Living in Barcelona
Capital of Catalonia, Barcelona is small city with metropolitan presence. Students and professionals from all over the word are attracted to its mix of tradition and contemporary culture, and the city is growing fast to accommodate the changes which modern life requires.
The sea and mountains makes it a breathing space for people with different concerns and agendas, an oasis of sun and tourism, and at the same time a place for alternative happenings, underground movements and intellectual events.
Barcelona is the home of a number of important art institutions, and Metáfora ads its grain of salt to a general impression of a European meeting-point for international art-students and artists. It is our intention to give our students an experience, where the city itself and the contacts made between students and
collaborators of Metáfora will become a lifelong reference.
• Metáfora's data
• Living in Barcelona
• Visa, residence and health insurance
• Barcelona for first-time visitors
• Useful links
Capital of Catalonia, Barcelona is small city with metropolitan presence. Students and professionals from all over the word are attracted to its mix of tradition and contemporary culture, and the city is growing fast to accommodate the changes which modern life requires.
The sea and mountains makes it a breathing space for people with different concerns and agendas, an oasis of sun and tourism, and at the same time a place for alternative happenings, underground movements and intellectual events.
Barcelona is the home of a number of important art institutions, and Metáfora ads its grain of salt to a general impression of a European meeting-point for international art-students and artists. It is our intention to give our students an experience, where the city itself and the contacts made between students and
collaborators of Metáfora will become a lifelong reference.
• Metáfora's data
• Living in Barcelona
• Visa, residence and health insurance
• Barcelona for first-time visitors
• Useful links
Metáfora's data
Metafora's address and phone number
C/ Papin 29, 08028 Barcelona, España
Tel. (+34) 93 330 00 89 Fax. (+34) 93 511 11 53
Students' Tel. (incoming calls ) (+34) 93 490 37 30
arte@metafora.org
www.metafora.org
Opening-hours
Classes are taught Monday to Friday, from 9.30 to 14.00.
Students are welcome to stay and work the rest of the day.
The school is closed during August.
Getting to Metáfora
Metáfora is situated in the area of Barcelona called "Sants", very near the central train-station, "Estació de Sants".
This is a very commercial area, and you will find shops of all kinds in the neighbourhood.
Metáfora is only ten minutes by metro from the centre of the city, "Plaza Catalunya".
Maps and metro
The nearest metro-stations are "Plaza de Sants" (blue and red line) and "Plaza del Centro" (green line),
and it is about five minutes walk from both stations to the school.
Please consult the following web-page, for maps and information about the city: www.bcn.es
Metafora's address and phone number
C/ Papin 29, 08028 Barcelona, España
Tel. (+34) 93 330 00 89 Fax. (+34) 93 511 11 53
Students' Tel. (incoming calls ) (+34) 93 490 37 30
arte@metafora.org
www.metafora.org
Opening-hours
Classes are taught Monday to Friday, from 9.30 to 14.00.
Students are welcome to stay and work the rest of the day.
The school is closed during August.
Getting to Metáfora
Metáfora is situated in the area of Barcelona called "Sants", very near the central train-station, "Estació de Sants".
This is a very commercial area, and you will find shops of all kinds in the neighbourhood.
Metáfora is only ten minutes by metro from the centre of the city, "Plaza Catalunya".
Maps and metro
The nearest metro-stations are "Plaza de Sants" (blue and red line) and "Plaza del Centro" (green line),
and it is about five minutes walk from both stations to the school.
Please consult the following web-page, for maps and information about the city: www.bcn.es
Practical information
Transport
There are two types of metro in Barcelona, FFCC and the "normal" Barcelona metro.
The normal metro has 5 lines - red, blue, green, yellow and purple. You will recognize FFCC as being more like a train. You can use the same ticket for FFCC and for the metro, and if you buy a monthly ticket or a 10-trip ticket, you can use the buses as well.
A T10, a 10-trip ticket costs 6,90€ and you can buy it at all stations. You can also get a 30 day ticket for 42,95€ which will allow you to make any trips you want by bus, metro or train from FFCC within the metropolitan area of Barcelona for 30 days. Another option is the "50 journeys in 30 days" ticket. It costs 27,55€ (Prices are from Summer 2007).
