This article is the second chapter of the “Un día de lluvia en Barcelona” series. We would like to give you some ideas about what people could do on a rainy day in Barcelona city. The plan is to provide you with a complete itinerary for a day when the weather is not that pleasant. So we could dedicate more time to culture and art, instead of enjoying the sunshine & the sandy beach. As the city of Barcelona has so much to offer even on a rainy day!
Palau de la Música Catalana
For almost a year I have been attending Spanish classes in a language school located just right next to the Palau de la Música in Barcelona. Sometimes we even had coffee on the terrace of the building and rarely even inside at their cafe. While I kept telling myself that we should finally visit Palau de la Música, but since it was on my way almost every day, I could admire the palace from outside, and I was pretty relaxed that for sure one day we will get in, no need for rush. And as with almost every granted thing in our lives, we didn’t appreciate enough the opportunity, and of course, we missed the visit before the pandemic started.
But when finally we were able to get back again to the city, and the palace was open for visitors again, we didn’t hesitate further, and we even booked the tickets in advance.
The Palau de la Música Catalana (Palace of Catalan Music) is a concert hall in Barcelona. Designed in the Catalan modernista style by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. It dates back to in between 1905 and 1908 for the Orfeó Català, a choral society founded in 1891. That was a leading force in the Catalan cultural movement Renaixença (Catalan Rebirth). Palau de la Música Catalana started working on 9 February 1908.
Between 1982 and 1989, the building underwent extensive restoration, remodeling, and extension under the direction of architects Oscar Tusquets and Carles Díaz. In 1997, the Palau de la Música Catalana got in UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Hospital de Sant Pau. Today, more than half a million people a year attend musical performances in the Palau that range from symphonic and chamber music to jazz and Cançó (Catalan song).
You will be amazed by all the details, the colors, mosaics, and all design elements, this visit is definitely worth the time and we cannot wait to return for a live performance among these walls.
La Taverna del Bisbe
If we need a break during our sightseeing tour, it’s worth looking for an old school bar. It has an authentic atmosphere for some refreshments. One of our favorite places in the city center is Taverna del Bisbe. It has a nice terrace with outstanding views of the Cathedral. Inside as well it has a cozy and old-school vibe.
Oishii Ramen
You may know that we are a big fan of ramen. You can just take a look at our previous articles about this amazing Japanese dish here. We have already visited almost every ramen place in Barcelona. But this new restaurant of Oishii has just opened recently so we couldn’t miss it out. There is no better thing than a heartwarming spicy and delicious soup to warm ourselves up on a rainy day.
Sant Pau Recinte Modernista / Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
A modernist heaven, a city within the city. Sant Pau is the world’s largest Art Nouveau complex, as well as being the most important work by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the architect of Modernisme, the Catalan Art Nouveau. Declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1997 for its singularity and artistic beauty, the Art Nouveau Site comprises an architectural complex of 12 pavilions set in green space and interconnected by a kilometer of underground galleries.
You can buy your tickets in advance here.
What was life like in this former hospital in the nineteen-twenties? What kind of medicine was practiced in Barcelona? We will get answers to all these questions during their guided tour.
“The visit begins in the hypostyle hall, or hall of columns, originally home to the Hospital’s emergency service. A series of tunnels leads to the Sant Salvador Pavilion, the first building to be brought into operation in 1916. Here, you’ll learn about the history of the old Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau and discover the work and career of Lluís Domènech i Montaner. The visit continues to the gardens. As you walk among the plants and flowers, you’ll discover how nature was a source of inspiration for Art Nouveau and played a vital role in helping patients to recover. The tour ends in the Administration Pavilion, the most outstanding building on the site. You’ll be amazed by the various heritage spaces, full of light, color, mosaics, sculptures, and a wealth of decorative detail.”
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