Are you going to visit Catalonia this year but are going to be a bit short on spending money when you get there? Don’t worry there are lots of things to do and enjoy there that can be done and enjoyed for free or almost free. In fact here are the top 5 things that can be done for free.
Enjoy some Bird Watching
For the bird watcher there is not a better place to explore the world for these graceful winged creatures. While some will spend a fortune traveling to the ends of the earth to see the most elusive of creatures, you can see all that Catalonia has without needing a holiday cash loan to indulge in your favorite hobby. Catalonia offers an excellent array of bird watching because of its location and varied range of habitats, including dry land steppes, rocky coastlines, mountains and some of the most important wetland sites in Europe, more so than anywhere else on the peninsula. Some of the most sought-after birds to see are the Lammergeier, Black Woodpecker, Wallcreeper, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Grey Shrike, Dupont’s Lark (recognised as probably extinct in Catalonia in 2006), Little Bustard, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Audouin’s Gull and Lesser Crested tern. The most important sites are Cap de Creus, Aiguamolls de L’Empordà, Barcelona’s Llobregat Delta, the Parc de Garraf, Ebro Delta, Steppes of Lleida and, of course, The Pyrenees. While there are companies that offer tours for bird watching it is not necessarily a requirement and some companies will even offer free advice to bird watchers who ask for it.
Catch one of the Catalan “Festes” or Festivals
Catalonia has festes (or festivals) that go on around the region every week of the year. While not widely publicized there is nothing saying that visitors aren’t welcome. The closest word in English to translate “Festa” would be “Festival” but this is extremely inadequate to describe the type of celebration that exists in Catalonia, because these festes are ritual like celebrations that have been passed down through the generations for 700 years or more. They are organized by the people of a town for their own enjoyment, and without any commercial interest in mind. These traditions are associated with the Catalan identity individually and are separate from the rest of Spain and other traditional Spanish traditions.
Walk Around the Gothic Quarter
The Gothic Quarter is the oldest part of the city, and perhaps the most atmospheric area. This part of Barcelona stands on the ruins of a Roman colony called Barcino, which, according to legend, stands on the ruins of the Carthaginian town of Barca. With the passing of the centuries, most of the oldest portions of the city have disappeared, but some remaining pieces can still be seen in many places, or have influenced the overall layout of the city. There are dozens of ancient churches, monasteries, and palaces tucked into this small area of the city. Each are linked by very narrow, twisting streets and unexpected, unique little squares, making this a sight to see if you have the time and energy for a lazy walk through town.
See the wonder of the Magic Fountain
Montjuic’s Magic Fountain is a spectacular performance of water, music and lights but more than that, it’s also free! The Magic Fountain was designed by engineer Carles Buigas in anticipation of the Barcelona International Exposition of 1929. At its completion, cascades and fountains were found to be installed at varrious points along the Avenida Maria Cristina, near Plaça d’Espanya. The focal point was the monumental fountain on the platform at the foot of the National Palace. The Magic Fountain’s display of jets of water moving with the music is illuminated in so many different colors. The dance of the water is synchronized to match and be in time with the music and lights. After more than 60 years, the Fountain was restored specifically for the 1992 Olympic Games. This is probably the first synchronized water, music and light show in the world and it continues to be one of Barcelona’s most popular attractions.
Take a walk about Port Vell
Port Vell is a waterfront harbor in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and part of the Port of Barcelona. It was built anew as part of an urban renewal program prior to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. It is now a focal point of the city and tourist attraction, containing the Maremàgnum (a huge super mall), IMAX Port Vell and Europe’s largest aquarium containing 8000 Fish and 11 sharks contained in 22 basins filled with 1.5 million gallons of sea water. While most of these places are selling things the sights and sounds of walking through this area makes it well worth the time to go out and see it.
