The Monocle Travel Guide to Barcelona

Barcelona boasts a singular character, proudly guarded and shaped over the centuries. From the sovereign and seafaring years of the ancient Principality of Catalonia to the 1992 Olympics, it has long been a forwardthinking, enterprising and vibrant city.

Its unique personality finds expression in everything from the fairytale architecture of modernism patriarch Antoni Gaudí to the neighbourhoodwide street parties celebrating the likes of local saints and a love of reading.

We ve ventured beyond the tourist-beategn tracks of Barri Gòtic and explored every nook, from Sant Andreu to Poble-sec. We ve found independent retailers and grand fashion labels that abound with dynamic designs, as well as old-world tapas bars and innovative new spots bringing a modern touch to Catalan cuisine. And don t worry, we haven t eschewed the beach and bottle entirely there s always time for those in this city.