June 2003 - Travel Barcelona Beckons With Barcelona's art and architecture drawing tourists in many directions, there is one attraction that lures almost everyone. Regardless if you are visiting for business or for pleasure, people ask, "Did you see the unfinished church?" This dynamic city's favorite son is the avant-garde architect Antoni Gaudi. His most celebrated structure, Sagrada Familia Church, Temple of the Scared Family, has become the symbol of Barcelona. Gaudi began the temple in 1883 and worked on the church for 40 years until his death in 1926. He only finished the Gate of the Nativity - four towers of which a Spanish writer says, "Gaudi's genius takes on a complex religious symbolism." Architects continue his work to this day. Barcelona, capital of Catalonia between the French border of Aragon and the Mediterranean, offers an extravaganza of culture, cuisine, and fashion. Famous for Gaudi architecture, and tapas, since the city played host to the 1992 Olympics, it has entered a "golden age." It's a dream city for those who love to eat. In the mild Mediterranean climate, sitting and sipping a cortado (a small coffee cut with milk) in outdoor cafés under the shade of linden trees enchants. Tasting tapas - bits of cold or hot toast topped with meat, fish, cheese, and vegetables - tempts toward addiction. Tapas bars are everywhere in this cosmopolitan city. Countless tapas combinations like sirloin with brie, smoked salmon with cucumber, tuna with anchovies, and grilled wild asparagus with egg seduce with the best of Spanish cuisine. And who can resist chocolate and churros (donuts) for breakfast? Barcelona has become a shopping mecca. Fashion seekers flock to chic new shops. Food lovers head for the 300-stall Boqueria market with the most enticing epicurean display in the city. Opera star and native son Josep Carreras says his favorite restaurant, O Pinocho, nestles between the food stalls. Antique collectors browse for treasures in the sweet streets of the Old City. According to a Barcelona historian, "The city claims 35,000 shops, more per inhabitant than any other city in Europe." Barcelona is made for walking. Thousands of people stroll the Ramblas. Begin your tour of the city at the large downtown square, the Placa de Catalunya, highlighted by a fountain with four angels. Here the Rambla Catalunya, a street of tapas bars, trendy shops and shopping malls, meets the famous Les Ramblas, a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard dotted with flower stalls, bird sellers, street artists, vendors, handsome houses, hotels, and historic monuments - a living theatre. Be sure to visit the Old Port with Port Olympic, today's leading leisure area with 40 restaurants and the Grand Casino. And don't miss the Gothic Quarter with its maze of narrow streets and medieval squares. Other sights of interest: the Gothic Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar designed by the French architect Le Corbusier; the Art Nouveau Palace of Music; Gaudi's Guell Park; the Medieval and Renaissance Cathedral in Gothic Square; and the Picasso Museum, occupying three medieval palaces. FOR 5-STAR STAYS In the historical center of Barcelona, on the celebrated Ramblas, 212-room Le Meridien claims an ideal location for touring the city. From the rotunda of the fourroom Presidential Suite, under a handpainted fresco, guests enjoy glasses of cava while watching the sun set over the sea. The view, with the opera house in the distance, spans the metropolis. Standard room rates begin at $320. Prestige Suite, $800. Presidential Suite, $1,700. Overlooking sailboats moored in the harbor on the Mediterranean Sea with a panorama of Port Olympic, 482-room Hotel Arts Barcelona is 44 stories of exposed glass and steel with a collection of Catalan and Spanish art. Surrounded by beaches, outdoor cafés and a seaside promenade, the tallest skyscraper in Spain won raves from Condé Nast Travel magazine as one of the best hotels in the world. Adjacent to the casino, the hotel is 20 minutes away from the city center. Deluxe Genius takes on a complex religious symbology at the famed church of Sagrada Família. Le Meridien Barcelona: Tel: (34) 93 318 62 00; Fax: (34) 93 301 77 76; Toll free: 800 543 4300; lemeridien@meridienbarcelona.com Hotel Arts Barcelona: Tel: (34) 93 221 10 00; Fax: (34) 93 221 10 70; Toll free: 800 241 3333; www.ritzcarlton.com RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS Beltxenea - Mallorca, 275: A top quality restaurant in the most chic area of Barcelona. High quality cuisine in a charming atmosphere. Barceloneta - l'Escar, 22-Moll dels Pescadors: Seafood and classic paellas located in the Marina Port Vell. Lovely view. Via Veneto - Ganduxer, 10-12: A classic restaurant offering Mediterranean cuisine; emphasizing French and Catalan specialties. Ca L'Isidre - Las Flors: Fresh cuisine in la Boqueria market. Cozy and warm ambience. Tatikka Berri - Valencia, 169: Superb tapas bar and Basque restaurant well located in the "Eixample" district. La Balsa - Infanta Isabel, 4: One of Barcelona's most attractive restaurants with terrace. Typical Catalan cuisine. Favorite of city's politicans, sportsman, artists, and intellectuals. El Tragaluz - Passage Concepco, 5: Roof-top glass-covered dining room. Innovative menu.