In recent decades, Barcelona has forged a reputation as a hyper-tourist city, a trend that began after the 1992 Olympic Games, an event that put the city at the center of world views, combined with a combination of interesting attractions, unique monuments and an extraordinary climate, have made it the most visited city in Spain and one of the most tourist cities in the world.
Still, Barcelona is a city full of interesting places that are not among the most visited or tourist. Places that by their own merit, constitute the offer of another face not so visible of Barcelona and worth knowing. These are 20 places in Barcelona off the beaten path.
- THE REAL DAWNRAYS, MARITIME MUSEUM
Very close to La Rambla, is this interesting museum that often goes unnoticed. Occupying the Gothic building of the Royal Shipyards, dating from the thirteenth century, the Maritime Museum of Barcelona has as its mission to disseminate and protect one of the most valuable maritime heritage of the Mediterranean. In addition to exhibitions and cultural activities, it exhibits gems such as the life-size replica of the Royal Galley of John of Austria and other non-traditional vessels.
- EL BORNE CULTURAL CENTER
An example of modernist architecture that was applied to many of Barcelona's markets, the recently opened El Borne Cultural Center, was for almost a century the market of the Ribera neighborhood. After the discovery of an archaeological site with the remains of the Ribera neighborhood prior to the destruction of it in 1714, the building is inaugurated as a good of national interest, where you can appreciate the restored structure of the market and the exhibition of this historical vestige .
- SANT PAU HOSPITAL - MODERNIST STORE SANT PAU
Built by one of the parents of Catalan modernism, Lluís Domènech i Muntaner, this building was one of the main buildings in Barcelona for more than 80 years, but after a considerable deterioration it was decided to build a modern headquarters for the hospital and convert the nine blocks of the old complex in the Sant Pau Modernist Campus that functions as a center of knowledge and hosts cultural exhibitions, becoming the greatest modernist architectural example in the world.
- COSMO CAIXA MUSEUM
The building that houses the main science museum in Barcelona was formerly a modernist building that housed a blind asylum at the beginning of the 20th century. Opened in 2004, the Cosmo Caixa is an essential visit to Barcelona, especially if you are traveling with children, where they will have fun with interactive exhibitions learning about science, geology and astronomy.
- BARCELONA DISSENY HUB
This particular volume constitutes one of the main elements of the most recent urban renewal in Barcelona: the Plaça de les Glòries. The museum, which is just over a year old that was inaugurated, aims to position itself as a benchmark in design, an aspect to which Barcelona has always been linked, housing the FAD (Promotion of Arts and Design) venues and the Museum of Design of Barcelona. Its public spaces have become the new platform to see and photograph the neighboring Torre Agbar.
- TOWER OF LES AIGÜES DEL BESOS
This industrial tower, which has already turned 130 years old, was built to take advantage of the underground channel of the Besòs river, at a time when the water supply of the city of Barcelona was a good that could become scarce. Of great architectural beauty, today it is possible to take a guided tour of this jewel of the Poblenou quarter, not only to check its structure, but also to see unseen views of Barcelona (even at night). Visit his official website.
- PHOTOVOLTAIC PLATE FORUM
This peculiar structure, visible from the Barcelona coast, was built on the occasion of the Forum of Cultures in 2004, in line with the sustainable spirit that proclaimed the event. Located in the Plaza del Fòrum, this large paved park that does not end up integrating into the city, is a scarce place for visitors, where you can run, ride a bike or just walk and see the sea calmly, as long as there is no some macro concert or event.
- BUNKER DEL CARMEL
A site that for some time remained somewhat hidden, nowadays it has become known beyond the word of mouth and is increasingly visited by tourists, although it still maintains that alternative touch. The Carmel bunker is a viewpoint that offers unforgettable views of Barcelona in the Turó de la Rovira, where an antiaircraft battery was installed during the Spanish Civil War. It is not difficult to get there, (the No. 119 bus passes fairly close by), or you can get close to the Guinardó metro station and take a good walk to the Guinardó park, a walkway where you can easily find a series of elevators and escalators.
- BOTANICAL GARDEN
Located on the mountain of Montjuic, the Botanical Garden was remodeled after the Olympic Games and specialized in flora from Mediterranean areas around the world. In addition to space for recreation and preservation of its herbarium (one of the largest in Catalonia), the center organizes guided tours for botanical enthusiasts and special activities for children, as well as being a natural viewpoint of Barcelona.
- GREEK THEATER
Another corner of Montjuic Park that was inaugurated on the occasion of the International Exhibition of 1929, the Greek Theater, inspired by the theater of Epidaurus, is an open-air venue for theatrical and musical performances, especially within the programming of the Grec Festival during the summer. He is accompanied by the Jardines del Teatre Grec, 1,65 hectares of plants from the Mediterranean.
