Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HIDDEN GEMS: LES CORTS, PEDRALBES AND SARRIÀ-SANT
GERVASI
Uptown Avinguda Diagonal
Maria Cristina or tram T1, T2 or T3 from Pl. de Francesc Macià
The uptown section of
Avinguda Diagonal
runs through the heart of Barcelona's flashiest
business and shopping district. The giant
L'Illa
shopping centre flanks the avenue - the
stepped design is a prone echo of New York's Rockefeller Centre. Designer fashion stores
are ubiquitous, particularly around
PlaçadeFrancesc Macià
and Avinguda de Pau Casals -
at the top of the latter,
Turó Parc
(daily 8am-dusk) is a good place to rest weary feet, with
a small children's playground and a café-kiosk. For picnic supplies, the traditional neigh-
bourhood market,
Mercat de Galvany
(c/de Santaló 65; Mon-Thurs 7am-2pm, Fri & Sat
7am-2.30pm;
mercatgalvany.es
)
,isjustthreeblockstotheeast.Meanwhile,behindL'Illa,
it'sworthseekingout
PlaçadelaConcordia
,anothersurprisingsurvivorfromthepastamid
the uptown tower blocks. The pretty little square is dominated by its church belltower and
ringed by local businesses (florist, pharmacy, hairdresser). Have a quiet drink at one of the
outdoor cafés or head to
Fragments Cafè
(p.192) for excellent bistro-style food.
Camp Nou and FC Barcelona
Av. Arístides Maillol • 902 189 900 or 934 963 600,
fcbarcelona.com
• Collblanc/Palau Reial, then
a 10min walk, or Bus Turístic stops outside the stadium
It's no exaggeration to say that football in Barcelona is a genuine obsession, with support
for the local giants
FC (Futbol Club) Barcelona
raised to an art form.
Més que un club
(“More than just a club”) is the proud boast, and certainly during the dictatorship years the
clubstoodasaCatalansymbolaroundwhichpeoplecouldrally.Arch-rivalsRealMadrid,on
the other hand, were always seen as Franco's club. The swashbuckling players in the famous
“blaugrana” (claret and blue) shirts have transcended national barriers to become every foot-
ball fan's second favourite team; indeed, the four-times European champions (most recently
in 2011) - mercurial masters of the elegant
tiki-taka
, pass-and-move style - are often hailed
as the world's best team.
