What to visit in the center of Barcelona? Art, history, and cuisine very close to Hotel 1898
The Hotel 1898 embodies numerous hallmarks of Núñez i Navarro Hotels. Situated in the former headquarters of the Compañía General de Tabacos de Filipinas, H1898 astonishes everyone who enters through its revolving mahogany door, taking them on a journey back in time via its marble vestibule to a colonial lobby. Wow effect! from the very first moment.
To its evocative interior design, one must add an excellent location in the heart of La Rambla, which will allow us to access a millennia-old Barcelona, from the remnants of Roman Barcino to the medieval palaces of Montcada Street. Over 15 centuries of art, history, and culture to visit within just a 15-minute radius from the hotel. Join us!
Our proposal starts very close by. Just two minutes away from the Hotel 1898. There you will find the Palau de la Virreina, one of the greatest examples of Catalan Baroque that has been transformed into a center for temporary exhibitions. The building was constructed by order of Manuel Amat, former viceroy of Peru. After his premature death, the building was occupied by his widow, who eventually gave the place its name that has lasted to this day. From an architectural point of view, some elements of the complex are noteworthy: its main facade is symmetrically structured on vertical axes or its inner courtyard, which has a double staircase from where one can admire the large windows of the halls.
Currently, the dependencies and the courtyard house the headquarters of the Barcelona Culture Institute (ICUB), and its spacious rooms display various temporary exhibitions, as well as presentations, research, papers, publications, and other activities aimed at promoting culture in the city of Barcelona.
MACBA and CCCB: Contemporary Culture in El Raval
We next delve into the Raval, which in medieval times lay outside the city walls and where orchards, convents, and brothels were concentrated, as the crowded medieval Barcelona could no longer accommodate them. Thus, a network of narrow alleys and small buildings was created, eventually shaping a new neighborhood until it was absorbed by the city and protected by new walls. One of those monasteries, after various uses, has been converted into the Barcelona Center for Contemporary Culture (CCCB), a space for creation, research, dissemination, and debate of contemporary culture. Through thematic exhibitions and other formats of its own production, the CCCB focuses its activity on creative research and the production of knowledge, presenting to society the urban phenomenon as a generator of artistic actions, but also sociological and urbanistic.
Just a minute away, we have the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA), whose building was designed by architect Richard Meier. The museum has a permanent collection of more than 1,600 works, mostly dedicated to Catalan art and various foreign trends that have influenced it. Miquel Barceló, Jean Michel Basquiat, Miguel Ángel Campano, and Antoni Tàpies are some of the artists represented in the MACBA collection. There are also numerous rotating exhibitions, lectures, and all kinds of activities related to the dissemination of avant-garde art.
La Boqueria: an authentic visual and gastronomic experience
We retrace our steps and head back towards La Rambla. Less than five minutes away from H1898, we find another one of those icons that every traveler has on their must-visit list in Barcelona: La Boqueria. There, the stomach of the world pulsates. Tradition and modernity. Localism and exoticism. And it is that in the Sant Josep-La Boqueria market, the residents of Ciutat Vella, who do their regular shopping there, coexist daily with the thousands of tourists who are fascinated by the echoes that qualify it as the best market in the world.
Whether it's because of its modernist facade, its quality and local products, or the exoticism of some of its culinary offerings, La Boqueria leaves no one indifferent. Without losing its essence or its main function as a neighborhood market, this iconic place has known how to take advantage of its strategic location in the middle of Las Ramblas to capture the attention of tourists, becoming a must-visit stop in the main guides of our city.
The Palau Güell, the first major work of Antoni Gaudí
Our journey continues down the Rambla, towards the sea, until we stop at Nou de la Rambla street to admire the first major work of Antoni Gaudí: Palau Güell, a modernist style mansion commissioned by his friend and patron Eusebi Güell. UNESCO listed the building as a World Heritage Site in 1986, exactly 100 years after Antoni Gaudí began designing it.
