Travel Spotlight: Barcelona by Private Jet

Barcelona is an incredible city, reflected in its unique culture, cuisine, and art. This cultural jewel beautifully blends ancient architecture and modernism creating a truly stunning environment. As the second largest city in Spain, Barcelona is comprised of 1.62 million people. Keep reading to discover why this city is so absolutely magical and let ELEVATE help you plan your next private jet getaway to Spain’s Catalonia region.

Barcelona. Credit: Camille Minouflet, Unsplash.

Culture

Barcelona is the capital of an independent community in Spain called Catalonia. Catalonian culture is distinct and celebrated. One of their largest and well-known festivals is “La Mercè” which is celebrated over a 5 day period throughout the end of September. “La Mercè” includes a parade full of costumes, street performers and human tower competitions. Another distinct celebration is “Nit de Sant Joan”, which occurs on June 23. Nit de Sant Joan marks the shift from the longest day to the shortest night, a time when the boundary between the spirit world and the human world is believed to be nearly nonexistent. On that night, bonfires are lit across the city in a tradition widely believed to ward off evil spirits and symbolize the power of light over darkness. Barceloní (as locals are called in the Catalan language) commonly use this night as an opportunity to reset and celebrate by playing music, lighting fireworks and staying awake until dawn.

Barcelona. Credit: Aleksandar Pasaric, Pexels.

Food

Barcelona is a foodie paradise, with over 20 Michelin-stared restaurants alone. Catalonian culture is tied to their food, which is often described as vibrant, bold and balanced. Barcelonian cuisine incorporates Mediterranean foods like fresh vegetables, wheat, olive oil, fish and legumes. Some popular dishes include: Paella, a rice based dish with the addition of seafood or vegetables; Fideua, a toasted short cut pasta with seafood; and Escalivada, made with roasted peppers, egg plant, onions, garlic and olive oil. Barcelona is famous for its abundance of markets, one of them being “La Boqueria”. There, you can find a wide variety of fresh food amongst hundreds of stalls. Many of these markets have been around for centuries and retain their important cultural value. Barceloní will tell you that these markets are the beating heart of the city.

Art & Architecture 

Barcelona has been the only city to be awarded the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture by the Royal Institute of British Architects, setting it apart from all others. Barcelona has exquisite architecture, from older more gothic style monuments to its colourful modern sculptures and buildings. The city itself is laid out in a grid-like pattern, making it easier to navigate. Towering over the skyline is “La Sagrada Familia”, known as the heart of Barcelona and a site that is not to be missed. La Sagrada Familia was built by Antoni Gaudí, a Catalan architect, who spent 43 years of his life on the project. It took longer to complete than the Egyptian pyramids, remaining unfinished for 140 years after construction began. With its sky reaching towers and its intricate sculptures, over 4.5 million people visit La Sagrada Familia each year. Another of the city’s wonders, also built by Guadí, is “Park Güell”. Gaudí spent the last 20 years of his life designing these gardens. Park Güell, situated on Camel hill, is one of the largest green spaces in Barcelona. It has two gate houses leading into 30 acres chock full of colour. Barcelona is the place to see great art. One of the better-known museums is “Museo Nacional d’art de Catalunya,” housing one thousand years of Catalonian art. The collection includes priceless artifacts, mosaics, posters and paintings. For the lover of modern art, there is “Fundació Joan Miró” a twentieth century museum holding Joan Miro’s 220 paintings, 180 sculptures and more than 8000 drawings.

Let ELEVATE take you to Barcelona. Charter a private jet from ELEVATE and let the vacation begin the moment you set foot out your door. We offer a range of private jets to meet your needs and budget. As aviation experts we provide a level of professionalism unmatched in the industry.

La Sagrada Familia towering over Barcelona. Credit: Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz, Pexels.