Barcelona… Many people first think about the football team and then about the city… In this third post for the Catalan capital we will go to the “Temple” of the team… Camp Nou! We will move back a few centuries and finally we will reach one of the highest points of the city… And so … the new walk through the neighborhoods of Barcelona begins!
But… before… if you missed the previous posts, you can find them here:
➡ The neighborhoods of Barcelona – from La Ribera to Torre Agbar
➡ The neighborhoods of Barcelona – from La Sagrada Familia to Passeig de Gracia
Camp Nou
Our daily walk in Barcelona is no longer starting at early… We have learned that people here do not like early wakening… And so we do! We arrive late in the morning to the blue-red jewel of Barca… Camp Nou! The fastest and easiest to get with the metro. From the center of the city, the green line is most convenient (L3) – no need to attach! You travel to Les Corts station, from there to the entrance of the stadium are 15 minutes walking distance on Travessera de les Corts. The entrance to the stadium is only straight, on the corner with C. d’Arístides Maillol. It is good to know it… so you do not have to go around one of the biggest stadiums in the world…
So … it’s time to visit Camp Nou! The tour again is not cheap, around 25 euro (Current prices and different tours can be checked HERE). There were not many waiting people, and very quickly we bought tickets. This is not like the tours of many other stadiums with a guided tour and a fixed time… You get the ticket, you enter and follow a set route, and you may be slow wherever you wish. In a nutshell – you are walking alone… as long as you want.
The museum is first
The tour starts from the museum. Here are the trophies of one of the most loved and supported clubs in the world! You will see the titles of the Spanish La Liga, Copa del Rey, the UEFA trophies and of course… the most prestigious football award – the Champions League trophies… Many other trophies, prizes and individual honors are also stored. Jerseys over the years and memories of team history fill the interior. And when you say you are a Bulgarian… the people in the museum and the stadium start looking at you with a flame in the eyes and endless respect. I suppose in them emerge memories of the Bulgarian with a hotspur Balkan temper and unerring left leg… Hristo Stoichkov! and I feel national pride, seeing The Dagger’s place in the museum.
I started telling you about the museum without telling you what the club means to the city… Everywhere in the streets you will see children with red-blue jerseys running after a football ball. You will see the colors of the club hanging next to the Catalonian flag from the balconies. You will see the painted colors on the walls as well or drawings of club legends. Club “Barcelona” and the city are one and pulsate in blue-red rhythm. Everyone is excited about football, and the relationship of the local with the team is very strong… This relationship and love originated between 1939 and 1975. A period dictated by Franco’s regime… Then Catalan symbols and language are forbidden. The repression of the city and its inhabitants are severe. And the only place where they can express their identity and to speak freely his language is… Camp Nou! And the matches of Barca… And the victory over Real Madrid… they appeared to be a little supremacy over Franco’s regime.
For many years, Barcelona has been a club that does not allow major sponsorship contracts to enter. They do not even have a T-shirt sponsor! But obligations force the club to change its policy… today is among the richest clubs in the world, but… still relies on its academy – La Másia. From there came some of the best players in the past years.
We go to the pitch
After the museum begins the tour of the stadium… You can see the press conference room, enter the guest dressing room, to go through the tunnel to the court and peek into the chapel, right before the exit to the pitch. You just can’t see the Barcelona’s dressing room… it’s a sacred place!
You will walk through the various levels of the stadium, up to the highest floors where the media is staying. It is majestic… as is the team of Barcelona. It is no coincidence that you will meet Camp Nou in all the guides and information about the city as one of the main attractions… And Barcelona is definitely not a place, where there is nothing to see… This suggests that perhaps the motto of the team is very true… „Mes que un club’“ (More than a club)!
