Spring Cultural Passport

Introduction

The IES Barcelona Cultural Passport is a way of getting to know your host city by means of visiting a number of places or doing different activities.

To gain points and successfully complete the passport, you have to follow the tips on this section of our website. Just visit the sites and come back with something to show you have been there. The Cultural Passport specifies how to demonstrate you have been to all the locations.

• 75 points » you will receive a Barcelona Art Ticket, free entrance to 7 of the museums featured in the Cultural Passport, to help you reach the 125 points needed.
• 125 points » you will be entered into a raffle for one of the following prizes:

Prizes

• Free IES field trip (if you have already signed up for it).
  
• Theater tickets
  
• Metro pass T50/30 for a month

Each student is only elegible for one prize.

Good luck and enjoy the experience!

Visiting sites

Art

• Picasso Museum: This museum is located in the Born quarter, inside a medieval palace. For more information, please check the website of this museum.
  
  
• MACBA (Contemporary Art Museum of BCN): The white and large fa?ade of this museum was like an UFO in the middle of a very old, grey quarter. Now it is fully integrated into a popular part of the city throbbing with urban and cultural activity. You will find it not far from Pla?a Universitat. For more information, please check the website of this museum.
  
  
• CCCB: This Contemporary Culture Center is very near the MACBA. Its program usually includes audiovisual, music and photography events. For example, this month of June you can attend here some of the activities of the S?nar Advanced Music Festival, considered by most experts the best electronic music festival in Europe. If you are into this kind of music, don?t miss it (on June 15th -17th). For more information about this cultural center, please check its website.
  
  
• The Cathedral: On the site of the current cathedral there existed a Roman temple, an earlier 6th century cathedral, and a Moorish mosque. Nowadays most of the building is Gothic. It is devoted to the first patron saint of the city: Santa Eul?lia. The white geese you find in the 14th century cloister represent her purity. Look for them from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 5:15 pm to 7:00 pm.
  
  
• Caixa Forum: An old factory converted into a museum, near the Montju?c fountains. To get there, take the red metro line and stop at Espanya. The exhibitions are free! For more information about this center, please check its website.
  
  
• MNAC: The Catalan National Art Museum, one of the most important ones in Romanesque art, although it also contains other collections such as a part of the Thyssen-Bornemisza pieces of art. The site of the museum is the National Palace on Montju?c. For more information, please check the website of this museum.
  
  
• Monasterio de Pedralbes: Beautiful 14th century monastery. You can check this website to find out more.
  
  
• Fundació Antoni Tápies: A foundation set up by the Catalan Contemporary artist Antoni Tàpies. You can check this website to find out more this website to find out more.

Architecture

• La Sagrada Familia: Who hasnt heard about this spectacular, unique, and worldwide known modernista temple? Now it is time to visit it. You can get into its museum, or go up to one of its towers taking an elevator. Its contruction has been in progress since the end of the 19th century, and it will still take decades to finish it but, as Gaud? itself pu it when he was alive, ?the patron of this project is not on a hurry.? For more information please check this website.
  
  
• Port Olimpic: It used to be an industrial district. However, this area was completely rebuilt for the 1992 Olympics to become the home to athletes during the competition days. After that, it became a new part of the city right next to the sea. One of the landmarks was the Frank Ghery large golden fish, that shines especially on a sunny day, near the sea. If you walk along the beaches of the city you will find it.
  
  
• Torre Agbar: A peculiarly-shaped building, and one of the newest additions to the city?s architecture landscape. To see what it looks like you can buy a postcard on the Rambles, or see this website.
  
  
• Casa Batll?: One of Gaud?s masterpieces. Its dragon-shaped rooftop and what?s under it attract thousands each year. Go to see why. It?s near, right on Passeig de Gr?cia. For more information, check this website.
  
  
• Casa Mila (aka La Pedrera): Also by Gaudi, and also located on Passeig de Gracia. The picture of this building is on the front page of your Orientation Guide. The visit to this cultural site includes some exhibitions, but you can also visit its rooftop, from where you will see the Sagrada Fam?lia and most of the city.
  
  
• Santa Caterina Market: You will see this recently refurbished old market from near the Cathedral. To see its colourful roof and more about the facilities you can visit the website of the market.
  
• Fundació Joan MirMiró: Museum with the finest collection of Joans Miró Work, including paintings, sculpture and prints. You can check this website to find out more Fundació Miró.

Parks

• Parc G?ell: One of the jewels left by Gaudi in the city. Next to the Gaudi dragon. You can take a bus from Passeig de Gr?cia to get there. For more information, check this website.
  
  
• Parc de Diagonal Mar: Diagonal Mar is a new barrio of Barcelona next to the sea. It?s near the F?rum, and one of its meeting points is this park, surrounded by skyscrapers and near the beach. Look for the swans in the lake. Or lie on the strange, grey benches that you will find at the playground for children. To see it check this website (only available in Catalan, though).
  
  
• Parc de la Ciutadella: The largest park in the city center, near Arc de Triomf (metro red line). The mammoth is a statue that you can find near the cascade fountain. To see some images of it, visit this website.
  