The main facade is built with stone from the coastal town of Garraf. From the outside, one can see the initials of the building's owner, EG, and the coat of arms of Catalonia. The architect thought of every detail: the entrance is designed to receive carriages and lead guests directly to the house's stairs. Inside, everything is tasteful and distinguished: marble columns, a ceiling covered with precious stones in the Mudejar style, an impressive dome that allows light to pass through, Venetian blinds made of wood decorated with ceramics or the famous trencadís Gaudí-style with the small pieces of mosaic.
Maritime Museum: The history of Barcelona and the Mediterranean, told through its ships
From the Palau Güell, we can head back towards La Rambla and continue down to the Columbus Monument, or wander through the Raval to our next stop: The Maritime Museum, one of the richest in the Mediterranean, with more than 80 years of history. The museum is located in the historic building of the Royal Shipyards, one of the few medieval architectural testimonies of this kind preserved in the world. Of great beauty and spectacle, its origin can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries, when the Crown of Aragon embarked on its Mediterranean adventure towards the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily.
The Maritime Museum is a majestic building of 18,000 m² that represents a maritime cathedral with Gothic ships on pillars. Inside, the impressive full-scale reproduction of Don Juan de Austria's Royal Galley stands out, famous for leading the Christian squadron in the legendary Battle of Lepanto. The museum houses a collection of more than 6,600 pieces, the most important in Southern Europe, which tells the fascinating relationship between man and the sea. From the expeditions to America to the historic first circumnavigation of the globe by Magellan and Elcano, through various models of emblematic ships, the Maritime Museum is a journey full of surprises that immerses us in the fascinating maritime world and its impact on the history of Barcelona.
Return to the hotel – The Nest
The time comes to take a short break in our journey to recharge our energy. For this, we suggest retracing our steps and walking up the Rambla until we reach the H1898 again. There, the restaurant El Nido, a peaceful oasis contrasting with the incessant bustle of La Rambla, awaits us. We can admire this from the windows of this unique building. Its name was chosen in honor of one of the largest municipalities on the island of Palawan, in the Philippines. El Nido is known for its pristine, paradisiacal beaches and is reflected in the magnificent collection of images that photographer Maria Espeus took in 2006 of the Filipino archipelago to decorate the walls of Hotel 1898. The quality of the raw materials served at El Nido, mainly fish, is the distinctive hallmark of the menu designed by its chef. A traditional gastronomic proposal with quality products, creative plating, and a unique interpretation of classic international dishes, with touches of Asian, Moroccan, Mexican, and Mediterranean cuisine. A true pleasure for the senses.
The Gothic Quarter, from Roman Barcino to the medieval city
Now that we have recharged our batteries, we can continue to enjoy great experiences near Hotel 1898. To do this, we will cross La Rambla, leaving behind El Raval and entering the current neighborhood. There we can find some of the vestiges of the ancient Roman colony of Barcino, which gave rise to the city and whose Forum was located next to the current city forum, the Plaza de Sant Jaume where we find the City Hall and the Palau de la Generalitat. From that era, the in situ Columns of the Temple of Augustus are preserved, which today are the main attraction of the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya. Other archaeological remains of Roman Barcelona can be found in the Plaza de la Villa de Madrid and in the Barcelona History Museum.
From there we can take a pleasant walk, wandering and getting lost in its narrow streets. Sooner rather than later we will end up finding the Barcelona Cathedral, the main church of the city which is built in a Gothic style. The origins of this temple date back to the 4th century, linked to the devotion of Saint Eulalia, who suffered martyrdom at a young age. Although the temple has undergone various transformations throughout history, the cathedral acquired its current appearance in the 19th century. It features a three-aisled structure and a series of side chapels along the basilica. A notable medieval cloister with emblems of Barcelona's guilds and the presence of 13 geese, symbolizing the martyrdoms of Saint Eulalia, are also part of the architectural complex. Inside the cathedral's museum, the valuable gold throne of King Martí the Humane is displayed, one of the most important treasures of the city.