Park and Palace Reial de Pedralbes (Parc & Palau Reial de Pedralbes)
Going out of the stadium, we head north to the Park and Palace Pedralbes (Parc & Palau Reial de Pedralbes). The distance is about 10-15 minutes walking towards Palau Reial Metro Station. Crossing the Diagonal Boulevard (Avinguda Diagonal), we are already in the park! Its dimensions can‘t be compared to those of the Citadel Park (Parc de la Ciutadella), but it is very beautiful! You fall into a forest of tall cedar trees, beautiful cypress trees, bougainvilleas, well-trimmed shrubs and of course… beautiful artificial ponds. All this gives the park a remarkable romance and it is a preferred place for a walk of couples in love. In fact… the park was once part of the gardens of the Royal Palace. Maybe that’s the reason for its magnificence…
And the palace… Originally it was Eusebi Guell’s mansion, subsequently becomes a place of seclusion of the king, the seat of the republican government, villa of Franco, and today a museum. Here is the Ceramics Museum and the Art Museum. We didn’t come in, we decided to enjoy the palace outside, around the fountain. Its facade is great! Stroll through the flower beds around the entrance and enjoy it fully…
But… before you leave… and here you will see Gaudi’s footprint! Leave the park from its northeastern corner to Padralbes Boulevard (Avenguda de Pedralbes). There is Pavillon de la Finca Guell (Pavellons de la Finca Guell). These are the house of the janitor and the stables from the former Guell Mansion, designed by Gaudi. I’m sure you’ll guess yourself, his style is so pronounced… And the wrought iron gate is curved in the form of a fiery dragon, frozen in a battle posture…
Monastery of Pedralbes (Monestir de Pedralbes)
We are heading along Padralbes Boulevard (Аvenguda de Pedralbes) to the Monastery! The distance is not long again, about 10-15 minutes of normal walking. On the way you will notice the beautiful residential buildings, whose red bricks are eye-catching. And the monastery… a medieval place of the luxurious Pedralbes! For up-to-date entrance prices and hours to visit, you can check the site of the monastery – HERE. Our entrance was 5 euro, a relatively low fee based on the other prices in the city…
With the entrance to the monastery you are transported to another age and a completely different way of life… It was founded in the 14th century by Queen Elisenda and was designed for the nuns of the Order of Saint Clare. By 1983 they lived in the current museum, then moved to a nearby modern building and it opens the doors for visits. It is built in the style of the Catalan Gothic.
You can start the tour from the church of the monastery. Then proceed to the premises in the three-story gallery. You will see many religious artifacts, pictures and furniture collected by the nuns. But the strongest impact will make you the small narrow cells where the nuns have spoken their daily prayers. You can feel the seclusion and deprivation of the spiritual world… Feel the traditional monastic life … You will also see the common dining areas, the long tables and the large stone sinks… Think about the general way of existence, about monastic life who still lead today, living now in the neighboring building…
Oh yes… and the garden! In the lovely garden you will find plenty of herbs, flowers, palms, cypresses and others. If you visit Barcelona in its hottest days, the beautiful shade of palm trees will have a good effect on you. It was so gloomy with us that we did not need a shadow…
The blue tram
From here we go to the square Av. Tibidabo. The options are two – by bus or by foot… By bus it will take about 20 – 25 minutes, and walk about 40 minutes… Well, we decided to go on foot again… The road passes through the last joining village to Barcelona – Sarria. It would be interesting to walk through the streets and examine it, unfortunately we did not have time… The most beautiful thing on the way was a church just before the square – Sants Gervasi i Protasi (Mare de Déu de la Bonanova).
So, they came to the square of Av. Tibidabo, we have to move to the station of the funicular… I recommend that you use the famous Blue Tram in this direction! Yes, the ticket costs 5.50 euro in the direction, but … you have the opportunity to feel the spirit of old Barcelona! The tram moves along the elegant boulevard from 1901! Get up, sit on the wooden benches, see its interesting interior and enjoy the glimpse of the picturesque villas on the way…
Tibidabo
The last step to the top of Tibidabo… We are getting to the Finicular and for the 10th minute we are up. The ticket price in both directions is around 7.50 euro. and we are already at the high peak of about 610 meters – Tibidabo! One of the places that reveal the most beautiful views over Barcelona… This place is among the favorites of the residents and guests of the city. The Amusement Park was opened in 1901 and is still in operation today. It is the oldest in Spain! Yes, the attraction is not the most attractive, but the little ones are certainly interesting. Interestingly, one of the attractions was the first plane flying on the Barcelona – Madrid route…
You have certainly seen a lot of pictures from the city of the famous tample Sagrat Cor (Basilica Templo Expiatorio del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús) with the statue of Jesus Christ. Well, you have the opportunity to visit it. The temple itself is free but if you want to get to the top… you have to pay 2 euro… Worth it! Feeling to look at the hill from above, with a fun-fair and all the people below… and even below them Barcelona… It’s amazing! And climbing is with an elevator… 😉
And that day is over… We wanted to catch a beautiful sunset from the hill, but we caught only dark clouds… and from time to time the sun showing from among them… It remains to enjoy a little more on the views in all directions… This remains like one of my favorite places in Barcelona!
And from here to the center – first with the funicular and then by bus to Av. Tibidabo – number 196. The stop is right next to the funicular. If you decide to take a walk, the distance to the metro station is about 20 minutes. This time we bet on the bus! And from your station you take the new metro line – L7. It will take you to Plaça Catalunya…
