of a building with a big sign on the door that read: Centric Point Hostel. In fact this is nothing that calls your attention for more than two seconds. They were all blond, dressing casual and showing off that unmistakable white skin that's bound to be sunburnt the following day or is already as red as a boiling lobster's shell. They didn't look like the average backpacker though, and they seemed to be pretty happy talking there. All of that made me muse a little: "Hey, this hostel in the middle of Passeig de Gracia looks like a hotel!". On one of the balconies with some towels drying up in the sun (something unthinkable in this part of the city) I saw a girl leaning and looking towards the modernist buildings nearby and I realized how privileged she was of having such great view of the most frequented and elegant street of Barcelona. The cherry on top was that the building is modernist too and has been recently restored. I am sure there are lousy places to stay in Barcelona but this one is definitely not, you would say it's a like 3 star hotel!. So I decided to share a hostel post with you today starting with a good one, of course you definitely have to check other sources too.

Here is a list of places near Centric Point Hostel:

Las Ramblas (5 minutes walking), Catalunya square (3 minutes walking)and many art nouveau (Catalan modernisme) houses such as Gaudi's Casa Batlló (50 metres), Casa Amatller (45 metres), Gaudi's Casa Milá also known as La Pedrera (5 minutes walking) or Casa Lleo Morera (5 metres). I forgot to say that along Passeig de Gracia you have the best shops in town no wonder it is one of the most expensive streets in Barcelona and Spain but you don't need to worry about that too much as it is always easy to find cheaper places to shop around in the area. I also go downtown everyday and never buy an Armani you know.

Maybe you want me to recommend some other hostels so you can compare: Hostels and a map of hostels. Have a nice, cheap and comfortable stay in Barcelona!

The Wall Walk in Girona, Catalonia

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The city walls dating from early medieval times are a good place to enjoy a privileged view of Girona. The point where I am right now is the longest stretch conserved and can be reached from the Jardí d'Infància, on the banks of the Onyar river which I will show you tomorrow. I know that this personal photoblog should concentrate on Barcelona but I consider it fit sometimes to include other provinces inside Catalonia so you have the chance to get an idea of the cities and towns you can visit once in Barcelona. Girona is 103 Km North East of Barcelona, on the way to France. Sometimes it is cheaper to fly to Girona which is near Costa Brava or the Pyrenees and has good road connections with the capital of Catalonia. Here are some airlines that operate a flight to Girona Spain. Girona is the city with the fastest growing population in the last decade (28,5%). Recommended: A walk through the narrow streets of the historic Jewish quarter or any of the monuments mentioned here. A list of some important hotels in Girona.

barcelona barcelona+photoblog barcelona+photos barcelona+pictures barcelona+photography barcelona+images girona gerona travel city+walls girona+spain nikon+d70s

Grand Luxury Hotel Casa Fuster Modernist Landmark of Barcelona

Hotel Casa Fuster by architect Domenech i Montaner - picture by Carlos Lorenzo

Do you want to discover one of the top modernist landmarks in Barcelona? Come visit with me the Grand Luxury Hotel Casa Fuster, member of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World group, a jewel of Catalan Art Nouveau architecture.

History

Hotel Casa Fuster started being just a casa modernista but it was not any odd house indeed. This beauty was built by the matchless architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner who was commissioned by Don Mariano Fuster i Fuster, illustrious member of the Mallorcan high society apropos of his marriage to Miss Consuelo Fabra i Puig, daughter of the Marquis of Alella.

In fact, Fuster wanted to give this house to his wife as a wedding present and there were no limits for expenses. He put the house under his wife's name and dedicated a rose window to her, on the facade of Jesus Street where you can read her initials CF.

Domenech's work was the first house in Barcelona built with white marble and cost 13 million pesetas, a fortune that made it the most expensive in the city at that time, one year before La Pedrera by Gaudi, which is about 400 meters away down Passeig de Gracia.

