This is the third post in a 7-part series about our Spain adventure! We were fortunate to be traveling with our friends Brigid & Tom in Barcelona, which is located in the Catalonia region of Spain. Barcelona was the final port stop on a multi-country cruise – and it’s here that we start our own train & road trip in Spain.
Day 1 – Barcelona & Montserrat
Hotel España
We based ourselves at Hotel España-Ocean Drive, a historic hotel tucked just off La Rambla. The building dates back to 1859 when it first opened its doors in the heart of Barcelona. Early in the 1900’s it was redesigned in a Modernista style, with decorative interiors that feel like a quieter cousin of Antoni Gaudí’s work—ornate wood, rich velvet, murals, and old‑world charm. It was one of those places where even walking through the lobby felt like stepping into a piece of Barcelona’s past.
La Rambla to the Columbus Monument and Naval Museum
From the hotel, we walked the length of La Rambla, Barcelona’s famous 1.2-kilometer pedestrian boulevard. Once a seasonal riverbed outside the medieval walls, it evolved into the city’s main promenade, and today it’s a constant flow of locals, tourists, flower stalls, street performers, and café terraces. Stretching from Plaça de Catalunya to the Christopher Columbus Monument at Port Vell, it acts as a bustling dividing line between the Gothic Quarter and the El Raval neighborhoods.
At the southern end, La Rambla opens onto the Monument to Christopher Columbus, built for the 1888 Universal Exposition. The column points toward the sea, a reminder of Barcelona’s maritime history and Spain’s age of exploration. We circled the base, taking photos of the statues and reliefs that tell pieces of that story.
Right nearby is the Maritime Museum (Museu Marítim de Barcelona), housed in the old royal shipyards. It is one of the best‑preserved medieval dock complexes in the world. We spent about 90 minutes touring exhibits on Mediterranean trade, shipbuilding, and naval history, including a full‑scale replica of a 16th‑century galley. It was a perfect way to connect the harbor outside with the centuries of seafaring that shaped the city.
Lunch at Tiscquismiquis
After the museum, we met up with Tom and Brigid for lunch at Tiquismiquis. We were the only people in the restaurant, so the owner was giving us plenty of attention. It had a simple menu but the flavors were anything but. It was one of those relaxed, mid‑day meals where conversation and food blended together—tapas passed around the table, local wine & beer, and the kind of laughter that makes you forget what time it is. It felt like a small pause in the middle of a very full day.
Walk to the Bus Terminal: Back Streets & Arc de Triomf
After lunch, we walked through the back streets toward the bus terminal, leaving the tourist‑heavy areas behind and slipping into more everyday Barcelona—residential buildings, small shops, quieter corners.
On the way, we passed the Arc de Triomf, built as the main entrance to the 1888 Universal Exposition. Unlike many triumphal arches that celebrate military victories, this one was designed as a civic symbol, welcoming visitors to a modern, forward‑looking Barcelona. Its red brick and decorative reliefs stand out against the surrounding buildings, and we paused for a few photos before continuing on.
Riding Through the Countryside to Montserrat
The bus ride out to Montserrat took us gradually from city streets to rolling countryside. On the way out of town, we passed the Barcelona Bull Ring, a reminder of a tradition that has largely faded from Catalonia but still lingers in the architecture.
As the city gave way to fields and hills, the distinctive serrated silhouette of Montserrat began to appear in the distance—jagged peaks that look almost sculpted.
Touring Montserrat Monastery
Perched high in the mountains, Montserrat Monastery has been a spiritual center for centuries. The monastery of Montserrat itself is not particularly architecturally remarkable; it’s the setting into which the buildings were integrated that captivates. The monastery is situated in a very beautiful natural park with indescribable view unfolding all the way to the Collserola Mountains overlooking Barcelona and to the Pyrenees.
The Benedictine abbey is home to the famous statue of the Black Madonna (La Moreneta), a revered symbol of Catalonia and a destination for pilgrims around the world. The dark appearance comes from the choice of wood, candle smoke and the aging process. The statue sits behind protective glass, except for one hand holding a golden sphere that represents the universe. We join the long-standing tradition for visitors to wait in a dedicated line to touch her exposed hand while offering a “wish prayer”. The monastery complex combines religious significance with dramatic natural scenery, and walking through its courtyards and chapels felt both peaceful and awe‑inspiring.
Riding the Montserrat Cog Railway
After our time at the monastery, we took the Montserrat Cog Railway, which climbs steeply up/down the mountainside. The ride itself is part of the experience—watching the landscape drop away, seeing the rock formations up close, and feeling the slow, steady pull of the train as it descends. By the time we stepped off, it felt like we’d traveled not just in distance, but in altitude and atmosphere.
