http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34259 Located in the heart of Barcelona’s Eixample, the Museum of Catalan Modernism occupies the ground floor and basement of a building by one of Barcelona’s most prolific architects, Enric Sagnier. Sagnier built many of Barcelona’s public buildings, including the old Law Courts on Passeig Lluis Companys, the Customs House at the bottom of the Rambla, just across the road from the Gothic Shipyards and the church by Tibidabo funfair. If you’ve seen Woody Allen’s film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, you’ve
seen one of his many family dwellings, this particular one being built for Manuel Doncel and featuring Plateresque ornamentation.
Back to the Museum.
There is a collection of beautiful furniture and marquetry work by some of the period’s best cabinetmakers and designers: cabinets, sideboards and other pieces by Joan Busquets, chairs, office furniture and other pieces by Gaudí; religious and decorative marquetry by Gaspar Homar.
Eusebi Arnau was a leading sculptor when the Eixample was being built and his superb decorative vase made for the entrance hall of the Garriga I Nogués building (Diputació 250, also by Sagnier) is on display. There are also pieces in terracotta and marble by Enric Clarasó a member of the Quatre Gats and friend of Ramon Casas and Santiago Rusiñol.
There is a large selection of characteristically modernist polychrome terracotta busts by Lambert Escaler.
Josep Llimona, one of modernism’s greatest exponents is also well represented. With Gaudí he founded the Cercle Artistic de Sant Lluc (which is still active) to defend an ideal image of art and preserve a spirit of Christian commitment.
Finally, there are several charming stained glass screens and windows, the one called “Life” by Joaquim Mir is stunning in its vitality. So is the screen and doorway at the entrance.
Modernist painters are of course present, the languid ladies of Gaspar Camps, the elegant Parisian ladies of Joan Cardona, Ramon Casas’ studies of Barcelona characters, the military themes of ex-soldier Josep Cusachs and many more.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34259 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26877 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26877 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26513
It really was an impressive sight. With a capacity of 98,787 it is the eleventh largest stadium in the world and dwarfs even Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and the new Wembley Stadium.

Although it was free to go inside and have a look around away from the pitch, tours of the stadium cost €17 (a great deal more than the £6 we had paid to tour St Mary’s a few years ago). I was content to stop for a drink in the cafe and let Dave take the tour. The tour itself was unguided, a kind of follow the arrows affair, so no chance to see the cells or the hospitality suites. Having said that, the facilities are second to none, with a museum, trophy room and chapel.
Personally I found the prices in the cafe a bit high and the staff quite off hand and unfriendly. I suppose with a club as big as Barcelona the personal touch is a bit much to expect.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26513 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24502 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24502 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24461
Most people might only see the building from street level and admire its structure from there; however, the roof offers something very unique with its strange chimney designs and views over Barcelona, including a view of the Sagrada Familia. It costs around 10 euros to get in and that includes seeing the whole museum.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24461 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23526
A little research and planning means visitors can save a small fortune while seeing some of the best laid-out museums I've seen anywhere.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23526 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7655
The list of museums is endless. Contemporary Art, Modern Art, Erotic Art, Medicine, Geology, Zoology, Biology, Perfume, even a Museum of Chocolate. But really worth a visit is the Museum of the Old City. A lift transports you downwards as an illuminated display counts back the years from the present day to 13 B.C. This is 30 feet under the surface where walkways of plate glass are built over the excavated ruins of the city of Barcino, 2000 years ago. Very atmospheric.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7655 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7231 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7231 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6075
The thing to miss in Barcelona is paying to go into the Sagrada Familia. It is an architectural wonder to behold but we felt the 20 euros spent to go in and up was a total waste of time and money. It is a construction site inside and totally disappointing.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6075 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5283
When the knights finally met, Carlos gave a phrase to history: "I would rather be Count of Barcelona than Emperor of Germany".]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5283 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5242 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5242 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5241 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5241 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4191 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4191 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3992 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3992 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3991 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3991 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3990 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3990 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3989 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3989 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3534 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3534 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2027 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2027 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/1768 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/1768