Those were times in which houses talked a lot about the class of their owners. The history of this famous street is that of the war of egos among the powerful elite of wealthy businessmen and nobles on each side of the road. Can you imagine this magnificent white marble five story building, shining on top of the hill at the end of Passeig de Gracia? 1,920 square meters of property on the premises of an old chocolate factory demolished in 1905 stating clearly that it was second to none.

Corner of Hotel Casa Fuster facing Gran de Gracia street

 
The works began in 1908 and ended in 1911, the year in which the family entered to live on the noble floor, that is, the first one. The rest of the floors were for rent. This was very common in Barcelona. It really helped covering the ostentatious expenses.

What is today the main entrance of the hotel was the access for carriages that used to go through till the opposite side, a back alley in which there is a church. On the other hand, what we know at present as Café Vienés was the family events room in which there was a staircase to go up to the private floor of the family.

In the early twenties the family had to sell the house. It was impossible to keep such pace, not even by renting the upper floors. Nevertheless the flats remained for rent long after the owners left.

Over the years, businesses such as a barber shop and a grocery store were prosperous in the area of Cafe Vienes famous for its jazz concerts nowadays every Thursday from 9 to 11 pm. Another part of the building, what at present is the Sala Doménech i Montaner in the underground floor used to be a very popular dance hall in the middle of the 50s known as "The Blue Danube". It was a place of reunion for the different social strata in the city.

Famous Cafe Vienes in Hotel Casa Fuster

But that is not all. The house changed from hand to hand several times according to the historical ups and downs of the city so it was not strange to see the consulate of Hitler's Germany or the Italian Institute during Mussolini's dictatorship occupying one of the floors. Although not all was that fascist in its records! The same floor was taken by the POUM (Workers Party of Marxist Unification) to establish their headquarters in 1936. Also the Defense Committee of the Revolution by the Iberian Communist Youth was organized here. In 1939, once Republicans lost the civil war, Franco's Falange settled in the house and also their official Social Assistance institutions.

By the way, this was the house of the famous Catalan poet Salvador Espriu for 30 years! It is said that he did not want to abandon the premises until a leg injury impaired him and made it impossible for him to climb the stairs. 

In 1962 the company ENHER (the Ribagorzana Hydroelectric Company) bought the house for 11 million pesetas. The intention was to tear down Casa Fuster and start a more functional high rise building called Barcelona Tower. There was a tremendous campaign to defend this urban heritage, led by important personalities and publications such as Oriol Bohigas and Destino magazine.

As a result of the general protests ENHER, not only did not demolish the house, but promised to make a restoration of the building.

The Hotel

In 1999 "Casa Fuster" was on sale and in the year 2000 it was bought by Hoteles Center.

It is now the property of a group of companies called GRUPO NOGA (the initials of the name and surnames of the owner). The group's headquarters are in Granada, where the company opened its first hotel in 1992. There are others in Cordoba, Badajoz, Seville and Valencia.

Opened in 2004, Hotel Casa Fuster started attracting foreign and local clients alike. It was a privilege to sleep in such beautiful landmark not only because of the architecture but because of the history. This well deserved fame made it part of the most expensive hotels in the village. You may easily spend here more than 1000 euros per room although the standard ones are about 255 EUR (+VAT). Of its 105 rooms, only 67 are standard bedrooms. The rest are superior rooms, junior suites and suites. The company also owns Suite Center Barcelona apartments in Passeig de Gracia 128, some steps away from the entrance.

Hotel Casa Fuster Front Façade on Passeig de Gracia 132

 
The list of famous guests is countless but as you know a hotel like this strictly protects the privacy of its clients. You'd better Google them up.

Not only you can sleep in an enormous King size bed with a view of Sagrada Familia but you can enjoy the popular terrace from where Passeig de Gracia is all in front of your eyes right until Plaça Catalunya, 10 blocks away.