Taxis in BCN are cheap compared to other European cities. The average fee is around 5-7€ depending how far you go, and on whether it is night or day.
Accommodation
Useful addresses and web sites (see PDF).
Spanish Language
If you are interested in attending Spanish language classes there are a wide choice of language schools in Barcelona. Our students have generally chosen to attend classes at Mediterraneo.
There are many others, but this one is cheap and quite good.
Mediterráneo Escuela de Español en Barcelona, (+34) 93 318 70 70, www.escuelamediterraneo.com
The Catalan government offers free language classes (Catalan and Spanish) at their various Civic Centres.
For more information call or visit your local Town Hall/Ajutamiento.
Health insurance and medical attention (more information at the end of this document)
The standard of medical care is very high in Spain, and if you are from the EC, it is your right to be attended for free. For how on to obtain a European insurance form/card, see below.
The staff at Metáfora are always ready to accompany you and help translate at the hospital.
Opening a Bank-account
If you should wish to open a non-resident bank account, all you need to bring is your passport.
You will be able to withdraw money at all cash dispensers and arrange for international money-transfers.
Weather
Most of our students discover rather quickly that the beaches in Barcelona are very nice if you want a swim on a hot day. Temperatures in June, July and August go up to 35 degrees (95ºF), and in the coldest months of the year (from November to March) it still reaches 17-20ºC (62-68ºF) on a sunny day. 10 degrees is the coldest it will normally get. However, Barcelona is a damp and humid place, so make sure you bring warm clothes for the winter. Flats and houses are badly conditioned for cold weather, and despite the warm climate you may feel cold here during the winter. At the school it is also often a bit cold, due to the high ceilings and old (though charming) structure of the building.
Emergency-numbers in Spain
• Police: 112
• Medical emergencies: 061
• Fire-brigade: 080
Transport
There are two types of metro in Barcelona, FFCC and the "normal" Barcelona metro.
The normal metro has 5 lines - red, blue, green, yellow and purple. You will recognize FFCC as being more like a train. You can use the same ticket for FFCC and for the metro, and if you buy a monthly ticket or a 10-trip ticket, you can use the buses as well.
A T10, a 10-trip ticket costs 6,90€ and you can buy it at all stations. You can also get a 30 day ticket for 42,95€ which will allow you to make any trips you want by bus, metro or train from FFCC within the metropolitan area of Barcelona for 30 days. Another option is the "50 journeys in 30 days" ticket. It costs 27,55€ (Prices are from Summer 2007).
Taxis in BCN are cheap compared to other European cities. The average fee is around 5-7€ depending how far you go, and on whether it is night or day.
Accommodation
Useful addresses and web sites (see PDF).
Spanish Language
If you are interested in attending Spanish language classes there are a wide choice of language schools in Barcelona. Our students have generally chosen to attend classes at Mediterraneo.
There are many others, but this one is cheap and quite good.
Mediterráneo Escuela de Español en Barcelona, (+34) 93 318 70 70, www.escuelamediterraneo.com
The Catalan government offers free language classes (Catalan and Spanish) at their various Civic Centres.
For more information call or visit your local Town Hall/Ajutamiento.
Health insurance and medical attention (more information at the end of this document)
The standard of medical care is very high in Spain, and if you are from the EC, it is your right to be attended for free. For how on to obtain a European insurance form/card, see below.
The staff at Metáfora are always ready to accompany you and help translate at the hospital.
Opening a Bank-account
If you should wish to open a non-resident bank account, all you need to bring is your passport.
You will be able to withdraw money at all cash dispensers and arrange for international money-transfers.
