Latest news with #AntoniGaudí
Times
17-07-2025
- Times
Barcelona vs Madrid: which is better?
On the surface, Barcelona and Madrid — two of Spain's major cities, two and a half hours apart by train — are markedly different. Coastal Barcelona dazzles with its avant-garde buildings and sunny Mediterranean insouciance, while the central Spanish capital exudes history and elegance, holding its age-old traditions dear. Barcelona has miles of sandy beaches, a tight-knit medieval quarter and its very own architectural movement, Modernisme. Madrid, meanwhile, has not one but three world-class palaces of art, along with grand squares and boulevards, immense parks and a dynamic nightlife scene. Ultimately, though, these two cities have several crucial things in common. Superb bars and restaurants of every stripe; great shopping, from sprawling flea markets to luxe boutiques; and storied pasts written in stone everywhere you look. Both have some of Spain's loveliest hotels. I've lived in both cities and watched their characters change over the decades as the tentacles of tourism took hold. Neither is a well-kept secret any more, but they've retained robust (and distinct) personalities. If you've only time to visit one, here's how to choose. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Winner Madrid Among the Barcelona attractions vying for pole position are its endless beaches; the medieval neighbourhoods of the Barri Gotic and El Born; the Camp Nou stadium; the Museu Picasso, and the entire output of Modernista architect Antoni Gaudí. The latter includes the fairytale whimsy of the Park Guell and the Casa Batllo, the staggering cathedral-to-be that is the Sagrada Familia and the gothic-influenced Palau Guell. Don't overlook the work of his contemporaries, however — the Palau de la Musica Catalana concert hall is a riot of colour and creativity. But Madrid comes out on top. What makes the city so unique is its blend of history and the avant-garde. Its three major art galleries — the Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofía — are complemented by a raft of underground galleries and cutting-edge cultural centres, while after dark its air of sturdy pomp gives way to a club scene unrivalled outside Berlin. As the seat of government and royalty, Madrid is endowed with awe-inspiring buildings, none quite as impressive as the Palacio Real, a vast confection of 3,400 rooms. For a comprehensive introduction to Madrid as well as other fabulous Spanish cities — including Barcelona — join Costsaver's eight-night Spanish Experience tour. The trip begins and ends in Madrid, with visits to the Palacio Real and Retiro Park, and you'll have a free day to explore Barcelona too. Other stops include Granada and Seville. If you're only visiting Barcelona, take a half-day tour around some of the old city's medieval and gothic highlights, including the cathedral, and ending at the Palau de la Musica Catalana. • Best things to do in Madrid• Best things to do in Barcelona Winner Madrid As the crucible of molecular gastronomy, Barcelona has gained a fearsome reputation among chefs. Many who worked under überchef Ferran Adrià in the kitchens of El Bulli went on to set up their own restaurants in the Catalan capital, such as the trio behind Disfrutar, voted No 1 in 2024 by the World's 50 Best Restaurants, or Ferran's brother Albert, who is behind Enigma. Local produce is highly prized, and Barcelona has a number of excellent neighbourhood food markets, including one of Europe's biggest, La Boqueria. Where Madrid excels is in its wonderfully atmospheric taverns and tapas bars, still going after decades or even centuries. The almost 200-year-old Casa Alberto is a classic must-visit for its oxtail stew, or you might try Botin, the oldest restaurant in the world, for some suckling pig or roast lamb. This is not to say that Madrid can't play Barcelona at its own game — see, for example, the boundary-pushing DiverXo, where some of the most creative food around is served in a wildly futuristic dining room. Secret Food Tours promises an epicurean voyage with its Madrid Walking Food Tour, showing you how to eat out like a local, guided by an expert in the city's history and culture, and stopping off for tapas, treats and tipples along the way. Intrepid's nine-night Northern Spain Real Food Adventure does as the name suggests. Food is front and centre in the varied itinerary across the north of the country. The trip begins in Barcelona, with a tapas crawl as well as a cava or vermouth tasting, with subsequent stops in Logrono, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Oviedo, La Coruña, and Santiago de Compostela. • Best restaurants in Barcelona Winner Barcelona For all its award-winning cocktail bars, Barcelona's greatest contribution to the proud art of drinking is probably cava — which knocks prosecco into a cocked hat and at its best matches many champagnes. It's mostly a summer tipple, best sampled on a sunny terrace or at one of the many xiringuitos (beach bars). In winter head to a wine bar (such as the excellent Mon Vinic) and try some of the many superb reds produced around Catalunya (most famously in the Priorat DO, but there are many others). Still, Madrid also excels when it comes to tipples. Hacer el vermut — 'doing vermouth' — does not just mean going out for a vermouth, it encompasses a whole tradition that might involve olives, crisps and a saucerful of fresh anchovies, and will almost certainly involve a table in the sun and a group of friends. It's mostly a late morning drink and serves as a lunch aperitif, unlike sherry, which is drunk at any time of day or night. Sherry is best experienced in the delightful La Venencia, a century-old bar with sherry barrels on the wall and where your order is chalked on the counter. Madrid is also a hot bed of microbreweries and craft beer bars. Visit some of the most interesting and meet the brewers on an evening tour with Get Your Guide. Take a trip out to the Codorniu winery, a major cava producer housed in a stunning Modernista building. Winner Barcelona Nowadays neither of Spain's major cities wants for hotel opulence — Barcelona has the Versailles-inspired El Palace, beachside Hotel Arts and its own branches of Mandarin Oriental, W, Nobu and Edition, to name but a handful. Where the city really excels, however, is in quirky boutiques, from the clubby Wittmore to the secret Neri, tucked away next to the cathedral. For a great-value option, try one of the Praktik hotels, each with a very individual concept, or one of the Chic&Basic hotels, which do exactly what you'd expect. The opening of the jawdroppingly luxurious Four Seasons Madrid in 2020 means that the capital just pips Barcelona to the post in terms of luxury, though. The city also has a glitzy Edition and Mandarin Oriental, along with a clutch of similarly upscale five-stars with little to choose between them, such as the Palacio de los Duques, Westin Palace and JW Marriott. The city doesn't lack for stylish budget choices either, and was the birthplace of the excellent value Room Mate group (in Madrid there are five, all wonderfully central) and also has five of the cheap and cheerful Petit Palace hotels. Request a room on one of the upper floors at Nobu Hotel Barcelona for spectacular views across the city (not to mention dreamily comfortable beds). • Best luxury hotels in Barcelona• Best family hotels in Barcelona The Madrid Edition stands out for its excellent Mexican restaurant, central location, and sleek, cream-toned rooms. • Best hotels in Madrid• Best affordable hotels in Madrid under £200 Madrid It's an impossible choice and will very likely depend on where your interests lie — one, after all, has a beach, while the other is home to some of the world's best-known paintings. Barcelona's architecture is utterly unique, while Madrid's is more in line with the grand capitals of Europe. Both have a generous sprinkling of Michelin stars. In the end, though, it is perhaps Madrid that's done a better job of preserving its character — its convivial old taverns and elegant gardens, its slap-up hearty lunches and anarchic cultural scene — while incorporating the new. • Best boutique hotels in Barcelona• Best places to visit in Spain Which Spanish city do you prefer — Barcelona or Madrid — and why? Let us know in the comments below
Time Out
03-07-2025
- General
- Time Out
A long-overlooked Gaudí masterpiece has been restored in Barcelona
Barcelona 's streets are full of character, but so much of that can be attributed to the beautiful and peculiar work of Antoni Gaudí, the mind behind Parque Güell, Palacio Güell, the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló. But while the street-side façade of the Casa, with its bony columns, elaborate paint and quirky rooftiles, is one of Barcelona's most-visited landmarks (welcoming nearly 2 million people in 2024), the rear side, which used to be just as spectacular, has been in dire need of some TLC. Its whimsical colours had faded, the ornate features had become tired and wrought-iron detailing on the building and its balconies had severely deteriorated. But now, thanks to a year-long €3.5 million project, the work to revitalise this fantastical building is complete. Master artisans worked tirelessly with in-house researchers to produce iron, wood, glass and ceramic detailing, and according to Artnet, the process sounds pretty high-tech. Researchers conducted 'stratigraphic tests' to analyse the building's layers of paint and their change over time, and compared those with documentary and photographic evidence to unveil the original colours of stucco, ironwork and woodwork designed by Gaudí. 'When we discovered the original colors, we couldn't believe it,' said Xavier Villanueva, the project's lead architect, in a statement, 'The façade stood like the photographic negative of the original.' But it's not just the paintwork that needed restoring. Gaudí's work is famous for its incorporation of mosaics, and the trencadís mosaics (made from irregular shards of glass, ceramic, and other bits and bobs that cover the façade's side walls and cornice) were restored using the help of 3D scans and archival photographs. The Nolla, an 85,000-piece named after a late-nineteenth-century geometric designer in the courtyard, was painstakingly restored by the team, too. So, Casa Batlló's rear facade is looking pretty darn fresh. If you're in Barcelona soon, make sure to pay it a visit – income from tourism made these restorations possible in the first place, after all.
