We find breakfast below ground, it turns out to be a fascinating room built around the ramparts of the old city wall dating back to 1670s, and good grub too.

Restaurant dining area with marble fruit counter, warm lighting, and exposed brick walls; arched doorways and track lighting create a modern, upscale atmosphere.
Ornate historic stairwell with carved balustrades, checkered marble floor, and a doorway with decorative panels; people stand near the entrance.
Ornate historic staircase interior with white plaster decoration, marble steps, and a blue stained-glass skylight overhead.

Then we cross Plaça Catalunya almost back to last night’s dinner to find the front of the Tivoli Theatre. It’s not open but looks interesting.

Historic beige building with arched windows and decorative stonework, a leafy tree in front, and graffiti on the shuttered storefronts.

Our first destination is the Cathedral, no not the obvious one, as we visited Sagrada Familia quite recently, today were returning to the Catedral de Barcelona, we’ve not been here for quite a few years. We clamber up to the rooftop, where there is a great view over the skyline of the city. Back down at street level we enjoy the organ, choir and general ambiance of the mass taking place in the nave. The cloisters is unusual because of the geese that live there, and also that the chapterhouse is still in use, unfortunately this means no photos of this beautiful room.

Front view of a Gothic cathedral with ornate spires and a large arched entrance, set in a sunny plaza with tourists nearby.
Ornate gold-toned church altarpiece with numerous carved figures and religious scenes against stone walls.
Smiling man in a white shirt stands inside a stone church beside a large colorful stained-glass window.
Man walking on a metal walkway atop a historic stone cathedral, with ornate spires in the background and a cityscape beyond.
Gothic cathedral with ornate pinnacles reaching toward a clear blue sky.
Gothic cathedral nave with tall arches and stained-glass windows, ornate railings, and scaffolding on the left; people seated in pews.
Interior of a Gothic cathedral with soaring stone columns, ribbed vaults, and colorful stained-glass windows. (informative)
A hand with a perforated wristband uses a wooden skewer to light or adjust red votive candles arranged on a surface.
Altar in a church with a gilded statue of a saint, ornate gold details, and lit candles on both sides.
Exhibition panel showing classical paintings on red patterned walls with rope barriers in front.
Man in a white shirt and khaki shorts stands in a historic stone cloister with tall arches behind him.
Historic stone courtyard with Gothic arches and a shallow pool of green-tinted water, filled with white ducks and geese.
Gothic cathedral facade with arched windows and decorative gargoyles against a clear blue sky.

In fact it’s hard to remember how many visits we have made to Barcelona, but I do remember first coming here on a school’s cruise with Liz, many years later dragging friends Sheila and John around, and several times just with Hubby. This visit, Jacs and Mike will get the treatment, they have arrived during this morning, and we will meet up with them later.

We continue our wander around the medieval quarter, tiny walkways and cute squares. One such square, Plaça Felip Neri, has a sad story, where 20 children and 22 adults died during a bombing raid by the fascist Italian air force in 1938, supporting Franco’s reign of terror.

Narrow historic stone alley between tall buildings, with a decorative archway visible at the far end and pedestrians walking below
Historic stone courtyard with arches, vines, and a tall palm tree; visitors examine information boards and displays.
Stone courtyard with Gothic arched windows, palm tree, and ornate lamp; people walk and chat in warm daylight.
Exposed rough stone wall with a narrow vertical gap between blocks; a coiled blue-green hose rests in the foreground on the left.
Stone courtyard surrounded by beige stone buildings with arched arcades; tourists walk up and down steps toward a central doorway.
Historic stone courtyard with arched doorway, circular window, and statue reliefs, shaded by lush green trees.
White vintage car parked on cobblestone street in front of a stone building with statues; people in white shirts gathered near the entrance.
Sunlit European city square with grand stone buildings, a domed tower, and striped pavement; pedestrians walk and chat in the open plaza.
Narrow city street under a stone archway with construction barriers and rubble along the road behind fencing.

One might think it’s not easy to come up with new places, yet this city has a lot to offer and we move on to our first visit to the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar which turns out to be lovely. Just one window is modern. After climbing the uncountable (because we forgot) steps of the cathedral we can confirm it’s 155 up to the roof of the basilica. Again the views are impressive. Unfortunately the return staircase has gone dark and it’s quite creepy descending a spiral staircase into the pitch black unknown – don’t think to use our phone torch!

Facade of a historic cathedral with a rose window and twin towers against a blue sky.",
Tall blue stained-glass window in a stone church, with a small carved statue plaque on the left wall.
Interior of a Gothic cathedral with tall stone columns, vaulted arches, and stained-glass windows illuminated by warm lights behind the pews.
Inside Gothic cathedral: tall stone columns, vaulted ceilings, and colorful stained-glass windows with wooden pews in the foreground

You’ll gather that we survive and continue our adventure to another new site. Here at Born a Roman settlement dating back to 300AD has been reasonably recently rediscovered under a market hall. The history is complex and the site has suffered so much in the hands of many, including complete annihilation in C11, but fortunately a disappointing commercial endeavour (the market didn’t work) led to the incredible excavation we see today.