Weather
Most of our students discover rather quickly that the beaches in Barcelona are very nice if you want a swim on a hot day. Temperatures in June, July and August go up to 35 degrees (95ºF), and in the coldest months of the year (from November to March) it still reaches 17-20ºC (62-68ºF) on a sunny day. 10 degrees is the coldest it will normally get. However, Barcelona is a damp and humid place, so make sure you bring warm clothes for the winter. Flats and houses are badly conditioned for cold weather, and despite the warm climate you may feel cold here during the winter. At the school it is also often a bit cold, due to the high ceilings and old (though charming) structure of the building.
Emergency-numbers in Spain
• Police: 112
• Medical emergencies: 061
• Fire-brigade: 080
Student-visa, residence and health insurance
When studying in Spain, the legal situation of students from the EC is radically different from that of student from outside the EC. Where EC students do not need a students visa or any other kind of residence to study in Spain, non-EC students often have to go through a long process in order to obtain their papers.
The documents, which are mandatory for non-EC students are sometimes useful for EC students too, although not necessary for a stay of up to one year in Spain.
This is why this section is divided in two parts:
• Obtaining a student VISA (non-EC citizens)
• EC citizens
When studying in Spain, the legal situation of students from the EC is radically different from that of student from outside the EC. Where EC students do not need a students visa or any other kind of residence to study in Spain, non-EC students often have to go through a long process in order to obtain their papers.
The documents, which are mandatory for non-EC students are sometimes useful for EC students too, although not necessary for a stay of up to one year in Spain.
This is why this section is divided in two parts:
• Obtaining a student VISA (non-EC citizens)
• EC citizens
Obtaining a student VISA (non-EC citizens)
Most students from countries outside the EC have no problems in obtaining a student visa for the period they stay at Metáfora. Unfortunately, students from some countries (particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America) have difficulty obtaining a student visa as we are not a University or a public Institution.
We try to help future students as much as possible, but we do recommend that you contact the embassy in your country concerning student visas before you apply for the International Workshop at Metáfora.
With a student residence card you are allowed to work 20 hours a week, with working hours outside school hours. Remember that if you plan to work while in Spain, this is likely to require a good level Spanish.
What should you do before you come to Spain?
Once accepted on the International Workshop, you will receive admission papers and an invoice for the booking fee (20%). When you have paid the booking fee, you will receive papers confirming your definite enrolment on the course. With these papers you contact the embassy or consulate in your country.
They will give you a list of additional requirements for obtaining a student visa (particular to each country, but normally including private medical insurance, a certain amount of money in the bank, etc.).
Sometimes the consulate will ask you for additional papers concerning the course. Do not hesitate to ask us for them.
The visa-application process can be very long – in some cases several months! You are likely to be given a 3 month initial visa and be told to complete the rest of your paperwork once in Spain. Unfortunately, the whole process is dominated by long cues and waiting times, so it is a good idea to start the completion of your visa as soon as you arrive in Spain.
Other insurance
Barcelona is not a dangerous place, but our students have often had things stolen while walking in the street. Insurance against theft is therefore not a bad idea.
Once you arrive
For overseas students, a Certificado de Empadronamiento (registering your address in Barcelona with the City Council) will be first on the list of documents you must process in order to legalise your stay here.
You can get the Certificado de Empadronamiento from your local government office/town hall, Ayuntamiento or Ajuntament (each area of Barcelona has one).
Bring your passport and any document proving that you are living at the apartment or house where you are staying, i.e. tenancy agreement/lease, utility bills, a letter from your landlord or from the person whose name is on the lease, etc. You can also get a form from the town hall and ask your landlord to fill it out and provide the necessary documents (a photocopy of his DNI and most recent utilities bill with his name on it).
Tarjeta de residencia
Once you have the Certificado de Empadronamiento you will need the definite tarjeta de residencia de estudiante, student residence card (NIE) . Most Overseas students obtain their NIE (this depends on your country of origin) from the Oficina de Extranjeros at the following address: Travessera de Gràcia, 303-311.
You will need:
• A completed application form.
• 3 ID photos (recognised format: colour, front-view, etc)
• Original and a photocopy of your passport
• Photocopy of your student visa (which is normally valid for 3 months)
• An acceptance letter from the school (in Spanish) stating that you have been admitted to the course
for more than 3 months.