Euronews
21-06-2025
- General
- Euronews
Gaudí's best-kept secret revealed in Casa Batlló restauration
The comprehensive refurbishment of the rear façade of Antoni Gaudí's work and the private courtyard of the Planta Noble required an investment of 3.5 million euros and the joint work of specialised restorers and local craftsmen who have preserved centuries-old techniques and adapted them to contemporary standards. This intervention marks a historic milestone, as since 1915 the colours of the rear façade had changed and characteristic elements of the courtyard such as the jardinières and the pergola had completely disappeared. Although there was limited restoration work in the 1950s and 1990s, this represents the first truly comprehensive restoration of the space, where every material has been returned to its original splendour in accordance with Gaudí's intentions. The restoration process has revealed surprising discoveries that have completely transformed the understanding of the original design. Xavier Villanueva, the architect in charge of the operation, said that when they found the original colours they were astonished, as the façade had become the photographic negative of the original designed by Gaudí. Stratigraphic tests carried out during the pandemic revealed the original shades hidden under layers of paint on the wood, ironwork and stucco. The rebirth of an intimate space designed by the modernista genius The restoration has brought back to life the intimate outdoor space next to the dining room, originally conceived as a garden-like retreat for family relaxation. On the rear façade, the stucco and glass and ceramic trencadís of the side walls and cornice have been restored, while the wrought iron railings, wooden windows, balcony doors and mosaic paving have been recovered on the balconies, reinforcing a structure that was in a state of extreme deterioration. The private courtyard has undergone an even more spectacular transformation with the reproduction of elements lost in time. The heather pergola with a parabolic shape that was originally located in the centre of the courtyard has been recreated, together with the planters located next to the ventilation courtyards. The paving has been faithfully replicated using 85,000 pieces of Nolla mosaic, respecting the original techniques. This restoration is part of a five-year series of major interventions that culminates in 2025, the year in which Casa Batlló commemorates the 20th anniversary of its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gary Gautier, CEO of Casa Batlló, believes that being part of this milestone represents a true honour, uncovering Gaudí's genius for future generations and celebrating the enduring craftsmanship of master artisans, a gift not only to Barcelona, but to the world. Rigorous research combined with advanced digital techniques such as 3D scanning and photogrammetry has ensured pinpoint accuracy in the restoration. Among the most outstanding findings is a previously unknown structure in the form of a spiral of brick and mixed iron, as well as a newly discovered vaulted system supporting the balconies, representing a revolutionary innovation for its time that reinforces Gaudí's constructive genius.
