© Getty ImagesVCARB Presents: The Cultural Guide to BarcelonaCrikey, this triple header has been PACKED with action. Double points for our boys last time out in Monaco, too. Let’s keep that momentum going here.
JoinVCARBfortheFORMULA1ARAMCOGRANPREMIODEESPAÑA2025from30May-1June.Butfirst,itwouldberudenottoshowyouaround,wouldn’tit?ThisisVCARB’sCulturalGuidetoBarcelona.
Barcelona is the second most populous municipality in Spain, being home to over 5 million people in its surrounding provinces. Barcelona is the capital city of Catalonia, an autonomous community within Spain.
The city is rich in culture and history and is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the globe - it was the 20th most visited city in the world during the 2010s. It is home to some of the most remarkable architecture in Europe, including the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló and Park Güell, which are all absolute must-sees when you visit Barcelona. There’s no surprise, then, that it’s the UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture for 2024-2026.
(Plus, there are some unreal dessert parlours near those architectural hotspots, and who doesn’t love ice cream?)
Spanish is the language of Barcelona, but there’s a growing use of Catalan, the official language of Andorra and one adopted by Catalonia as an autonomous community.
TheSignificanceofBarcelonaCulture
Barcelona has historical roots that cover over 2000 years of growth and development. The city has seen it all, from dictatorship to democracy, and has it all, from contemporary art to some of the finest cuisine in Spain.
The City History Museum houses hundreds of years of Barcelona history and showcases the best of the best Catalan Gothic architecture. The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Arts is the city’s love letter to post-war Catalan and Spanish art, whilst the Museu Picasso is home to over 4,000 pieces of art from the famous Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the entire city.
You don’t need to walk far to see art from Salvador Dali, one of Spain’s most famous artists. The Dali Theatre and Museum, naturally, is the place to go to see his work, but you can also visit his home in Port Lligat, Catalonia and the Gala Dali Castle in Pubol.
The Gran Teatre del Liceu, on La Rambla, is one of the most iconic theatres in Europe, with a dark history of suffering two major fires. For you music enjoyers, Barcelona is home to Sónar Festival and Primavera Sound, two of the most popular festivals in the world and has had global superstars, including Blur, Kendrick Lamar, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan.
If you’re not visiting Barcelona and indulging yourself in their food and drinks, are you even visiting Barcelona?
Classics like paella de marisci, fideuà, escalivada and crema Catalana are guaranteed to have you back in the city for more. Also, a quick shoutout for Barcelona tapas, which kept me fuelled and full on my last trip to this amazing city. Iberico ham has a special place in my heart.
Don’t lie. When you hear Barcelona, a part of you thinks football. And that’s okay, because it’s for a good reason. The city is rich in sporting history and lives up to its global reputation.
Barcelona was home to the 1992 Summer Olympics, described as one of the best Olympic Games ever. Some of the most successful sports teams in the world also find their home in the city, including FC Barcelona, RCD Espanyol and Barcelona Dragons.
Annual events include the Barcelona Marathon in March, the Barcelona Open ATP World Tour 500 Series tennis tournament, the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix and Aerosport, a Spanish airshow.
But of course, most of you will be in Barcelona for one reason and one reason only: the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been the home of the Spanish Grand Prix since 1991, taking over from the Jerez circuit. Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton are the most successful drivers around this circuit, with six Grand Prix wins each.
We’re fresh off the back of our first double points finish of the year, so we’re heading into Barcelona with a spring in our step.
Wish Isack and Liam buena suerte and join us for the FORMULA 1 ARAMCO GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2025 from 30 May - 1 June.