• The receipt for your paid tuition fee
• Any document stating that you have the economic means to support yourself during your stay here in Spain.
For example, your bank account statement, a scholarship certificate, a letter from someone saying that he or she
will be responsible for your stay here.
All the documents should be legally validated and in Spanish.
If you have problems or additional questions, the address of the Central Foreign Office is:
Oficina de Extranjeros, Avenida Marquès de l'Argentera, 4, 08071 Barcelona
Metro: Barceloneta (L4). Phone: 93 482 0544
Office Hours: Mon to Thurs from 9.30 to 15.30, Fri from 9 to 2.
Beware of the extremely long queues!!!
Most students from countries outside the EC have no problems in obtaining a student visa for the period they stay at Metáfora. Unfortunately, students from some countries (particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America) have difficulty obtaining a student visa as we are not a University or a public Institution.
We try to help future students as much as possible, but we do recommend that you contact the embassy in your country concerning student visas before you apply for the International Workshop at Metáfora.
With a student residence card you are allowed to work 20 hours a week, with working hours outside school hours. Remember that if you plan to work while in Spain, this is likely to require a good level Spanish.
What should you do before you come to Spain?
Once accepted on the International Workshop, you will receive admission papers and an invoice for the booking fee (20%). When you have paid the booking fee, you will receive papers confirming your definite enrolment on the course. With these papers you contact the embassy or consulate in your country.
They will give you a list of additional requirements for obtaining a student visa (particular to each country, but normally including private medical insurance, a certain amount of money in the bank, etc.).
Sometimes the consulate will ask you for additional papers concerning the course. Do not hesitate to ask us for them.
The visa-application process can be very long – in some cases several months! You are likely to be given a 3 month initial visa and be told to complete the rest of your paperwork once in Spain. Unfortunately, the whole process is dominated by long cues and waiting times, so it is a good idea to start the completion of your visa as soon as you arrive in Spain.
Other insurance
Barcelona is not a dangerous place, but our students have often had things stolen while walking in the street. Insurance against theft is therefore not a bad idea.
Once you arrive
For overseas students, a Certificado de Empadronamiento (registering your address in Barcelona with the City Council) will be first on the list of documents you must process in order to legalise your stay here.
You can get the Certificado de Empadronamiento from your local government office/town hall, Ayuntamiento or Ajuntament (each area of Barcelona has one).
Bring your passport and any document proving that you are living at the apartment or house where you are staying, i.e. tenancy agreement/lease, utility bills, a letter from your landlord or from the person whose name is on the lease, etc. You can also get a form from the town hall and ask your landlord to fill it out and provide the necessary documents (a photocopy of his DNI and most recent utilities bill with his name on it).
Tarjeta de residencia
Once you have the Certificado de Empadronamiento you will need the definite tarjeta de residencia de estudiante, student residence card (NIE) . Most Overseas students obtain their NIE (this depends on your country of origin) from the Oficina de Extranjeros at the following address: Travessera de Gràcia, 303-311.
You will need:
• A completed application form.
• 3 ID photos (recognised format: colour, front-view, etc)
• Original and a photocopy of your passport
• Photocopy of your student visa (which is normally valid for 3 months)
• An acceptance letter from the school (in Spanish) stating that you have been admitted to the course
for more than 3 months.
• The receipt for your paid tuition fee
• Any document stating that you have the economic means to support yourself during your stay here in Spain.
For example, your bank account statement, a scholarship certificate, a letter from someone saying that he or she
will be responsible for your stay here.
All the documents should be legally validated and in Spanish.
If you have problems or additional questions, the address of the Central Foreign Office is:
Oficina de Extranjeros, Avenida Marquès de l'Argentera, 4, 08071 Barcelona
Metro: Barceloneta (L4). Phone: 93 482 0544
Office Hours: Mon to Thurs from 9.30 to 15.30, Fri from 9 to 2.
Beware of the extremely long queues!!!
EC citizens
What should you do before you come to Spain?
