Discover Barcelona
IPVC 2020 postponed to July 20-24, 2020
The history of Barcelona stretches back well over 2000 years to its origins as an Iberian village named Barkeno. Its easily defensible location on the coastal route between central Europe and the rest of the Iberian peninsula, has ensured its continued importance throughout the ages.
Barcelona is city you can visit again and again. Here are a few to make sure you do on this trip to enhance your conference experience.
Picasso Museum
At the Picasso Museum, you will go on a journey through the development of Pablo Picasso’s art. The collection not only showcases his work from his early years (1890–97), training period (1897–1901), the Blue Period (1901–04), works in Barcelona from 1917, and the entire Las Meninas (1957) series, but also shows you the specific development of individual pieces and concepts.
Born Market
Josep Fontserè i Mestre built the former Born Market between 1837 and 1876. The structure features 152 cast-iron pillars which underpin the two central aisles. The aisles meet in the centre of this architectural gem crowned by a dome which, seen from the outside, resembles an eye-catching lighthouse. A large canopy covering an area of 8,000 m2 lets in light through panes of glass.
Gaudí's Influence
Antoni Gaudí i Cornet, at seventeen, was sent to Barcelona to study architecture. His curved walls and roofs, his parabolic arches, his twisted columns, his spiral chimneys are shapes found abundantly in architecture and come from natural structures. His 14 works make up much of the city’s famous buildings, including the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, multiple Casas, Parc Güell, and Palau Güell.
Museu de la Xocolata
The Museu de la Xocolata (Chocolate Museum) is housed in a building of great historic importance, the former Convent of Sant Agustí in Barcelona. The 600 m2 exhibition space traces the origins of chocolate, its arrival in Europe, and its semi-mythical status.
Montjuïc
The Montjuïc district encompasses the Palau Nacional, an old fortress, sweeping views of the city and the Barcelona Botanical Gardens. The Gardens offer a different walk for every season of the year and has vegetation from the five Mediterranean climate regions of the world.
Walk the City
The best way to soak in all a city such as Barcelona has to offer is to go on walking tours. See the architecture, understand the history, explore the culture and be inspired. There are many companies that offer free tours as well as paid topical ones.