The hotel has eleven meeting rooms, a gym, a sauna and a massage room. There is the Galaxó Restaurant on the first floor which has an average price of 60 euros and has a menu called 'modernist' for 40 euros. Besides being a place to stay and find solace, Hotel Casa Fuster is much more. It is the central spot for all sort of events and activities, such as weddings, anniversaries, baptisms, bachelor parties, business meetings, congresses, cocktails, spots, movies...you name it.

Guests are pampered by hotel staff from the doormen till the last employee and that is perhaps what makes it so unique on top of the architecture and history.

The Architect

Lluís Domènech i Montaner was a prolific architect. His professional life began in 1874 with the pantheon project for Anselm Clavé, in Poblenou's cemetery in Barcelona, and ended in 1919 with Casa Domènech in Canet de Mar.

During forty-five years he produced more than seventeen buildings among other projects, of which 46% corresponds to housing, 25% to public architecture, 16% to funeral architecture, 6% to monuments, 4% to religious architecture and 3 % to industrial architecture.

Doménech i Montaner, also known for Hospital de Sant Pau and Palau de la Musica, which he build in parallel to Casa Fuster was a modernist architect of international renown and a professor of architecture. In fact, Gaudi was Montaner's pupil in the school of architecture.

His style may look more sober than Gaudi's but it is by no means less solid as he was the father sort to say, of Catalan modernisme.

Check the images above and admire the impressive facades of Casa Fuster, in which the architect avoids the straight lines as much as possible with the intention of creating movement while highlighting representative ornaments of nature like flowers, plants and birds. Remember that Doménech i Montaner was also a botanist! This man was a genius overshadowed by the Messi of architecture, Antonio Gaudi.

An Exclusive Bird's Eye View on Barcelona: Diagonal 00

As covered by Barcelona Photoblog in a previous post, the skyline of Barcelona is experiencing a drastic change and the waterfront is no longer spilled with industrial warehouses or fishermen shacks. The explosion of high rise buildings is evident and it is not strange to listen to testimonies of tourists that have enjoyed a wonderful view from one of those state-of-the-art hotels or employees that have the privilege of working in brand new company headquarters facing the sea and surrounded by an idyllic neighborhood. Such is the case of gravity defiant Diagonal 00, Telefonica's flagship head office, a sort of modern Flatiron building in Europe. I am sure that staff working on top floors must have an impressive panorama in front of them every morning, almost like a bird's eye view considering the rest of our urban perimeter is quite flat.

By the way, today I would like to recommend this fantastic video in 3D about Barcelona city in which you have the opportunity to virtually travel on bird's eye view mode over several Barcelona hallmarks. In fact, the video is the result of Oh-Barcelona staff efforts to introduce more advanced visual technologies like 3D in the world of city maps and travel guides. I hope you enjoy the trip!

Rambla de Mar Lightweight Bridge, Barcelona, Spain

Witnessed by the anxious crowd gathering on the Rambla de Mar lightweight bridge close to Maremagnum shopping center, gently sails this boat, stopping time for some minutes and forcing visitors to enjoy the view longer than expected, till the mechanism in the bridge extends the wooden platform towards the pier on the other side. The bridge by Viaplana and Pinion leads to Las Ramblas nearby and was featured in Barcelona Photoblog in the past: Waiting for the Bridge at Rambla de Mar and Maremagnum Wooden Bridge in Rush Hours.

And just in case you would like to enjoy the same view daily here is list of Barcelona hotels near the port:

• Grand Marina hotel
• H10 Port Vell hotel
• Serras hotel
• Hotel Duquesa de Cardona
• Hotel Jazz
• Axel hotel
• Hotel Brummell
• Hotel Miramar

The New Skyline of Barcelona: Corruption and Hedonism

Near the forum area and Diagonal Mar, new hotels and office buildings see the light of day like flowers in the spring. Once, we were told that the height of new buildings would be controlled in order to respect traditional Catalan architecture in the city. There were times when only Hotel Arts and Mapfre Tower overlooked the sea, as solitary twins down there by the beach. I am not sure if they ever passed the law but it seems that regulations are there to be broken by real estate companies in connivance with prestigious architects and dubious local government representatives and so the story goes, all of a sudden we have a myriad of new tall buildings on the waterfront or along Diagonal Avenue that may be wonderful for touristic revenues and for the city but that have sent the initial good criteria straight down the drain. This modest blogger does like hotels and beautiful skylines but I can't help being astonished at how power tends to corrupt those we vote.