If you are from an EC-country, remember to bring an E-111 or E-128 form/card from your nearest public health-care centre. This will give you FREE medical care while you are here, at any public hospital or medical centre. You do not need any private medical insurance if you are from an EC-country. If you forget to bring a form, you can have it sent from your home country, if necessary, but a doctors visit without one can cost you more than 90€.
Other insurance
Barcelona is not a dangerous place, but our students have often had things stolen while walking in the street. Insurance against theft is therefore not a bad idea.
Once you arrive
It is not strictly necessary for EC students to formalise their papers in any way while studying in Spain.
Nevertheless, there are 3 things which are good to do when you arrive to Spain:
• Registering your address in Barcelona at the City Council, called Certificado de Empadronamiento
• Obtaining a N.I.E. (numero d e Identificación del Extranjero)
• Registering with a Medical Centre in the neighbourhood of your house.
Certificado de Empadronamiento
If you want to “legalise” your situation in Spain, registering your address in Barcelona at the City Council will be first on the list of things to do. It is recommendable for EC-students to get “empadronado”, because it makes the bureaucracy run smoother if you should need to see a doctor, go to hospital etc.
You can get the Certificado de Empadronamiento from your local government office/town hall, Ayuntamiento or Ajuntament (each area of Barcelona has one).
Bring your passport and any document proving that you are living at the apartment or house where you are staying, i.e. tenancy agreement/lease, utility bills, a letter from your landlord or from the person whose name is on the lease, etc. You can also get a form from the town hall and ask your landlord to fill it out and provide the necessary documents (a photocopy of his DNI and most recent utilities bill with his name on it).
N.I.E. (numero de Identificación del Extranjero)
The NIE. is an identity-number for foreigners in Spain. It is good to have, even for EC-students who are not obliged to have one. It is not a social security number (you need an E111 or E128 form to go to the doctors).
The NIE is needed when you apply for a job and need to sign a contract. Getting it from the start avoids unnecessary stress if you suddenly find yourself in a situation where you urgently need it.
It takes about a month for the card to be ready to pick up, but the receipt of application is enough if you have to sign a work contract or similar.
You will need:
• a completed application form. You will find the form on the following address:
• http://www.mir.es/SGACAVT/modelos/extranjeria/documentacion/ex14.pdf
• 3 ID photos (recognised format: colour, front-view, etc)
• the original and a photocopy of your passport
• certificado de empadronamiento (see above)
• to hand in the application at the police station in Barceloneta, Pg. Joan de Borbó, number 32
Registering at your local Medical centre (CAP)
When you have registered your residency (see above), you can register at your local medical centre in order to be assigned a General Practitioner. You do not need any private medical insurance if you are from an EC-country. There is a local Medical Centre (CAP, Centre de Atenció Primaria) in every area of Barcelona, and you can locate your CAP on www.bcn.es.
At the CAP you can register with a doctor and it is a good idea to make this one of the first things you do in Barcelona BEFORE you get ill (paperwork is tiresome, but much more so if you have a fever!!).
To register with a doctor you should bring:
• E-111 or E-128 form
• Your passport
• Certificado de Empadronamiento or any bill or legal paper with your name and address on it.
What should you do before you come to Spain?
If you are from an EC-country, remember to bring an E-111 or E-128 form/card from your nearest public health-care centre. This will give you FREE medical care while you are here, at any public hospital or medical centre. You do not need any private medical insurance if you are from an EC-country. If you forget to bring a form, you can have it sent from your home country, if necessary, but a doctors visit without one can cost you more than 90€.
Other insurance
Barcelona is not a dangerous place, but our students have often had things stolen while walking in the street. Insurance against theft is therefore not a bad idea.
Once you arrive
It is not strictly necessary for EC students to formalise their papers in any way while studying in Spain.
Nevertheless, there are 3 things which are good to do when you arrive to Spain:
• Registering your address in Barcelona at the City Council, called Certificado de Empadronamiento
• Obtaining a N.I.E. (numero d e Identificación del Extranjero)
• Registering with a Medical Centre in the neighbourhood of your house.
