Barcelona: Plaça d'Espanya and Montjuïc

Plaça d'Espanya and Montjuïc were the first bits of Barcelona we headed to after dropping off our things at the hotel. We'd been told about the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, a spectacular light and music performance, and after checking the internet realised we had to see it on Saturday evening or not at all.

When we got there at half past six we double-checked the schedule on the wall - Fridays and Saturdays, every 30 minutes between 7pm and 9pm - and secured a place on the grass to enjoy the gorgeous evening sunshine. 7pm came and the water in the fountain was switched off... nothing happened. 7.30pm... nothing happened. 8pm... still nothing. 

At this point we decided to head off and grab dinner, giving it up as a missed opportunity. We headed to local spot L'antica Napoli, which is about a ten minute walk from the fountain, where they served up some awesome heart-shaped pizzas. We had lovely service and an enjoyable meal so I would highly recommend it if you are in the area and in the mood for pizza.

(Since returning to the UK the website for the fountain has been updated, listing the first show starting at 9pm, with additional shows on Thursday and Sunday during the summer. If you're in the area and want to see the show, check the website, then check again!)

Fountain aside, there are some gorgeous buildings in this area. The Palau Nacional in front of the fountain was built for the 1929 International Exhibition in Barcelona, and it's now the National Art Museum of Catalonia. It's very impressive looking.

Back towards the Plaça d'Espanya you'll find one of the main shopping districts of Barcelona. This is more a "local" district and isn't as fancy as the shops on Passeig de Gràcia - if you fancy a shopping spree without breaking the bank, this is where you need to be.

Carrer de la Creu Coberta is one of the streets off Plaça d'Espanya and on it you'll find Portonovo Silvestre, another restaurant frequented by locals. It may look a bit basic from the outside, but they do excellent tapas here - hearty portion sizes and delicious food at a reasonable price. What more could you ask for?

Until next time! x