Local Spain
20-06-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
LISTED: The new flights to and from Spain this summer
If you plan on travelling to or from Spain this summer, then you're in luck because many different airlines have launched new routes for the season, connecting cities throughout Spain with Europe and beyond. EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS Jerez to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds (UK) Jet2 has launched new routes between the Andalusian city of Jerez and Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds in the UK, starting from this May up until October 31st 2025. Reus to Glasgow (UK) EasyJet launched a new route between the small Catalan town of Reus (where Antoni Gaudí was born), which started on June 2nd. Almería to London (UK) EasyJet added a new route to London Luton from the southern coastal city of Almería, starting from June 1st, with over 14,000 seats. Madrid to Manchester (UK) EasyJet is adding a new route between the Spanish capital and Manchester, operating from June 23rd with 20,000 seats. Ryanair is offering new routes to the Hungarian capital of Budapest and Krakow in Poland from Castellón in the region of Valencia. They will begin to operate from this summer with two weekly frequencies. Barcelona to Copenhagen (Denmark) Ryanair has launched a new service between the Catalan city of Barcelona and the Danish capital this summer. Seville to Baden Baden (Germany) and Rome (Italy) Irish budget airline Ryanair has launched its summer 2025 flight schedule with two new routes from Seville to Baden-Baden in Germany and Rome Fiumicino in Italy. Palma de Mallorca to Strasbourg (France) EasyJet started connecting the Mallorcan city of Palma with French city of Strasbourg on June 4th. Palma de Mallorca to Palermo (Italy) From June 23rd EasyJet it will open a new route between the capital of Mallorca and the city of Palermo on the Italian island of Sicily. Ibiza to Milan (Italy) EasyJet will fly between Ibiza and Milan-Linate from June 24th. WORLWIDE DESTINATIONS Bilbao to New York (US) United Airlines has launched a new route between the Basque city of Bilbao and New York. The inaugural flight landed on June 1st and more flights will continue throughout the summer. There will be three weekly flights from Bilbao on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 12:30pm, and from New York to Bilbao on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 9:15pm. Barcelona to Boston (US) Delta Airlines launched direct flights between Barcelona and Boston in May which will run throughout this summer with three weekly connections. Madrid to Boston (US) Another American airline, JetBlue, also launched a new Spain-US link in May with its flight between the Spanish capital and the East Coast city. Barcelona to Halifax (Canada) WestJet is launching a new seasonal direct route between Halifax and Barcelona, starting on June 27th. It will operate four times weekly until late September. This is first-ever direct connection between Atlantic Canada and Spain.
Daily Mirror
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
European tourist attraction forced to spend £2.3m after crowds cause chaos
Barcelona is now creating a new 'zone' strategy after crowds of eager tourists put themselves in danger to compete with an emerging TikTok trend Authorities in Barcelona are planning to construct a special zone for people to "take selfies" after a dangerous trend took hold outside its most famous landmark. A recent TikTok video which went viral in Barcelona saw the tourist-clad destination overrun with social media users clogging metro exits. It's reported they had been eager to try their hand at replicating the same act in city's famous square - that is, until the city council stepped in. Plaça Gaudí, the square in front of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, was fraught with TikTok-enthusiastic tourists balancing their phones on metro escalators to film themselves while the iconic monument appeared in the background. The sheer amount of visitors looking to capture their individual shots led to severely clogged station exits and was eventually banned. Subsequently, Barcelona City Council has now decided to construct a special zone beside the Sagrada Familia where visitors can take selfies before entering. The 6,200-sqm 'anteroom' will be located between the Nativity façade of the basilica and Plaça Gaudí on Carrer de la Marina. 'The new project helps to resolve a space where it is difficult to reconcile uses between visitors to the temple and the neighbourhood,' the city council said. READ MORE: Popular Spanish city charging British tourists extra £13.17 to stay for a week Construction on the gathering zone is scheduled to begin after the 2025 summer and be finished by April 2026 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Gaudí's death. The €2.7 million (£2.3 million) project is part of a wider €15.5 million (£13.2 million) plan to improve infrastructure and visitor management around the sacred site. In 2024, the city launched a €44 million plan to regulate crowds in 16 tourist hotspots by deploying more cleaners and police officers to maintain order and safety. The Sagrada Familia is the most visited tourist attraction in Barcelona and welcomes millions of visitors every year. That said, entrance queues can be quite long so you should be prepared with water and sunscreen. The Sagrada Família is Antoni Gaudí's best-known work and has been under construction since 1882. Although the architect Francesc de Paula Villar was originally commissioned to carry out the Sagrada Família's project, just a year later he was replaced by the young Gaudí. The Nativity façade and crypt have been awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO. To learn more about the history of the building, you can book a walking tour of the church, which also include skip-the-line tickets. Despite the introduction of a new zone to battle tourist and selfie-stick wielders, Barcelona - like many other popular European cities - is still having a standoff with foreign tourists. Spain hosted a record 94 million international visitors in 2024, compared with 83 million in 2019. Locals have even taken to shooting water at tourists as a way to protest their presence in cities like Barcelona. 'The squirt guns are to bother the tourists a bit,' Andreu Martínez said in Barcelona with a chuckle after spritzing a couple seated at an outdoor café. 'Barcelona has been handed to the tourists. This is a fight to give Barcelona back to its residents.'