Certificado de Empadronamiento
If you want to “legalise” your situation in Spain, registering your address in Barcelona at the City Council will be first on the list of things to do. It is recommendable for EC-students to get “empadronado”, because it makes the bureaucracy run smoother if you should need to see a doctor, go to hospital etc.
You can get the Certificado de Empadronamiento from your local government office/town hall, Ayuntamiento or Ajuntament (each area of Barcelona has one).
Bring your passport and any document proving that you are living at the apartment or house where you are staying, i.e. tenancy agreement/lease, utility bills, a letter from your landlord or from the person whose name is on the lease, etc. You can also get a form from the town hall and ask your landlord to fill it out and provide the necessary documents (a photocopy of his DNI and most recent utilities bill with his name on it).
N.I.E. (numero de Identificación del Extranjero)
The NIE. is an identity-number for foreigners in Spain. It is good to have, even for EC-students who are not obliged to have one. It is not a social security number (you need an E111 or E128 form to go to the doctors).
The NIE is needed when you apply for a job and need to sign a contract. Getting it from the start avoids unnecessary stress if you suddenly find yourself in a situation where you urgently need it.
It takes about a month for the card to be ready to pick up, but the receipt of application is enough if you have to sign a work contract or similar.
You will need:
• a completed application form. You will find the form on the following address:
• http://www.mir.es/SGACAVT/modelos/extranjeria/documentacion/ex14.pdf
• 3 ID photos (recognised format: colour, front-view, etc)
• the original and a photocopy of your passport
• certificado de empadronamiento (see above)
• to hand in the application at the police station in Barceloneta, Pg. Joan de Borbó, number 32
Registering at your local Medical centre (CAP)
When you have registered your residency (see above), you can register at your local medical centre in order to be assigned a General Practitioner. You do not need any private medical insurance if you are from an EC-country. There is a local Medical Centre (CAP, Centre de Atenció Primaria) in every area of Barcelona, and you can locate your CAP on www.bcn.es.
At the CAP you can register with a doctor and it is a good idea to make this one of the first things you do in Barcelona BEFORE you get ill (paperwork is tiresome, but much more so if you have a fever!!).
To register with a doctor you should bring:
• E-111 or E-128 form
• Your passport
• Certificado de Empadronamiento or any bill or legal paper with your name and address on it.
Barcelona for first-time visitors
We recommend "la Guia del Ocio", a small magazine with listings of cultural events, restaurants and cinemas concerts and other events in Barcelona during the week (out on Thursdays).
Guide books and web pages: The "Time Out" guide to Barcelona (in English) is very good, too.
As most people probably know, Barcelona is the capital of the Spanish region of Catalonia.
Catalonia has its own government, with the socialist José Montilla as President. The main languages are Spanish and Catalan, the latter being not a dialect, but a language with its own regulated grammar. You will recognise Catalan on the street-signs (which are mostly bilingual) as similar to French, but pronounced in Spanish. For instance is "exit" called "salida" in Spanish and "sortida" in Catalan.
The Catalans are very friendly and open people, though far away from the "typical" Spanish stereotype. You will find that the people of Catalonia are rather similar in temper and behaviour to North Europeans - more quiet, restrained and "conservative" than the image we mostly have of the Spanish.
Although everybody in Catalonia speaks Spanish, the Catalans take great pride in their language and national identity, and any attempt on the visitor's part to learn about their language and culture is warmly appreciated. They are also very patient and will gladly wait until we, the foreigners, manage to stammer out what it is we need to know or want to buy. Not many Spanish people speak English, though most speak some French.
Barcelona, being a small but metropolitan city, has a great variety of attractions to offer to its visitors. It is a good idea to get hold of a guidebook to the city before you arrive. The "Time-Out" guidebook to Barcelona is especially recommendable. Apart from tourist-attractions and museums it has a very complete listing of concert-halls and all kinds of bars. However, we can mention here a few places that are definitely a "must" if you come to Barcelona for the first time:
You must stroll down "Ramblas", a pedestrian street that goes from Plaça Catalunya to the harbour. Here you will find La Boquería, the main market, which is one of the biggest and most beautiful food-markets in Europe. The food here is quite cheap, but avoid the stalls at the entrance, where the prices are double or triple the prices in the stalls inside the market. On Ramblas you will also find the Art-centres "La Virreina" and "Centre d'Art, Santa Monica", and among other Art centres or Museums we could mention "MACBA", "CCCB", "Fundació Miró", "Fundació Tàpies" and "Fundació la Caixa", "Caixa Forum" and many more.
