Attractions & leisure
El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria is a unique and exceptional place that brings together three centuries of our history. Below the cast-iron structure of the iconic 19th century marketplace lies the Barcelona of 1700, the prosperous city that suffered the siege of 1714 and that put up an epic and heroic resistance before Catalonia's national liberties were eventually lost, yet to be restored three centuries later.
The area around the Plaça de les Glòries is packed with surprises and attractions. In addition to the imposing presence of the Glòries Tower and world-class cultural facilities such as the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, the concert hall, L"Auditori, and the design museum, the Museu DHUB, you can now enjoy the new market "Encants Barcelona", a mini retail world that is well worth discovering.
Barcelona"s biggest ornamental fountain, which was built in 1929 for the International Exhibition, offers a spectacular display of music, water acrobatics and lights which generate over 50 kinds of shades and hues. The
Montjuïc Magic Fountain has become one of Barcelona"s most popular attractions and is where the "Piromusical" is held, a true balletic spectacle of water and light.
The Gran Teatre del Liceu was built in 1847 and is a unique cultural facility in Barcelona and one of Europe"s leading opera houses. Located on the Rambla, every year it hosts major opera and ballet productions and symphony concerts. The building was destroyed by fire in 1994 and reopened in 1999 after a magnificent reconstruction.
In the city's old harbour, the Port Vell, L'Aquàrium de Barcelona is the world's most important marine leisure and education centre dedicated to Mediterranean undersea life.