The Martorell Palace, the last major renovation by Núñez i Navarro
We continue our walk through the Gothic Quarter from the Barcelona Cathedral. At the risk of getting lost again in its narrow streets, we suggest to always head towards the sea until our next stop: the Palau Martorell, a new exhibition center located in a 19th-century building that we restored to bring back its splendor, from our restoration department of the Group. The building, which housed the former Mercantile Society of Credit, was constructed between 1886 and 1900 under the direction of architect Joan Martorell i Montells, and is notable for its neoclassical style with modernist touches. In 1917, the Mercantile was absorbed by the Bank of Barcelona, which later went bankrupt in 1920. The Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation acquired the building in 1930, carrying out interior renovations. During the Civil War, the building remained relatively unscathed. Over the years, it served as the headquarters of the Department of Labor of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Elisava School of Design. Between 2016 and 2019, we carried out the recovery and adaptation of the building, maintaining its original facade and structure.
La Ribera: The museums of Montcada street
We crossed Via Laietana to reach the furthest point from Hotel 1898 on today's route. Montcada Street, in the historic La Ribera neighborhood. Just 15 minutes from the hotel, we find this ancient noble street full of medieval mansions, with large wooden gates that led to a central courtyard, intended for carriages, stables, cellars, and servants' quarters. In this courtyard, there was a staircase, always attached to the wall, that allowed access to the main floor, where the lords of the time resided. Some of these mansions have survived to the present day, transformed into museums or exhibition halls, such as the MoCo Museum or the Picasso Museum.
The Barcelona Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MoCo) is an independent museum with a wide range of inspiring works of contemporary and urban art: Basquiat, Banksy, JR, KAWS, Andy Warhol... Without a doubt, a unique art collection that prompts reflection on today's society. However, to understand this new art, it is essential first to understand where we come from, artistically speaking. And for this, there is no one better than Picasso, whose museum helps us to comprehend the deep and inseparable bond that the genius from Malaga had with Barcelona, a connection forged in his adolescence and youth that lasted until his death.
The Picasso Museum in Barcelona, founded in 1963 by Pablo Ruiz Picasso and his friend Jaume Sabartés, is the reference center for understanding the artist's formative period. With a permanent collection of 4,251 works from his Barcelona period, the museum is located in five palaces from the 13th-14th centuries, examples of Catalan civil Gothic. Through successive expansions and renovations, the museum has become a space for dialogue that offers new perspectives on Picasso and his collection. Notable works include "The First Communion" (1896), "Science and Charity" (1897), and Picasso's magnificent interpretations of Velázquez's Las Meninas from 1957.
The best end to an intense day in Barcelona
The route isn't bad, right? A spectacular day deserves an epic ending. After an intense day in Barcelona, guests and visitors of the Hotel 1898 who book can relax experiencing the tranquility and serenity of the Spa Siargao, located in the space that once was the coal bunker and the armored chamber of the Compañía de Tabacos de Filipinas; immerse themselves in a thermal circuit equipped with an indoor pool with hydromassage, dry sauna, steam bath, and bubble bed... Or enjoy treatments and therapies with floral and plant essences, with which to achieve a state of total relaxation, through our excellent therapists and top-quality vegan products.
And to top off a dreamy day, one must visit La Isabela, the spectacular terrace of the Hotel 1898 located on the seventh floor. Open to both guests and occasional visitors (by reservation), it offers the chance to try exquisite signature tapas and original cocktails at the bar area, or to cool off in the pool (guests only) while admiring the wonderful skyline of Barcelona. And up there, so close, yet so far from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona, watching the sky turn red, you can decide whether an early retreat to your room is a reward or if, on the contrary, you also want to discover the best nightlife surrounding Hotel 1898. Indeed, even as the sun sets, a world of possibilities opens up less than 15 minutes from the hotel. Barcelona never sleeps. Not even at night.
