Culture and traditions

Entering the club of properties inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List is a highly restricted privilege, since the criteria of its selection committee are incredibly strict. That’s what makes it so impressive that the regions of Barcelona boast a total of 9 World Heritage buildings. They’re all must-see attractions for architecture enthusiasts!

Strength, balance, courage and common sense, the four key concepts of human tower building, repeated like a mantra by its practitioners. For spectators, the most appropriate words might be thrills, nerves, suspense and joy. Without a doubt, to experience a human tower building event is to navigate a sea of sensations. So it’s no wonder that UNESCO inscribed this Catalan tradition par excellence on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

El reconeixement de Barcelona com a capital mundial de l'arquitectura el 2026 és una oportunitat per mirar més enllà del nucli urbà. La província de Barcelona ha estat històricament un laboratori d'innovació arquitectònica, amb obres que han definit l'evolució de l'arquitectura moderna des de mitjans del segle XX fins avui: des de la sensibilitat mediterrània de Coderch i Bonet fins a l'audàcia de Bofill i la poètica de Miralles i Pinós, l'arquitectura moderna ha deixat una empremta profunda i transformadora en aquest territori.

In 2005, seven buildings designed by Antoni Gaudí were inscribed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Six of them are extremely well known: the Sagrada Família, La Pedrera, Casa Vicens, Parc Güell, Palau Güell and Casa Batlló. However, the seventh architectural gem in the list, the Crypt of the Colònia Güell, is much less famous. It’s an architectural masterpiece in which the author of impossible works tested his considerable intellect.

Home to some amazing heritage, the ten towns listed below are set in locations that will take your breath away or tell you about the history of Catalonia. They’re must-see places to visit during your stay in the regions of Barcelona. You’ll fall in love with their architectural and natural heritage, and they’ll lead you to hidden corners you probably didn’t know existed. Are you ready?

Sometimes, to rediscover the miracle of existence, all you have to do is look up at the sky: far from the light pollution of big cities, you can see the grandeur of the cosmos quite clearly. However, if you want to do it properly, you will need to visit an astronomical observatory. These stargazing centres are located in privileged locations, with stable atmospheric conditions and unpolluted skies, and have such powerful telescopes that, when opened, a superb show unfolds before our eyes. In the regions around Barcelona, there are several of these perfect places for stargazing. Do you know where they are?