Barcelona's Twin Towers

Barcelona's Twin Towers, called 'Las Torres Gemelas' in Spanish, are tied for the tallest buildings in the city. At 154 metres tall, the Torre Mapfre (on the right) and the Hotel Arts (on the left) look over the Catalan capital from their location by the beach at Port Olímpic. The Torre Mapfre is owned by insurance company Mapfre and is home to their offices, as well as those of several other companies. Its sister, the Hotel Arts, is quite different as it is one of the city's most luxurious hotels. Many a celebrity has been known to stay in one of the Hotel Arts' 483 rooms that overlook Barcelona's beaches.

Photo is courtesy of Oh-Barcelona

Miramar Hotel at Montjuic Mountain, Barcelona

Miramar-Barcelona Hotel in particular being on Montjuic mountain, on Miramar road to be more precise, is a little out of the way. It is not inaccesible, but it is a mountain after all. Of course you have the best views of Barcelona port, Maremagnum and some other areas of the city from up there. There is a beautiful park nearby and an important botanical garden devoted exclusively to cacti thanks to the special microclimate along the wall of the mountain. This is a luxury hotel designed by Oscar Tusquet. Miró Foundation Museum is very near and MNAC National Art Museum not so near as they suggest but you won't get a heart attack before you reach the place. Of course the 15 minutes walk to get to Las Ramblas is feasible although that means you have to descend towards the city. Hey, if you have money for luxury hotels don't complain about transportation anyways.

Advertise

Barcelona Photoblog has been around since 2006, the year when the first international Blog Day was declared. Blogging in Spain was just starting. No wonder I was able to keep barcelonaphotoblog.com domain since then. From that strike of luck an impressive amount of content came to life. Hours and hours of dedication to build a name in my niche. Such dedication was paid with visits, millions of them. 

All over this time, this site grew up to be a respectable personal guide, gallery and travel journal about Barcelona. There are about 1500 posts in here and part of my life in words and images. 

Many sponsors have chosen my blog to advertise, mainly those who want to promote a product within a local website with a voice in social networks and not so commercial as those big companies we all know that buy their place in top rankings. 

The fact that Barcelona is such a popular travel destination makes my content a good opportunity for travel agencies, hotels, restaurants and brands interested in making their product stand out from the crowd in local SERPs or simply send more visitors their way. 

Although Google has been very harsh on blogs, obviously to sell their own ads and not to provide better content to users, Barcelona Photoblog has managed to always have a good online presence with numerous well ranked pages and keywords and survive the infamous Google algorithm updates. 

Advertising in my website does not involve too much trouble: 

1. You can be featured in the way of a link to your website on the sidebar for a year. 

2. You can post an article written by you or by me about your product or website. 

Feel free to send an email via Contact Us or directly to carloslor@gmail.com 

I hope we can do mutual business and that it is profitable on both sides. Thanks for stopping by!

Barcelona Attempts to Regulate Impact of Tourism in the City

Last year Barcelona had the pleasure of giving accommodation to 8.303.609 travelers. This astonishing figure, that represents an increment of 5,4 % against previous year, would please the majority of local citizens and institutions if it weren’t for the fact that all in all they spent 2,1% less than in 2014. Low budget tourists increase in spite of the fact that the economy is getting better thanks to the constant flow of cash that evidently creates new jobs especially during the high season. During a whole decade, low cost travellers have been the general tendency in the city so according to many, new regulations should be implemented. Starting this year, representatives of hotel sectors, local authorities and boards of neighborhood members managed to reach some sort of agreement that controls the impact of tourism per areas in the city without restraining the successful figures of the Catalan economy.

