City in Focus : Barcelona

 

 

 

Welcome to a new feature of this footballing blog in which we highlight the very best and most useful information about the towns and cities that we have travelled to. Hopefully these guides will help you all get the very best out of your stay and match day experience.



TRAVEL: Barcelona is served by three airports, the furthest out being Girona, served by Ryanair mainly from the U.K. Reus airport is located 62 miles to the northeast close to Tarragona also served by Ryanair from the U.K. The main airport in Barcelona is El Prat which stands 11 miles from the centre and is served by the efficient metro link to the city centre stopping at the main station Barcelona Sant's. Single tickets begin at 2.15€ for both the metro system and bus network including the funicular to visit the top of Montjuic in the local park.

Stations for the Camp Nou are Les Corts, Badal, Collblanc and Palau Reial. For RCD Espanyol Cornella Riera.     


                                                                              

MATCH: Barcelona is home to two top flight sides. The most famous of the two FC Barcelona reside at the Camp Nou in the Les Corts area of the city, at a stadium capacity of 99,354 it is the largest football arena in Europe. Due to the team playing some of its best football to date be prepared to part with a significant amount of money for tickets, prices for the lower grade matches begin at €19 up in the third tier (where the view is actually not that bad) ranging up to €60-87 for a view from pitch side. Expect prices to double or treble for games against the top sides including the Clasico against rivals Real Madrid. Tickets are available online from the clubs official website.

Barcelona's other rather less talked about side RCD Espanyol come from the Cornella district and having recently moved in 2009 to the brand new Estadi-Cornella-El Prat which holds 40,500. RCD Espanyol have enjoyed a lengthy stay in Spain's top flight and despite playing second fiddle to their city rivals Barcelona, the club draw in respectable gates at considerably better prices. Tickets begin from around €25 for the lesser games peaking at around €180-450 if you fancy treating yourself to one of the clubs presidential suites. Games against Barcelona begin from €65. Tickets can be purchased from http://www.rcdespanyol.com/previaventa/ and collected at the stadium, just remember to bring your passport along for proof of I.D.

                                                                                                                                                         

EAT: Food in Barcelona is plentiful, cheap and of a high standard. The city boasts a family renowned for changing the face of Spanish and European cuisine, the Adria's, Ferran and Albert formerly of world's best restaurant El Bulli based in the town of Roses just up the coast (now closed of course) have set up a new project in the Para-lel district called Tickets which is one of many high grade tapas experiences on offer in the city,

Tickets bar, Avinguda del Para-lel 164, Ferran and Albert Adria's new playground where you can find such classic dishes as Sangria melon, tomato tartare and spherified olives.

Bilbao Berria, Placa Nova 3, Basque style pincho's bar serving topped baguette slices of traditional Spanish products such as Jamon with quails egg, salt cod and chorizo. At €1.20 per pincho it's ideal for a casual lunch. Just hang on to those cocktail sticks as they will be counted at the end to total your bill.

Xaloc, Carrer de la palla 13, Typically Catalan menu of ham's, crusty bread with tomato and garlic and large bomba's (meat filled ball's deep fried) and crème catalana at around €5-10 per dish.

Tossa, Calle Nepoles 291, After you've stopped laughing at the name you will discover some of the best croquette's in Barcelona and a menu of fresh and well priced food in a welcoming setting just a few paces from the Sagrada Familia.


                                                                          

POINTS OF INTEREST:

 

 

 

• Visit the Parc de Montjuic for a leisurely stroll stopping at the art gallery while listening to the tunes of Gaby Sellanes, a popular local busker at the top of the stairs.
  
                                                                                 
• La Boqueria market is one of the oldest around having started in 1217 and remains popular with both locals and tourists, it can get very busy and is a haven for pickpockets so remain vigilant and enjoy some of the best food in Barcelona.
  
                                                                                  

 

•  Sagrada Familia is Gaudi's most famous unfinished piece, but do not let the cranes and scaffolding deter you from entering this wonderful cathederal which can be seen from miles around.