Facade of an ornate historic building with intricate ironwork and arched entrance; a striped Catalan flag on the left against a blue sky.
Museum interior over ancient ruins: glass-roofed atrium with metal arches and a walkway around exposed stone walls; visitors observe displays.
Large neoclassical government building with a commanding statue fountain in front, set in a tree-lined city square under a clear sky

Our next first is the Barceloneta beachfront, and adjacent harbour. We find a few rather attractive yachts, all looking like small cruise ships! Of the three we really like, Artefact is our favourite. This fabulous little number is valued around $150M and is owned by Canadian Mike Lazaridis, whom you of course remember created the Blackberry brand of PDAs. Actually most people will have forgotten this brand even existed!

White luxury yacht moored at a marina with calm water and distant city buildings on the horizon
White luxury motor yacht moored at a marina with glass railings and calm water nearby.
Large white luxury yacht docked at a marina with calm blue water and city skyline in the background.

Barceloneta, a lively beach area is extremely popular, well it is Saturday, and we enjoy the throng up to a point, looking as we walk for a suitable lunchtime spot. We’re turned away at our first choice, apparently the 90% empty tables are all reserved! Then we wander along the quayside for a while, look at the four cruise ships in port today, and return, trying a different restaurant as we pass, this one is much busier but manages to seat us, where we enjoy nachos, calamari and croquetas along with a lovely verdejo.

Sail-shaped glass hotel by the beach with sunbathers, umbrellas, and a distant Ferris wheel visible in the background.
Historic black-and-white photo of a crowded seaside boardwalk, with vintage cars parked along a road and people strolling by the shore; midway background shows amusement structures and a pier.
Large white cruise ship moored at a harbor with a rocky breakwater and hillside in the background.
Two men at an outdoor restaurant toast with wine glasses, surrounded by tapas and chips on a red table, greenery and a 'Gallito' sign in the background, smiling at the camera.
Plate of loaded nachos topped with guacamole, pico de gallo, and melted cheese on a red table with a side of green dipping sauce.

Having seen the cable car on numerous occasions from the cruise port, we decide it has to be taken, and we return to the city half way up Montjuïc. Then it’s just a walk back up La Rambla, which is sadly (for us) undergoing a massive renovation project and is almost all dug up. Usually full of flower and other market stalls, today it is just one giant trip-hazard. Fortunatley we have memories to look back on.

Coastal city with a marina full of yachts, a wide palm-lined road, and a sandy beach along the blue sea.
Red gondola carriage with passengers suspended over a waterway, moving toward a city skyline and a tall tower in the distance.
Passengers look out from a glass-walled cable car at a harbor, with docks, water, and city skyline in the distance.
Two men posing inside a glass-observation capsule with a city harbor below on a sunny day.
Tall statue atop a historic column in a plaza, with a mix of classical and modern buildings in the background and green trees in the foreground
Facade of Teatre del Liceu theater with three large arched windows and decorative stonework.
Busy city street with ornate European buildings, pedestrians and cyclists behind yellow barricades on a sunny day in front of storefronts and balconies.

Talking markets we wander around Mercat de la Boqueria for a while, although still full from lunch so we don’t partake of any of the wonderful provender, beyond feasting our eyes.

Colorful display of candies in a busy market shop with customers browsing in the background.
Assorted fried snacks in paper cones on a market stall display.
Assorted fried snacks served in newspaper cones at a street-food stall.
Deli counter with hanging cured hams and price tags, sausages wrapped in plastic, and two staff members behind the counter

We meet with Jacs and Mike for drinks in the hotel bar, before heading down La Rambla to find a recommended eatery. We actually go to Viana I but we’ve booked for Viana II, happily we’re taken around the corner to the right place and all is well. We are looked after by Filipino Charlie who is so attentive throughout the evening. We enjoy a spring roll amuse, croquettas and wasabi cod on toasted brioche followed by cod in orange, rib eye and sucking pig.

Plate of mini pastry rolls topped with sprouts and a red sauce on a blue patterned plate.
Crispy breaded croquettes with pale dollops and dill on a white rectangular plate; other tapas visible in the background on a wooden board.
Stack of flaky pastry or fish topped with wilted greens on a bright yellow sauce on a white plate.
Grilled steak with sautéed greens and glossy sauce on a dark plate, beside a glass of iced drink.
Plate with a seared meat portion, dark glaze, topped by a green fried croquette and microgreens, pink edible petals, and a dollop of pale sauce on the side.
Five adults at a restaurant table smiling for a group photo; wine glasses, plates, and a bottle on the table.
Night street scene of a crowded outdoor cafe under stone arches with warm lantern light.
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