  
• Parcs de Montju?c: Monju?c means Jewish Mount, and it is where the old Jewish cemetery used to be located. Now it is a hill full of parks and museums: From the Olympic stadium to the MNAC, the Botanic Gardens or the Greek theater. The latter was built in 1929 benefiting from the shape of the mointain to get perfect acoustics, like the Greek did. To see it, check this website.
• Montju?c Fountains: A free show of water, light, music and color in the evenings. Important notice: There is a mistake on the Cultural Passport. To prove that you have been there, we need a picture of yourself next to the fountains during one of the light and colour shows, NOT a ticket to the FC Barcelona: That is somewhere else.
  
  
• Parc del Laberint: This park includes several gardens, fountains, buildings and paths, but the main item is the beautiful labyrinth garden. Check your Orientation Guide (the City Guide section) to see how to get there. To get to the center of the labyrinth, though, you should go there yourself and try! And be aware: The hardest part is to get out of it. To see it, check this website.

City Landscapes

• Mariscal’s Gambrinus: This statue was built in the 1980’s on the top of a restaurant that does not exist anymore. In fact, this lobster is the only thing that remains of that place, but people from Barcelona are very fond of it. Mariscal, its creator, became highly famous after he designed the 1992 Barcelona Olympics official mascot.
  
  
  
• Tibidabo: On the top of one of the hills in Barcelona. You can see the temple from IES2. To get there you need to take the metro, the 1901 tramvia blau and the funicular. For more information check this website. About the amusement park, see this website.
  
  
• Barcelona port boats (aka Golondrinas): You can get a different view of BCN from the sea. See information on this website.
  
  
• Parc del F?rum: This whole new part of the city next to the sea was built for the 2004 F?rum Universal de les Cultures. The most identifyable construction is the large solar panel structure. This summer, several huge music festivals are taking place there. Fore example, the S?nar Festival on June 15th - 17th), and the Summercase Festival on July 14th - 15th.
  
  
• Tranvas: There are several new lines of tranvas in the city. The oldest one has some of the oldest cars in Europe: Some have been in use since 1901. It is called the tramvia blau, and it takes you near the Tibidabo Amusement Park. The most modern ones can be found at the beginning and the end of the Diagonal Avenue, for example near the beach. Check itineraries and other details on this website for details.

Music and Sports

• Camp Nou: The largest soccer stadium in Europe, home to the F. C. Barcelona, champion of the last 2 Spanish leagues and the European Champions League 2006. More information on F. C. Barcelona?s website.
  
  
• Olympic Stadium: The main site of the 1992 Olympics. It is currently under restoration, but open to the public. You will find it behind the National Palace where the MNAC is located.
  
  
• Palau de la M?sica: You can listen to music in this beautiful theater, or just visit it on a guided tour. For more information, see this website.
  
  
• El Liceu Opera House: The historical Opera House of the city. It is right on the Rambles, and one of the most important opera houses in Europe. They offer opera, classical music, and guided tours. For more information, see this website.

History

• Biblioteca de Catalunya /Hospital de la Santa Creu: This 15th century building was originally a hospital. Nowadays it contains the Bibliteca de Catalunya and the Institut d?Estudis Catalans. You will find it in the Raval quarter. The orange tree garden where you need to take the picture is inside.
  
  
• Museu de Historia de la Ciutat: To learn about the rich history of the city. The main site of this institution is located in one of the old buildings of the Gothic quarter, near the Cathedral. You can check this website to find out more.
  
  
• Montjuic castle: You will find it on the top of the Montju?c hill. If you visit this park to see other gardens, you might want to go to see it too. This part of the park has a very convenient look-out point.
  
  
• Barcelona University old building: Right in the city center. You can check this website to see a picture of the building.
  
  
• Christopher Columbus statue: You can get to see what the statue sees by going to the top of the monument on its elevator. Easy to find: at the end of the Rambles.

Leisure

• Els Quatre Gats: This art nouveau caf? is where artists such as Picasso used to hang out, and exchanged their ideas. For more information check your City Guide section in your Orientation Guide. You can check its website.
  
  
• Canaletes Fountains: The tradition says that if you drink from this popular fountain you will surely return to Barcelona. It is also where the F.C.Barcelona soccer team fans celebrate their victories. And where is it? Just ask anybody (a local) near Plaza Catalunya or on the Rambles.
  
  
• Les Rambles: This is the most popular street in the city, always packed with people. Im sure you already know it. It is really interesting to go there, but please be careful with pickpockets, since it is a very touristy area.
  
  
• La Boqueria Market: Enjoy this market and its products. It is on the Rambles, and inside you will discover a whole world of food and colour, from vegetables to shellfish (alive!). You can visit its official website.
  
  
• Plaza de Sant Jaume: On this square you will find the Catalan Government (Generalitat) and the Town Hall. At its doors there are officers of the regional police corp, the mossos d?esquadra.
  
  
• Horchata: Called in English tiger nut milk, this special, natural, healthy and refreshing drink is usually taken in summer warm afternoons. If you are not convinced yet, read more on this website to find out more.
  
  
• Churros con Chocolate: A typical breakfast or afternoon treat.