Overview

A unique route to wander through the magic city of Barcelona that Carlos Ruiz Zafón portrays in the novel that has captivated thousands of readers.
Follow the footsteps of the characters in the book, which has sold more than 2 million copies since 2001, and visit Barcelona sites unknown to most tourists, such as Santa Anna Street, Baixada de la Llibreteria and Montcada Street. See the famous Els Quatre Gats Café and the beautiful Church of Santa Maria del Mar, and become immersed in the magic of the book as you listen to commentary from your guide.

Description

Stop At: Santa Mònica, La Rambla, 7, 08002 Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona wouldn’t be Barcelona without the Rambla. A wander up and down this famous boulevard is a ritual well worth observing. Just soak up the atmosphere and admire the buildings, from the Canaletes fountain to the Columbus Monument, which connect the old and modern city with places like Liceu and Boqueria. A walk through the life and history of the city.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Placa Reial, Placa Reial, Barcelona 08002

This square is so beautiful, it's no wonder it was named "royal" (reial Catalan for royal). The elegant ambiance of the Plaça Reial is accentuated by the fountain, streetlamps and palm trees, and it is one of Barcelona's busiest, most vibrant spots, particularly at night. This is Barcelona's best-loved porticoed square.

Duration: 15 minutes

Pass By: Ateneu Barcelones, Calle de la Canuda 6, Barcelona 08002

In 1906, Palau Savassona became the property and headquarters of the Ateneu Barcelonès. This iconic association, presided over by such illustrious names as Àngel Guimerà, Valentí Almirall, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Joan Maragall and Pompeu Fabra, has been working for culture for more than a century and a half.

Stop At: Papirum, Baixada de la Llibreteria, 2, 08002 Barcelona, Spain

papirvm was born in the heart of the Gothic district of Barcelona in 1981, where it transports you to paradise

from lovers of writing, from a past time to the present time, in which by that difficult conjugation

join the ancient and handmade forms of binding with different materials such as skin, fabric, or paper.

Duration: 15 minutes

Pass By: Carrer de l'Argenteria, C. de l'Argenteria, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

But we couldn't talk about historic streets without mentioning others that are less well known but have a special charm of their own. If we walk through the Born, it won't be long before we come across the names of trades such as: Sabateria (shoemaking), Assaonador (tanning), Argenteria (silversmithing), Cotoners (cotton trading), etc. Their names are the legacies of the workshops set up by Barcelona's most important guilds and organisations in the late Middle Ages. Groups of artisans dedicated to the same trade, set themselves up on a corporate basis to cater to the common needs of all their members. Every guild had its own guidelines and rules. They usually set up their premises on the same street and became the most important group of artisans with the result that the street adopted the name of this particular craft or trade.

Stop At: Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar, Placa Santa Maria 1, Barcelona 08003

The basilica of Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona, also known as the "cathedral of La Ribera", is one of the most perfect examples of Gothic style architecture due to its harmonious proportions and the serenity of the ensemble.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Els 4Gats, Carrer de Montsió, 3, 08002 Barcelona, Spain

Els 4 Gats, was a café in Barcelona (Catalonia) which opened on 12 June 1897. It also operated as a hostel, a cabaret, a pub and a restaurant. Active until 1903, Els Quatre Gats became one of the main centers of Modernisme in Barcelona. The artist Ramon Casas i Carbó largely financed this bar on the ground floor of Casa Martí (1896), a building by the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch in Carrer Montsió near the center of Barcelona. Els Quatre Gats was reconstructed during the transition to democracy in 1978. Pablo Picasso visited this pub–restaurant often in his early art career.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Santa Anna Church, C/ Santa Anna, 29, Barcelona 08002

The Church of Santa Anna in Barcelona is a haven of calm hidden in the heart of the city. Located very close to Plaça Catalunya, it is enough to place yourself in the center of the square where your main entrance is located, to realize that it is a hidden gem amid the turmoil and whirl of the modern city. With a thousand years of history in its walls, nowadays it serves as a soup kitchen for the most needy. In addition, on specific days, Spanish guitar concerts are organized to which both tourists and locals attend promptly.

Duration: 15 minutes