| The mountain of Montjuic juts over | | | | |
| Barcelona's port on one face, and on the | | | | But in a lovely setting like Montjuic, you |
| other side overhangs the Placa Espanya. With | | | | don't want to be indoors all the time. The |
| this location, it is ideal for playing. The | | | | Jardi Botanic opened in 1999, but has already |
| mountain became the central mark of the World | | | | received international admiration for |
| Fair of 1929 and the 1992 Olympic games. It's | | | | landscaping and concept. Most species are |
| beautiful and green, still forested and | | | | Mediterranean, or from a similar climate like |
| covered in parks. Montjuic is popular with | | | | Australia and California, and the park is |
| pedestrians and cyclists of all kinds because | | | | divided into regions for each area. The |
| of its extensive and green paths. Barcelona | | | | telecommunications aerial, rather than |
| has recently started working on installing | | | | detracting from the beauty, is designed to |
| walkways and escalators to connect visitors | | | | blend with the landscaping, and because of |
| to the harder-to-navigate sections. | | | | the way it leans, it acts as a giant sundial. |
| | | | |
| Among these sections is the Font del Gat, | | | | The Poble Espanyol will keep you outside. |
| once a fashionable modernista cafe designed | | | | It's a recreated Spanish village built for |
| by Josep Puig i Cadafalch. Today, it's an | | | | the 1929 World Fair and has almost a |
| information and visitors center and | | | | Disneyish feel. You can find over a hundred |
| restaurant, and a great starting place to | | | | styles of Spanish architecture in one tiny |
| explore Montjuic. Also in the tall mountain | | | | spot, from the Levante to Galicia and |
| you'll find some of the best museums in | | | | Castilian high gothic. The entrance, a |
| Barcelona like the MNAC and the Miro | | | | facsimile of the gateway to Avila, leads you |
| Foundation. | | | | to the center of the village, where you can |
| | | | have drinks at the outdoor cafe, or visit the |
| The most popular attraction around Montjuic | | | | flamenco taberna and other nightspots. |
| is the Magic Fountain, or Font Magica. In | | | | Provincial crafts and souvenirs are sold |
| daytime, the grand fountain beneath the MNAC | | | | everywhere, and you can see artisans |
| staircase seems ordinary, but after dark, | | | | handprinting fabric, making pottery, or |
| you'll see the magic part. Music blasts from | | | | blowing glass. Though some see this as a |
| loudspeakers, and varicolored lighting | | | | tourist trap, if you won't be able to see |
| illuminates the dancing waters of the | | | | much of Spain outside Barcelona this is a |
| fountain. Carles Buigas designed it for the | | | | good choice for finding almost everything |
| 1929 World Fair, and it's perfect for | | | | you're interested in. |
| watching from one of the cafes surrounding | | | | |
| it. Shows run throughout the summer, from May | | | | And history, of course, is not neglected. The |
| to October on Thursday through Sunday after | | | | Museu Militar de Montjuic is found inside the |
| dark. (at other times of the year, they're | | | | Castell de Montjuic, a fortress dating back |
| held only on Friday and Saturday after dark). | | | | to the 1600s that overlooks the sea. The |
| | | | collection is a treasury of military |
| If you want to visit the Castell de Montjuic | | | | artifacts from armor to weapons to |
| on the sea side of the mountain, your best | | | | accoutrements to military art, and the |
| choice is via the cable car, the | | | | fortress itself provides breathtaking views |
| Transbordador Aeri, that runs across the | | | | of the Barcelona skyline and the sea. The |
| port. It runs daily from 10:30 AM to 7 PM. | | | | Museu d'Arquelogia de Catalunya occupies the |
| | | | former Palace of Graphic Arts of the 1929 |
| Once you're settled on Montjuic, there's | | | | World Fair. It surveys the long history of |
| plenty to see and do. | | | | Barcelona, from the Iberian prehistory to the |
| | | | Greek, Roman, and Carthaginian periods, |
| What to Do | | | | including many artifacts that were unearthed |
| | | | very close by. On the floor, you'll find |
| At the CaixaForum, you can view rotating | | | | actual mosaics moved here from the places |
| diverse art exhibitions on three floors of a | | | | where they were unearthed; the curators |
| building that used to be a textile factory | | | | invite visitors to walk over them, as they |
| designed by modernista architect Puig i | | | | believe using them as they were intended |
| Cadalfach. Later, Japanese architect Arata | | | | provides better preservation for them. |
| Isozaki added a walkway, courtyard, and | | | | |
| entrance to set off the art stored within. At | | | | There is much more to do on MOntjuic, |
| any given time, you're also likely to find | | | | including visiting the Museu Nacional d'Art |
| performances related to the art being | | | | de Catalynya (MNAC) or the Pavello Mies van |
| exhibited, especially world music and modern | | | | der Rohe. Your best bet: go early, and don't |
| dance, and there's an excellent bookstore in | | | | have a set agenda. Enjoy exploring MOntjuic. |
| the foyer. You can find more modern art at | | | | |
| the Fundacio Joan Miro, devoted to the master | | | | Places to Stay |
| of contemporary Catalan art. The Miro | | | | |
| collection, donated by the artist, is so | | | | Montjuic, hampered by a lack of amenities |
| large that only part of it can be displayed | | | | like water, has few homes but many pleasant |
| at any given time. If you're not familiar | | | | places to visit. One place to try is the |
| with Miro, the audioguide you can pick up at | | | | Hotel Torre Catalunya, a skyscraper-style |
| the front desk will help you understand the | | | | four-star hotel with excellent amenities. Its |
| depth and breadth of this master's works. In | | | | restaurant, the Ciudad Condal, offers |
| sports-mad Barcelona, you'll also find the | | | | gorgeous views of the city from the 23rd |
| Galeria Olimpica, a museum devoted to the | | | | floor. You'll also find a Spa, health center, |
| games held in 1992. This museum is located in | | | | and many other amenities here. |
| the cellar of the old Olympic Stadium. | | | | |