Culture and traditions

For a long time we believed that heritage was only a thing of the past, which is why we visited museums to explore it. But all you have to do is head out for a stroll to see that the streets house the biggest collection of them all. We suggest a route that goes beyond the historical façades of the streets of Barcelona, immortalised every day in thousands of selfies. The cities and towns close to the capital are also home to architectural jewels that make them well worth a visit.

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.

Showing full respect to local culture is one of the main principles of sustainable tourism. But since it’s difficult to show respect to what we don’t know, before travelling to place, we should try and find out about the most important aspects of its tangible and intangible heritage. So if you’re thinking of visiting the regions of Barcelona in the near future, here are five keys to enjoying a truly authentic trip and not feeling like just another tourist as you travel around.