Gaudi in Barcelona – Visiting Buildings Designed by Antoni Gaudi

Gaudi in Barcelona - Visiting Buildings Designed by Antoni Gaudi

Barcelona is known for its vibrant culture, world-class cuisine, and stunning architecture. One of the most notable architectural styles in the city is the work of Antoni Gaudí, the celebrated Catalan architect known for his unique and imaginative designs.

Gaudi in Barcelona – Visiting His Fascinating Work

Gaudí was born in 1852 in the city of Reus, near Barcelona. He studied architecture at the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura in Barcelona and quickly gained recognition for his innovative and imaginative designs. His most famous works are located in the city of Barcelona, where he spent most of his career.

The most iconic building by Gaudi in Barcelona is the La Sagrada Familia, which is still under construction. This massive church has been in the works since 1882 and is expected to be completed in 2026. The Holy Family Church shows a unique and imaginative design, a mix of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles. The exterior of the building has intricate carvings and sculptures, and the interior features stained glass windows and elaborate columns.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Barcelona Gay Travel Resources

The Best Barcelona Gay Hotels – The Nomadic Boys

The Best Barcelona Gay Hotels - The Nomadic Boys

Sassy, cosmopolitan, super cool and sooo gay!

That sums up just why we love Barcelona so much and why we keep returning every year for more! Regardless of how long you plan to visit, how much ground you hope to cover, and the kind of vibe you want to be around, Barcelona is filled with multiple options for gay travellers. We’ve always found the perfect place to suit our needs – whether we were just craving a short city break or a full-on romantic reenactment of our honeymoon.

There are plenty of choices for those willing to paint the town green (with those dollah dollah bills y’all), or who need to keep a tight grip on those purse strings. Either way, Barcelona is a calling you…so it is your duty to answer!

We’ve rounded up our picks of the coolest Barcelona gay hotels in this guide, so you will have all the info you need to book your own perfect fabulous stay.

Barcelona Gay Hotels – Where to Base Yourself

Situated in the Eixample district, the main gay area is nicknamed, Gaixample (pronounced: gay-sham-pleh). Here you can find tons of LGBTQ bars, clubs, cafés, restaurants and shops to explore. It’s an entire gay village that we get all to ourselves! Who will be the Queen of the village? That’s a hard question as there are tons of candidates vying for the spot…but obviously, it’s us! If you want to be walking distance to the most hip-and-happening gay hangouts, as well as the main tourist sights of Barcelona, then this is where we recommend you base yourself. Read more in our gay travel guide to Barcelona as well as our guide to the city’s best gay bars.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Barcelona Gay Travel Resources

Barcelona Gay Bars – The Nomadic Boys

Having been the birthplace of the LGBTQ movement in Spain, Barcelona is a hot favourite for gay travellers moving across Europe. It has a rich history, fabulous sights, a gorgeous beach and a super hot nightlife at all the Barcelona gay bars.

There is so much variety across the city for when you’re hitting the town. You don’t even need to be the biggest party animal. You can be fairly chilled and still find a comfy corner to spend the evening. Bear in mind, the Spanish do things quite late, so if you’re planning an evening out and about, be sure to factor in an afternoon dolly nap siesta!

This is our comprehensive guide to the best gay bars in Barcelona, which you can see there are plenty to choose from!

Where is the gay neighbourhood of Barcelona?

Tucked into the centre of the Eixample district is the glowing “Gaixample” (pronounced gay-sham-ple) gay neighbourhood of Barcelona. This is where most of the gay bars of Barcelona can be found. The area is more specifically defined as being between Carrer de Balmes, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Carrer del Comte d’Urgell and Carrer d’Aragó.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Barcelona Gay Travel Resources

Barcelona Gay Saunas – The Nomadic Boys

Being one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world, it’s no surprise that there is such a huge variety of gay bathhouses to choose from in Barcelona.

The fascination with hot, steaming rooms dates back to the bathhouses which could be found all around Europe in medieval times. Back then, people would go to saunas to bathe, socialise and unwind. At one stage, they even began to believe saunas held magical powers. With that idea put out into the universe, the Church quickly turned around and said a big hell-no to sauna use, which led to the closure of many bathhouses across Europe.

Over the past century, saunas have grown more popular than ever, particularly within the gay community…what could be sexier than a boiling room, filled with steam and naked guys just hanging out? They’ve become an important staple of the LGBTQ community, a safe haven where you can come for action and to explore your sexuality or simply just to chill.

The gay scene of Barcelona in “Gaixample” (pronounced “gay-shample”) is vast, brimming with many queer hangouts and of course, plenty of gay saunas. Why they are so popular here is mainly a result of the intense recession the country has faced over the past decade. This led to high unemployment rates, particularly among young guys, who as a result of this have had to live with their parents to save money, making it hard to bring back a date (or two!). Hence the rise in demand for gay saunas across the city.

In this guide, we’ve put together the 6 best gay saunas in Barcelona to check out where you can connect with locals, bears, otters, twinks or whatever and whoever takes your fancy!

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Barcelona Gay Travel Resources

Find the Sitges Gay Beach! – The Globetrotter Guys

Find the Sitges Gay Beach! - The Globetrotter Guys

Sitges is one of our favourite small Spanish towns. It’s also one of the most gay friendly towns we have been to with some great gay beaches.

The thing we like most about the gay beaches in Sitges is that they are easy to access. We have found that in many destinations, the gay beaches are quite hidden and it can take a lot of effort to find them. However in Sitges, the main gay beach is right in your face in front of the town centre.

