This work features a Top Ten European destination. "All the glossy thoroughness you would expect from the brand name, with an impressive list of contributors". - "The Times". Beautifully illustrated in colour throughout, the photos and specially produced maps display the same quality readers have come to expect from National Geographic publications. This title includes numerous full-spread, mapped walking and driving tours, three-dimensional illustrations, and a large section of detailed visitor information, including insider's picks of the most unique and charming hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Combining evocative prose and invaluable information, this comprehensive guidebook introduces you to the lodestar of Catalonia's unique history and culture. Barcelona is, of course, singular in its architecture and art, and this guide makes sure you don't miss a thing - from the intricately carved edifices of its Gothic quarter; Gaudi's moderniste structures; and the seminal surrealist works of Picasso and Miro that pegged Barcelona as an important birthplace for 20th-century art. An informative narrative points out interesting facts and explains historical background, as well as tells you how best to visit each site. Special features include three-dimensional drawings (including one of the fabulous Cathedral) and guided tours (including a walk through Roman Barcelona and a drive through the Mediterranean-lapped Costa Brava), as well as in-depth sidebars that detail such topics as Barcelona's Jewish community, the city's markets, and what life as a local medieval monk was like. This is an indespensible guide to one of the most popular destinations in Europe.