Luxury Barcelona holidays are unique. As well as its turbulent history, artistic heritage, and astounding architecture, it's the richest, most stylish, and cosmopolitan city in Spain.
Not to mention its proud role as capital of Catalonia and home to one of the world's best loved football clubs. Barcelona buzzes with activity throughout the year - no wonder it's one of Europe's perennial weekend destinations.
From Plaça Catalunya, the beating heart of the city, take a walk down Barcelona's main drag, La Ramblas, the lively pedestrian boulevard that bisects the old town and runs down to the port. Then lose yourself within the Barri Gòtic, boasting one of the highest concentrations of mediaeval buildings in Europe, and refuel on patatas bravas washed down with Estrella lager. Then head to the fascinating Museu Picasso for Spain's biggest collection of Pablo Picasso's art.
Follow the trail of Antoni Gaudì, the local architect whose visionary work was once described by Salvador Dali as 'a tactile erogenous zone that bristles like a sea urchin'. Gaudì's unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Famìlia, is a tribute to his enduring Catholic faith. It remains under construction 75 years after the architect's death, and architects have now reverted to his original designs. A visit to the cathedral, combining incredible detail with a breathtaking scale of ambition, is a must.
