An obvious choice for obvious reasons: the Sagrada Familia temple, the Gaudí park, Montjuïc, the finest football team on earth, more Gaudí, and a beautiful, freakish coastal skyline. But beyond the evident draws there is plenty more. The Ramblas may be a haven for pickpockets and boozy foreigners and have all the charm of a German autobahn, but just round the corner is the smaller, more pleasant Rambla del Raval. The most rewarding parts of Barcelona are where the visitors rarely tread. … [Read more...] about Barcelona
Sagrada Familia
Pope’s visit highlights challenges for Spanish Church
For Pope Benedict XVI, a visit to Spain will seem like a carefree holiday after his recent tour of Britain. That trip to Scotland and England coincided with angry protests at the Vatican’s handling of child sex abuse cases, and calls for him to face legal action. The British secret service even thwarted a reported attempt on the pope’s life by Islamists. No such hostility is expected when the pontiff touches down in Santiago de Compostela on November 6, for a two-day visit that will also take him to Barcelona. Spain has been relatively unaffected by the abuse scandals that have rocked other countries with large Catholic communities. The visit will be “momentous,” the archbishop of … [Read more...] about Pope’s visit highlights challenges for Spanish Church