Day 2 – Walking Barcelona: Music, Markets & the Gothic Quarter
Walking Tour of Barcelona
Day 2 was all about exploring Barcelona on foot, following a route that stitched together music, markets, Roman history, and Gothic architecture.
Musica Casa Beethoven
We started at Musica Casa Beethoven, a music shop founded in 1880 and the oldest store still open on La Rambla. It’s the kind of place where shelves are lined with musical scores, instruments, and musical memorabilia—a quiet refuge for musicians and music lovers in the middle of the city’s busiest street. Stepping inside felt like entering a different tempo. The store boasts 70,000 sheet musics, some dating back to the 19th century.
Saint Joseph Market (La Boqueria)
From there, we headed to Saint Joseph Market (La Boqueria), one of Europe’s great food markets. Its origins go back to the 13th century, and today it’s a vibrant mix of fruit stands, jamón (Spanish ham), seafood, sweets, and juice stalls. The colors, smells, and sounds all hit at once—vendors calling out, knives chopping, glasses clinking. It’s impossible not to be drawn in.
Old Roman Walls
Continuing our walk, we visited sections of Barcelona’s Old Roman walls, remnants of the ancient city of Barcino. These stones have been standing for nearly two thousand years, and now they sit quietly beside later medieval and modern buildings. Seeing them up close is a reminder of just how many layers of history the city holds.
Barcelona Cathedral
We returned to the Barcelona Cathedral, this time with more context from the previous day’s wanderings. It was constructed from the 13th to the 15th centuries and serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona in Catalonia. The Gothic façade, cloister, and interior all speak to the city’s medieval power and religious life. The geese in the cloister, the vaulted ceilings, the chapels along the sides—each detail adds to the sense of continuity. The Pope would be visiting Barcelona in 2 months, so the city was busy cleaning and renovating.
Walking to the Old Gothic Quarter
From the cathedral, we walked deeper into the Old Gothic Quarter, letting the narrow streets guide us. Small plazas, hidden corners, stone archways, and balconies overhead created a feeling of intimacy and age. It’s one of those neighborhoods where you don’t need a strict plan; you just keep moving, turning corners, and letting the city reveal itself.
Day 3 – Gaudí & Goodbye: Sagrada Família, Parque Güell & the Train to Madrid
Touring Sagrada Família
We dedicated part of Day 3 to Antoni Guadi, a visionary Spanish architect from Catalonia who is widely regarded as the mastermind of Modernism. His work is characterized by its fluid, organic forms inspired by nature, vibrant colors and intricate textures. He did not draw his plans, rather he constructed three-dimensional scale models as he went. He tragically died 100 years ago in 1926 when struck by a tram.
Our Gaudi tour starts with Sagrada Família, Antoni Gaudí’s most famous and still‑unfinished basilica. With the historical context already in mind, we could appreciate not just the spectacle, but the story—construction beginning in the late 19th century, interrupted by war, and continuing today as a living project. Inside, the forest‑like columns and kaleidoscope of stained glass create a space that feels both sacred and otherworldly. Outside, each façade tells a different part of the biblical narrative, carved into stone with incredible detail.
Touring Parque Güell (Park Güell)
Next, we visited Parque Güell, one of Gaudí’s early works, designed for his patron Eusebi Güell. Located near La Rambla, it is a complex of parks, gardens, The Lanard House and Palau Güell. Güell and Gaudi originally envisioned the site as a private residential development of luxurious homes with modern amenities. Only two houses were built (not by Gaudi) because aristocrats felt the area was too far from the city center. The park’s common spaces showcase Gaudí’s developing style with stairways, terraces and gardens filled with symbolism, including Greek mythology.
Palau Güell is a mansion built by Gaudi for Güell. Guests entered the home in horse-drawn carriages through the front iron gates into the receiving room. The main party room has a tall ceiling with small holes near the top where lanterns were hung at night from the outside to give the appearance of a starlit sky. Walking through the rooms of Palau Güell and up to the roof gave us a more intimate view of his architecture than the grand scale of Sagrada Família. Parque Güell became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
Catching the Bullet Train to Madrid
In the afternoon, we made our way to the train station to catch the high‑speed train to Madrid. Barcelona’s modern rail system connects the city to the rest of Spain at incredible speeds, turning what used to be a long journey into a smooth, fast ride.
As the train pulled out, Barcelona’s mix of medieval streets, modernist buildings, and Mediterranean light slipped past the windows. Three days had given us a taste of its history, neighborhoods, and architecture—but it also felt like a place we could easily spend much longer.
Summary – Off to Madrid Now
With Barcelona behind us, we’re off to Madrid for the next chapter of the trip—ready for grand boulevards, royal palaces, museums, and a whole new rhythm of city life.
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