Another feature that ought to be mentioned is the architecture of Antonio Gaudí. "La Pedrera" on Passeig de Gràcia, the unfinished church "Sagrada Familia" and "Parc Güell" are all impressive tourist attractions. The harbour has recently been restored and both "Moll de la Fusta" and "Vila Olímpica" are colourful and interesting places to go.
In the gothic area, on the left side of Ramblas you will find several small squares and gothic churches, the biggest of which is the Cathedral of Barcelona. Every Sunday morning people gather in front of the cathedral to dance "Sardanas", the Catalan national dance.
Good reading for the plane Merce Rodoreda "Plaça del Diamant" or George Orwell "Homage to Catalonia".
We recommend "la Guia del Ocio", a small magazine with listings of cultural events, restaurants and cinemas concerts and other events in Barcelona during the week (out on Thursdays).
Guide books and web pages: The "Time Out" guide to Barcelona (in English) is very good, too.
As most people probably know, Barcelona is the capital of the Spanish region of Catalonia.
Catalonia has its own government, with the socialist José Montilla as President. The main languages are Spanish and Catalan, the latter being not a dialect, but a language with its own regulated grammar. You will recognise Catalan on the street-signs (which are mostly bilingual) as similar to French, but pronounced in Spanish. For instance is "exit" called "salida" in Spanish and "sortida" in Catalan.
The Catalans are very friendly and open people, though far away from the "typical" Spanish stereotype. You will find that the people of Catalonia are rather similar in temper and behaviour to North Europeans - more quiet, restrained and "conservative" than the image we mostly have of the Spanish.
Although everybody in Catalonia speaks Spanish, the Catalans take great pride in their language and national identity, and any attempt on the visitor's part to learn about their language and culture is warmly appreciated. They are also very patient and will gladly wait until we, the foreigners, manage to stammer out what it is we need to know or want to buy. Not many Spanish people speak English, though most speak some French.
Barcelona, being a small but metropolitan city, has a great variety of attractions to offer to its visitors. It is a good idea to get hold of a guidebook to the city before you arrive. The "Time-Out" guidebook to Barcelona is especially recommendable. Apart from tourist-attractions and museums it has a very complete listing of concert-halls and all kinds of bars. However, we can mention here a few places that are definitely a "must" if you come to Barcelona for the first time:
You must stroll down "Ramblas", a pedestrian street that goes from Plaça Catalunya to the harbour. Here you will find La Boquería, the main market, which is one of the biggest and most beautiful food-markets in Europe. The food here is quite cheap, but avoid the stalls at the entrance, where the prices are double or triple the prices in the stalls inside the market. On Ramblas you will also find the Art-centres "La Virreina" and "Centre d'Art, Santa Monica", and among other Art centres or Museums we could mention "MACBA", "CCCB", "Fundació Miró", "Fundació Tàpies" and "Fundació la Caixa", "Caixa Forum" and many more.
Another feature that ought to be mentioned is the architecture of Antonio Gaudí. "La Pedrera" on Passeig de Gràcia, the unfinished church "Sagrada Familia" and "Parc Güell" are all impressive tourist attractions. The harbour has recently been restored and both "Moll de la Fusta" and "Vila Olímpica" are colourful and interesting places to go.
In the gothic area, on the left side of Ramblas you will find several small squares and gothic churches, the biggest of which is the Cathedral of Barcelona. Every Sunday morning people gather in front of the cathedral to dance "Sardanas", the Catalan national dance.
Good reading for the plane Merce Rodoreda "Plaça del Diamant" or George Orwell "Homage to Catalonia".