Read more

Gay Sitges – The Globetrotter Guys

Gay Sitges - The Globetrotter Guys

When it comes to gay travel, Spain is one of the best and most exciting destinations you can visit.

We have experienced many of Spain’s popular gay destinations such as Barcelona , Madrid , Torremolinos and Gran Canaria, but we have to say, Sitges is our favourite gay hotspot in Spain!

Sitges is well-known for its Mediterranean beaches, pretty narrow streets, stunning marina and especially for its gay scene. The gay scene is so prominent here in Sitges, it takes centre stage in the main part of town. In fact, if you Google ‘Sitges’, it specifically mentions that it is filled with gay bars. This is not just a town or city with a gay scene; in our opinion it is a gay town!

What a lot of people do not realise is that they can easily visit from Barcelona (which is very popular). Sitges is just 30 minutes southwest from Barcelona by train – see below for instructions.

Let’s take a look at all that gay Sitges has to offer in our ‘Sitges Gay Guide’ and find out why we can’t wait to return!

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Catalunya Gay Travel Resources

 

Hospital Sant Pau: Barcelona’s Window to Art Nouveau – Keep Calm and Wander

Hospital Sant Pau Barcelona - Keep Calm and Wander

The former hospital Sant Pau is Barcelona’s window to art nouveau. The moment you enter the gate, you know you’re inside a place that would take you to bygone times. You’d never even know that in the past, these buildings were used as hospitals. From outside, the pointed spires and well-decorated walls and windows give you a Gothic feel but wait until you see its interior.

I’m not really good at remembering addresses but it’s less than 10 minutes walk from Sagrada de Familia. My google map led me there. If you ask a local who lives around Sagrada, there’s no way he won’t know. If you find a gas station at the corner, and facing it, follow the street on its left lined with cafes. The closest subway/metro is Sant Pau or Dos de Main.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Barcelona Gay Travel Resources

Eating Out: Barcelona

Barcelona - Pixabay

According to an August 2015 report from LGBT Capital, an investment firm based in London and Hong Kong focused on the LGBT consumer market, Spain is Europe’s most valuable LGBT travel destination, with in-bound gay and lesbian visitors pumping in some $6.8 billion to the economy. That puts Spain second behind the US ($21.5 billion) among the 14 global nations counted in the report.

From Alicante to Zaragoza, Spain calls gay travelers to some 11 destinations country wide, but few come as hot as beautiful Barcelona. From bustling Eixample (locally, Gaixample), the city’s gay epicenter to the nude beaches of seaside gay-magnet Sitges, southwest of the city, Catalonia’s capital sizzles year-round.

With flamboyant fiestas including the legendary Sitges Carnival (February), Bear Pride (March), Pride Barcelona (late June into early July), and wild Circuit Festival (which celebrated its 10th anniversary this August) for visitors to enjoy, count Barcelona’s globally recognized culinary scene among the seductions, too.

From its beachfront snack bars (xiringuitos) to its 23 Michelin-starred restaurants, Barcelona’s food scene runs as hot as its men. Even going for coffee here is on an amorous level, per the Catalan phrase “Fotem un café?” or “Let’s make love to a coffee.” On that appetite-whetting possibility alone, here are just a few of the myriad ways to eat your heart out in Barcelona.

LA BOQUERIA

LA BOQUERIA - BarcelonaWith Catalonia designated the European Region of Gastronomy for 2016, Catalan cuisine, reaching back to medieval days has lasting African and Arabic influences, exemplifying the saying that “the history of the world is found on the plate.”

Based primarily on ingredients cultivated, foraged, and harvested from Catalonia’s bountiful seas, valleys, and mountains, the Catalan menu dances to its own exotic beat. Typically cooked in wine, brandy, or extra-virgin olive oil from some of the oldest olive trees in Europe, Catalan dishes characteristically contrast sweet and spicy or sweet and sour accents.

By Jeff Hailman – Full Story at Passport

Barcelona Gay Travel Resources

Gay Sitges

Gay Sitges Photo by David Vasquez[/caption] Just to the south of Barcelona, the Spanish coastal town of Sitges has one of Europe’s longest established gay scenes, dating back over 30 years. During the summer season – June to October – gay nightlife in Sitges gets going from around 10PM, with most of the bars remaining open until at least 3AM, and the dance clubs not closing until sunrise. Several hugely popular gay events are held each year including Sitges Gay Pride in June, and two annual international gay bear meetings.

Full Story at Gay Star News

Catalunya Gay Travel Resources

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Gay Barcelona

gay Barcelona Barcelona is one of the best cities in the world to be gay. With its open community, incredible nightlife, vast array of restaurants, and glorious summer weather, the city doesn’t leave you wanting much. I visited gay Barcelona once before, and saw it through the eyes of a young first-time tourist. This time around, I was visiting for Pride, and the experience underlined just how great a city this is for any LGBTI individual. (No surprise, given same-sex marriage and LGBTI adoption have been legal since 2005.) Here are some quick tips so that you can have the best, and gayest, time in Barcelona… Barcelona, like any big city, has a plethora of things to see and to do. It can sometimes be overwhelming trying to plan your excursions. If you find yourself in this pickle then you should definitely check out Rainbow Barcelona Tours. They offer private excursions so that you can discover all the must-see monuments and places in Barcelona at your own pace without the fear or getting lost or missing something.

By David Calderon – Full Story at Gay Star News

Bareclona Gay Travel Resources

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