Sants-Montjuïc focuses on the hill of Montjuïc, providing expansive views of the Mediterranean from the Castle of Montjuïc and the area from the pathways around the Olympic Stadium. The area is home to cultural institutions in a striking modernist building such as the Joan Miró Foundation and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, in a neoclassical palace. The hill is surrounded by gardens and pine-filled parks, although it is linked with cable cars to the town and harbour. Here is a list of things To Do in Sants-Montjuic
Also read: Top resorts in Spain: All you need to know before planning your trip
9 Best Things To Do in Sants-Montjuic
- Catalonia National Art Museum
- Cable Car to the Top of the Hill
- Learn About Catalonian History
- Discover works of Joan Miró
- Walk Around the Poble Espanyol
- Tour of Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium
- Montjuïc Castle
- CaixaForum
- Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
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1. Catalonia National Art Museum
The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (also known as MNAC) has impressive collections covering everything from Romanesque frescoes rescued from decaying Pyrenean churches to masterpieces like Velázquez and Rubens up to the 20th century, as well as Catalan modernists and Impressionists. The structure itself is a landmark, designed as the World Exhibition ‘s main pavilion in 1929. This is one of the things To Do in Sants-Montjuic for art lovers.
2. Cable Car to the Top of the Hill
Montjuïc sits southwest of Las Ramblas and El Raval, south of Parallel and Plaça Espanya. You can reach Montjuïc by walking from Plaça Espanya up to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, but the most fun way to get to the top is the Barceloneta cable car or the Parallel funicular railway. Barceloneta is also the Gothic Quarter of the town, just north of Montjuïc. When you get to the peak of the climb, there’s a second cable car on the peak of this 755-foot climb that goes to the castle. This is a 20-minute leisurely ride to the top with nice views along the way. This is one of the things To Do in Sants-Montjuic for Adventure lovers.
3. Learn About Catalonian History
The Museu d’Arqueologia de Catalunya is a gateway to the distant history of Catalonia, with a fascinating glimpse of Megalithic Spain and significant remains of Greek Civilisation on the Catalan coast from the ruins of Empúries, a Greco-Roman settlement. While the main collection of the museum resides in the former Palace of Graphic Arts, an Art Deco building constructed for the International Exhibition in Barcelona in 1929, the whole collection comprises of numerous locations and archaeological sites throughout the city. Visit the Ullastret Iberian settlement or the Olèrdola monuments for a glimpse into the unique history of the region. This is one of the things To Do in Sants-Montjuic for history lovers.
4. Discover works of Joan Miró
One of the finest contemporary art collections in Spain is stored at the Joan Miró Fundació on Montjuïc. The creator, Miró himself, established the foundation as a means of more exploration into modern art and of sharing works from his own collection. The stunning minimalist building by Josep Lluís Sert now contains hundreds of icon drawings, sculptures, and ceramics.
5. Walk Around the Poble Espanyol
Poble Espanyol, which literally means “Spanish City,” is a village-style open-air museum depicting different architectural aspects of Spain. Like the building of the Catalonia National Art Museum, Poble Espanyol was built in 1929 as part of the International Exposition of Barcelona. Various types of Spanish architecture fill the streets, ranging from Romanesque, Gothic, Mudejar, Renaissance and Baroque. There are more than 115 separate buildings including a townhouse in Galicia, a wine cellar in the Jerez style, and a monastery. This is one of the best things To Do in Sants-Montjuic.
6. Tour of Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium Barcelona was designed in 1927 and was scheduled to host the Olympics in 1936 until the action was cancelled due to the Spanish Civil War. The venue was fully revamped for the 1992 Games in 1989. Now, a museum adjacent to the Olympic Stadium tells the story of the games alongside interesting artefacts and interactive exhibitions. Next to the gallery is the fantastic Palau Sant Jordi, the futuristic indoor exhibition hall for the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, which hosts big concerts throughout the year. The Telecommunications Tower of the famous architect Santiago Calatrava is yet another well-known landmark of the complex.
7. Montjuïc Castle
This much-battered and sieged castle from the 17th century has seen more than its fair share of action. After the Civil War in the 1930s, Catalan patriots were imprisoned and fired here by fascism but rescued by Napoleon ‘s forces in the century before that. Today the gardens of the castle are a joy and beautiful views over the Mediterranean Sea. There is also an interesting collection of military artefacts and captives were kept in dungeons.
8. CaixaForum
The CaixaForum of Montjuïc, opened in 2002, is a museum of contemporary art, funded by the Barcelona bank la Caixa (hence the name). The platform, located in the old garment factory in Casaramona, has a portal designed by the Japanese architect Arato Isozaki and showcases almost 1,000 works by different artists, including Joseph Beuys, Anish Kapoor, Tony Cragg, Juan Uslé, and more. The museum also contains a permanent display dedicated to the history of Catalan Modernism and the plant. This is one of the recommended things To Do in Sants-Montjuic.
9. Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
There is something spectacular happening in the evening at the Plaza fountains in Plaça Espanya. The fountain performs an impressive show at sunset, a mix of colour, light, and music. As with several other buildings in the city, the fountain was designed by artist Carles Buigas as part of the exhibition of 1929. Over the course of less than a year, more than 3,000 workers constructed the project. The half-hour series takes place throughout the week, every Thursday and Sunday, and every Winter Friday and Saturday. Located just behind the MNAC is the fountain. This is one of the top things To Do in Sants-Montjuic.
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Over the Gran Via lies the historic village of Sants. It grew rapidly, once a rural settlement, in the first half of the 20th century when textile mills, factories, and shops set up their premises here. Sants was conquered by Barcelona in 1897, as were several other settlements on the Barcelona Plain. Sants-Montjuïc is the main neighbourhood of Barcelona, with a land region of 2,090 acres, nearly equal to a quarter of the metropolitan territory. It comprises communities of highly diverse demographics and distinct cultures of their own. With the guide on things To Do in Sants-Montjuic in hand, plan your trip with the help of reputed of travel agency Pickyourtrail. Log on to Pickyourtrail.com and with the help of your expert guides start planning your trip or check out the preset Spain holiday packages. Alternatively, leave a Whatsapp inquiry for more options.
Also read: Places to visit in Seville: Top attractions in the Andalusian capital
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