Barcelona city links
www.bcn.es City council's web-page. Good for maps and cultural info.
www.gencat.net Information offered by the Catalan Government.
www.barceloca.com
www.guiadelociobcn.es
www.barcelona.lanetro.com
www.timeout.com/barcelona/
www.spanish-living.com
Guides to cultural events and time-out
www.aboutbarcelona.com
www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com
www.bcn-guide.com/
Galleries and Museums in Barcelona
www.artbarcelona.es
List of influential private galleries and art foundations
www.macba.es
Barcelona's new Contemporary Art Museum, opened in 1995, is five minutes' walk from the Plaza Catalunya in the city centre.
www.museupicasso.bcn.es
The hugely expanded Picasso Museum (Montcada 15-23) now occupies five Gothic palaces in the heart of Barcelona's old city.
www.cccb.org
The CCCB (Montalegre 5) opened in 1994 and puts on such things as exhibitions, music, dance, courses, debates, lectures
www.portal1.lacaixa.es/
CaixaForum includes a selection of works from the Foundations Contemporary Art Collection as well as visiting exhibitions. Most exhibitions are free. Good library.
www.salvador-dali.org
The official web site for the Salvador Dali Museum in Figueres - 1.2h by train from Barcelona
www.bcn.fjmiro.es
Museum for the work of Miró, but also good contemporary art Exhibitions. Excellent library.
www.mnac.es
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya includes one of the worlds greatest collections of Romanesque art.
www.bcn.es/virreinaexposicions
Exhibitions centre on Ramblas. Good temporal Art Exhibitions.
www.cultura.gencat.net/casm/casm2.htm
Exhibitions centre on Ramblas. Good temporal Art Exhibitions.
www.fundaciotapies.org
The Fundació Antoni Tàpies was created in 1984 by the artist Antoni Tàpies to promote the study and knowledge of modern and contemporary art.
Other links
Good , free online translator for many languages
www.online-translator.com
Information about international artist-in-residence
http://www.canserrat.org http://www.resartis.org
http://www.transartist
www.bcn.es City council's web-page. Good for maps and cultural info.
www.gencat.net Information offered by the Catalan Government.
www.barceloca.com
www.guiadelociobcn.es
www.barcelona.lanetro.com
www.timeout.com/barcelona/
www.spanish-living.com
Guides to cultural events and time-out
www.aboutbarcelona.com
www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com
www.bcn-guide.com/
Galleries and Museums in Barcelona
www.artbarcelona.es
List of influential private galleries and art foundations
www.macba.es
Barcelona's new Contemporary Art Museum, opened in 1995, is five minutes' walk from the Plaza Catalunya in the city centre.
www.museupicasso.bcn.es
The hugely expanded Picasso Museum (Montcada 15-23) now occupies five Gothic palaces in the heart of Barcelona's old city.
www.cccb.org
The CCCB (Montalegre 5) opened in 1994 and puts on such things as exhibitions, music, dance, courses, debates, lectures
www.portal1.lacaixa.es/
CaixaForum includes a selection of works from the Foundations Contemporary Art Collection as well as visiting exhibitions. Most exhibitions are free. Good library.
www.salvador-dali.org
The official web site for the Salvador Dali Museum in Figueres - 1.2h by train from Barcelona
www.bcn.fjmiro.es
Museum for the work of Miró, but also good contemporary art Exhibitions. Excellent library.
www.mnac.es
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya includes one of the worlds greatest collections of Romanesque art.
www.bcn.es/virreinaexposicions
Exhibitions centre on Ramblas. Good temporal Art Exhibitions.
www.cultura.gencat.net/casm/casm2.htm
Exhibitions centre on Ramblas. Good temporal Art Exhibitions.
www.fundaciotapies.org
The Fundació Antoni Tàpies was created in 1984 by the artist Antoni Tàpies to promote the study and knowledge of modern and contemporary art.
Other links
Good , free online translator for many languages
www.online-translator.com
Information about international artist-in-residence
http://www.canserrat.org http://www.resartis.org
http://www.transartist