In the city centre also you can easily discover the ”green lungs” of Barcelona ,which offers to its citizens and tourists many relaxing parks for adults and children. A remarkable one is Parc de la Ciutadella, which is the biggest of the city,30 hectares extended, nearby França station including a navigable lake, museums and a zoo. Joan Mirò Parc is dedicated to the nature and to the homonymous Catalan artist, who has left there one of his huge works; from the cement square you can quickly arrive to the Montjüc hill, another amusing and relaxing area. The whole touristic route includes not only single-theme gardens but also amusement parks and museums.

The trueborn Catalan, Antoni Gaudì born in Tarragona, chose Barcelona as the scene of his lively and creative art. The city which with its criticism has always spared none of strange Gaudi’s projects, keeps many works of the genial Catalan modernist master. Beginning
from the stately Sagrada Familia to continue with the improbable Casa Battlò and with the curvilinear Casa Milà (nicknamed Pedrera), the tourist who wants to know all about this great protagonist of the twentieh century has just to pick and choose. An obligatory halting place for those who love Gaudi and his works is without doubt Parc Guell, an unfinished project of a garden city full of sinuous and modernist architectures. At the entrance there are curious and lively coloured stone lizards which astonish the tourist.

Among all figures born in the city and those that Barcelona has “adopted”, there are some of them who have influenced with their personality the lively culture of the city during the whole century. The first is Joan Mirò, ”legittimate son” of the Catalan capital, who has left a lot of works in the city .It’s possible to see for ex. the homounymous park and the foundation; the second one is Pablo Picasso, Andalusian from Malaga, who came in Barcelona during his “blue period” and whose juvenile works are shown in a museum. The literal contemporary outline has been enriched by the presence of two natives of Barcelona: Manuel Vasquez Montalbano (the “father” of the inspector Pepe Cervalho) and Eduardo Mendoza.

When we think about Spain we are used to connect this Country to the rythm and the passion of Flamenco, but if you want to dance after the manner of Catalans you have to learn Sardana. You have to join hands together with people forming a circle and follow the steps of the leading dancer at a slow rhytm of flutes and tambourines...and you have done it! You can dance, improvising it in the squares of the city because is really so easy This curious dance has honoured so much the Catalan brotherhood that has been worthy of an own monument on Montjuic hill: An other expression of the Catalan soul are the village festivals which during the year are performed in Barcelona and its environs. The most famous one is dedicated to the Mercè. The celebratons in Virgin of Mercede’s honour start on the 24 th december and go on for 4 days, in a blaze of lights, village fairs and processions. This is a good opportunity of being present at “castells” show, that are human towers (the levels can be arrive at nine) are composed of several vigourous men. A typical spanish tradition is the corrida and one of the most famous “Plazas de toros” is obviously in Barcelona. The show is on the scene every sunday, from easter period until october.

Crade of famous champions and legendary football teams, Barcelona has won fame of being a sport city thanks to the perfect organization of the olympic games in 1992 where the sport tourists have found a well equipped city with modern structures , able to lodge every kind of event. Barcelona is especially a football city with its wide and historic stadiums (Montjüc and Camp Nou) and a club at the top of the European football. Those people who want to enjoy watching a spectacular football match have to be absolutely present at the hottest challenge match of the whole Spanish league championship and the international cup, between the blau-grana football team of Barcelona and the Real Madrid.

There are also many occasions to amuse themselves for those people who don’t appreciate so much football matches; in that case the ideal place to spent the afternoon in an amusing way is to go on Tibidabo hill, northwards the city. From its 500 metres high you can enjoy a good view of the city, instead inside its more than 7000 hectares of extension you can visit an amusement park, a museum and a gothic church.