Barcelona, Spain: Old and New at the Same Time

Barcelona Spain is a city with a past...all the way back to the Roman Empire, actually.

But, in the "old" days, it was nothing like what it was to become in the Middle Ages. That era was again eclipsed by another spurt in the middle of the 19th century.

With so many ages in its past, it is easy for the visitor to Barcelona to take a peek at old Roman architecture, marvel at medieval churches, such as Le Seu, and blow a wad of modern money on some pretty neat shopping!

Of course, no visit to Barcelona would be complete without the appropriate gawking at the architectural achievements of its favorite son, Antonio Gaudi. Do not miss visiting Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, and Casa Mila, but be prepared to stand there and wonder, to yourself, of course, what WAS he thinking?

However, Gaudi is not responsible for ALL the imposing sights in the Capital of Catalonia. You cannot go to Paris without seeing the Arc de Triomphe nor can you go to Barcelona without seeing the Arc de Triomf. Same thing, but with a Spanish flair.

MNAC, aka: Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, houses some excellent art, and the rather eclectic market, La Boqueria. Be advised that at La Boqueria, the art is not just on the walls, but in the diverse crowds examining, and buying, the even more diverse, foods available there.

If you begin to lag and sag, you can always perk yourself back up at one of the city's many tapas bars...or just plain bars...if that's your style.

For the family (i.e. kids and kids-at-heart), there are the zoo and the aquarium. If that doesn't wear 'em out, climb up to the top of Montjuic for a view of the city which will awe even young children.

At one time a sleepy little town of little interest to the traveler, today's Barcelona is a place of history, mystery, and fun for all.

Thinking of Visiting Barcelona? An Overview ot the History of Tourism There.

Site of the 1992 Summer Olympic Games, the city of Barcelona is a lesser known but excellent destination for the tourist than some of the more famous Cities of the World. In addition to being a stop for the visitor to Europe or Spain, its location on the Mediterranean coast also makes it a popular destination and departure point for many cruises.

One of the most individual aspects of Barcelona is its homage to hometown architect, Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926). In fact, an appreciation of Gaudi architecture is what brings many visitors to the city.

In the following article, the author, who has business in Barcelona, offers his unique point of view.
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History of Tourism in Barcelona
By Gaizka Pujana

Because its people attract tourists, it is frequently written about in books, and its locality often described and romanticized.

The founding of the city began with the occupation of the Romans in the First Century B.C, who imposed walls and as a result, for a long period of time, separated villages from the walled area which is actually a part of the city. As of late, the different Catalonian countries united and pushed forward the rise of Barcelona as a tourist capital.

The Olympic Games in 1992 has had a remarkable effect on the city, and it is because of this sports extravaganza that the city has built its heritage around sports. Because of the successful staging of the Olympic Games as the destination city and host, the government was able to promote Barcelona and made it one of the top destinations for travel whether for business or personal time. Together with this rise in tourist visits, Barcelona decided to have a Hotel Plan, where numerous hotels were built to house tourists from all over the world.

Up to this day, Barcelona has a count of 534 hotels with different hotel star ratings. The hotels are categorized under: bread and breakfast, best value, family, luxury, trendy and vacation rentals (tripadvisor.com). This outstanding boost in hotel availability and performance is a direct signifier that the demands of accommodations have steadily increased over the years.

Because booking and travelling has been made easier through online marketing, more and more tourists find it hassle free to confirm reservations over the internet. This has played a big role towards attaining the Record Year for 2011. Since 2005, visitor counts to Barcelona continued to rise (ehotelier.com) and 2010 saw the double digit increase, leading to outstanding performance in 2011.

Together with the contemporary architecture and a unique immersive experience being offered by the city itself, these factors create an overall package for the tourist to remember Barcelona. And because the result of returns depends on the good experiences of a tourist, so does the marketing spread also through shared experiences and word-of-mouth. The combined efforts of tourism authorities, smart campaigning and the local people and their hospitality in bringing more tourists in Barcelona has strengthened the industry in many ways, long since the biggest sports event took place.

Because there is strength in numbers, so do memorable experiences of the city and its activities have when it comes to a unified effort in accommodating tourists well. Barcelona has proven its abilities as the City of Marvels. And she just might bring in more curious visitors over the years to come.

Do not forget that you can save money on your accommodation by renting apartments in Barcelona cheap or cheap apartments Barcelona.

Article Source: History of Tourism in Barcelona