 It is a fact that everyone has the right to travel according to their own pocket and it is difficult to apply the right of admission as if you were in a bar or something. Perhaps our town hall should read articles like this: Making tourism more sustainable

When it comes to low budget tourism it is inevitable to think of backpackers but as I said not everyone has the money to stay at Hotel Mandarin and you can find tight pockets in many illustrious hotels.

If you happen to be a backpacker and you want to visit Barcelona, you might consider this short list of hostels, quality and stylish hostels where you could vindicate your right to know our culture, enjoy your great holidays, study, find a couple, establish, integrate into our society or be a mere temporary visitor without no one telling you what you have to do and for the less amount of money you can pay. The only thing we ask is that you feel at home and you treat the city as such. By the way, this is valid for the spending kind too. Welcome to Barcelona everyone!

      • Casa Gracia 

      • St.Christopher's Inn 

      • Urbany hostel 

      • Kabul Hostel 

For those who simply want to search for the perfect hostel online, you could try Hostelz.com

World’s Tallest Building in Dubai - Burj Khalifa!

Dubai is located on the Eastern coast of Arabian Peninsula. It is an exotic city which welcomes millions of visitors every year. It is mainly renowned for the luxurious lifestyle, hospitality of people and where you can do world class shopping.

Travel from Barcelona to Dubai for the First Time 

If you are travelling to Dubai for the first time, then you should have all the details about the airport terminals. Emirates airlines provide direct flights and they are bit of less hectic than the break journey. Qatar airways can also be an option. They do stop at Doha once before continuing for Dubai. If you are looking forward to have a trip from Barcelona to Dubai, then you can take Swiss, Pegasus, and Emirates flight too. 

About Dubai: 

The infrastructure of the whole place is outstanding and it gives out a very dynamic energy to the tourists. Dubai is a hot and happening place; one can find all sorts of innovative architecture here. The landmark architecture of Dubai is Burj Khalifa, any tour is incomplete without witnessing that. 

 

 

Where to stay in Dubai: 

One will never have to face any shortage of hotels in Dubai, especially the luxury resorts. The most prosperous areas are the places near the Dubai mall, where the Burj Khalifa is situated. On the either end one can find the Dubai Marina with Burj Al Arab close by the place. There is also the “strip” located on the exact opposite with the charm of Old Dubai. Jumeirah beach is filled with exotic hotels, resorts and restaurants. It is a great delight for the tourists.

 

Why People opt to go to Burj Khalifa? 

Burj Khalifa was launched in the year 2010, it is a skyscraper and one of the most brilliant architecture in the world. It is around 828 metres and has 160 stories and holds the record of being the tallest building in the world. It also has the highest outdoor observation deck in the world, and the elevator travels the longest distance. If you stand beneath the tower, then it will appear like a spiral upwards into the sky like petals of a flower. The interiors are inspired by the local culture in fusion with contemporary design. 

 

Architecture of Burj Khalifa

The architecture is basically an abstract figure of a hymenocallis flower; it features a triple lobbed footprint. It has three main elements that are arranged around the central core. The Y-shaped structure with setbacks provides the support and a stable configuration. At the tallest tower in the world one can have an experience of a lifetime. Architecture is mostly likely the Islamic style.

Tickets for Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa tickets are one of the most sought after attraction passes in Dubai. It is noted for hosting the world’s highest observation decks. There cannot be a better view than this; it will leave every visitor awestruck. One can get the tickets and have dinner in the skies with their beloved.

Things to do in Burj Khalifa

There are a lot of places that one can visit in Burj Khalifa; the Burj Khalifa park is a famous place to visit. Lounges, spas and restaurants are found in the park, designer goods and boutiques are considered as a great purchase. The park allows the tourists to enjoy every attraction around the place.

Cupola, Via Laietana, Barcelona

After much thought and starting working on my color version I completely deviated from my original path. It turned out that the cupola, the one you can admire if you walk along Via Laietana in Barcelona, looked better in black and white, well almost as I finally gave it this bluish touch. The building in fact has two cupolas and occupies a whole block of this heavy traffic street. Very near you have Palau de la Musica. There are plans to build new hotels in this area to which neighbors openly oppose. 

