BARCELONA MUST SEE – 11 KM

Description

This 11km circular tour has time machine power; we will discover Barcelona and its transformation along the centuries from the middle ages, passing through the time of Gaudi and Modernism.

For this circular tour, our meeting point is in Plaza Catalunya – the beating heart of the city. Going up to Rambla Catalunya (famous street for local outside-seating bars and restaurants) we reach the famous Passeig de Gracia, one of the most expensive and beautiful streets in Spain, which hosts luxury shops, 5-star hotels and gems of Catalan modernistic buildings, among them Gaudi’s “Casa Batlló” and “La Pedrera”, both UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Our next step is Born, the old city famous for its narrow and cozy streets, home of the modernist Palau de la Musica, Santa Maria del Mar Church (yes, the one of Idelfonso Falcones great book “Cathedral of the Sea”) and Arc de Trionf, the main access gate for the 1888 Barcelona World Fair, intended to welcome people. Don’t hesitate to ask your guide for some local tips, we can’t wait to share them!

Through the big Ciutadella park, the first public garden built during the 19th century over the old fortress, we will arrive at the beach. If you book this tour as an early morning tour and if we are lucky enough we can observe the sun rising and shining on Barceloneta and its iconic building such as the Peix (the fish) and sail shaped W Hotel. Be ready to be amazed by the morning colors hitting the city and la playa.

On our way back, we will run aside the Port Vell arriving to the Columbus Statue. Here is where the famous Rambla begins. This emblematic avenue lined by trees is generally overcrowded by tourists, but has a completely different face during early mornings. Despite it is nowadays famous for pickpocketing, it is still one of Barcelona’s must sees, and running it without being hindered by people is a wonderful feeling. At the end of this 1,2 km Rambla we will reencounter Plaza de Catalunya; now you can enjoy the city as a “local”.

This is a great tour if you are looking for a run that has it all – sea views, history, modernism – shaped into the unique feel of Barcelona.