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Stopping at Barcelona is guaranteed to be a highlight of Mediterranean cruises, as the cosmopolitan city has a fine selection of cultural and historic attractions to visit. You certainly won't have any trouble finding things to see in the Catalan capital, but you may have a problem fitting everything you want to do into a single day, so it is a good idea to plan an itinerary before you leave the cruise ship. One thing you won't want to miss during your time in Barcelona is Antoni Gaudi's masterwork - the Sagrada Familia. Work on the architect's most famous project began in 1882 and although it was finally consecrated as a cathedral in 2010, it is still not finished. But it is open to the public and taking the tour around its 18 towers will demonstrate to you that it is every bit as ornate as any of the cathedrals built in Western Europe during the earlier heyday of religious construction. If that whets your appetite for magnificent architecture, head to the Gothic Quarter to see the 14th century Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia. While you are in the oldest part of the city, you will find plenty of other things to see as you explore the plazas and narrow cobbled streets. One of the favourite tourist pastimes in this area of Barcelona is to stroll down La Rambla, a busy pedestrian street that runs between Placa de Catalunya in the heart of the city to the harbour at Port Vell. It is lined with shops, bars and restaurants, so it is a great spot to stop for a break and a bite to eat. Another place you will want to visit is Montjuic - a hill that overlooks Barcelona and which is packed with tourist attractions. Here you will discover the stadium used for the 1992 Olympics, the National Art Museum of Catalunya, the Magic Fountain of Montjuic and the fascinating Spanish Village architecture museum. How you spend any remaining time you have in Barcelona will depend on your interests. If you enjoyed the Sagrada Familia, you may want to head to the Eixample district to see some more of Gaudi's distinctive work, such as the Casa Mila and Casa Batllo. If you are keen on art, it is well worth stopping off at the Picasso Museum, which is located in the old city and boasts more than 3,000 works by the painter. But if you are a football fan, you may prefer to schedule a tour of FC Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium and museum. Resource: For the best in Mediterranean cruises, take a look at what Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has to offer.
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