Street view image

Hotel Montecarlo at La Rambla, Barcelona

We will still explore La Rambla for some time so why not peek into one the hotels nearby just to show you how it feels when you can afford to pay for good accomodation in the city (money makes the difference). This is the entrance to Hotel Montecarlo at La Rambla, 124. And old palace from the XIX century completely restored. The building was the headquarters of the Royal Artistic Circle of Barcelona and some newspapers. It seems to be a wonderful hotel according to the good reviews I have read at Trip Advisor. For the time being I show you the entrance and the fabulous lamp (notice there is a different lamp in the picture at Hotel Montecarlo site). Which one do you prefer?

Update 2023: It seems that the place has been closed permanently. 

Human Statues at La Rambla: Hypnotic Cleopatra

Las Ramblas of Barcelona, that multicolor promenade full of art nouveau architecture, museums, souvenir shops, hotels, people and even caged animals and flowers is also a big showcase for artists, street artists, talented and anonymous, who have given a new style to one of the main arteries in the city. Some try to regulate their activity or even ban it laying obstacles in the way. 

I just can't imagine La Rambla without human statues like this Cleopatra enduring for hours in straining postures and under tons of makeup. Help art and do not strangle it. Save your laws for pickpockets and similar scoundrel procreating in Las Ramblas.

Exploring Spain’s Neighbour - Four Top Lisbon Experiences

Spain and Portugal have a great deal in common with architecturally magnificent romantic cities, picturesque beaches, clear blue oceans and an endless supply of beautiful people. We have spent time providing the reader with everything they would want to know about the hustle and bustle of Barcelona, but what about a short skip across the border and into the wonderful Portuguese capital of Lisbon? Here are four experiences that make Lisbon well worth the visit.

1. Comfy Accommodation

Although there are many luxurious hotels available, if it is the true Portuguese experience that you are after, why not spend your nights in one of the many cosy cottages that are spread across the land. These warm guest houses offer visitors a chance to achieve the Portuguese housetrip experience and the traditions that come along with it.

2. Lisbon Zoo

With over 2000 animals on show at this beautiful zoo, this is definitely a must-see for people of all ages. It is easy to lose track of time here, spending hours enjoying the weird and wonderful creatures that call this planet their home. Two of the most popular attractions, that see people flocking from all over the world to enjoy, have to be the extremely rare White Tigers, as well as the majestic Mountain Gorillas.

3. Amphibious Hippotrip Tour

If you are the type of person that believes city tours are for boring old-timers, then you have obviously never heard of the exciting Hippotrips. What may begin as a simple city tour quickly turns into something straight out of a James Bond film, as your tour vehicle darts off straight into the heart of the River Tagus. This amphibious excursion provides a memorable way to learn all there is to know about this beautiful city.

4. Castelo de São Jorge

Close your eyes and think about the most luxurious looking fairy tale castle that you can imagine. The image that you have in your mind right now is probably pretty close to what the amazing Castelo de São Jorge looks like. If you think this structure is mind-blowing from a distance, just wait until you have a chance to experience the mesmerising 360 degree views of the city below, from atop the massive castle walls.

Rainy Day at Hotel Casa Fuster

Hotel Casa Fuster in Barcelona, works night and day, come rain or shine, to guarantee more than just the simple satisfaction of its clients. No wonder it is a 5 star, Grand Luxe Monument, member of the Leading Hotels of the World. In spite of that, the weather does not help sometimes, and employees have to make an extra effort to make guests feel at home. The picture is taken with a cellphone. 

Casa Fuster was finished in 1911 by architect Lluis Domenech i Montaner, whose works also include, Hospital de Sant Pau and Palau de la Música. This door, was the entrance to the carriages in the house of Mr. Mariano Fuster i Fuster, an illustrious businessman from Mallorca, who gave this house as a wedding present to his wife