Interesting districts

Montjuïc Hill has borne witness to, and been the focus of key events that have shaped its personality. The first such event was the 1929 International Exhibition held in Barcelona which fostered the development of the zone. More recently, the 1992 Olympic Games brought about major renewal.

Montjuïc is also home to museums, such as the Fundació Miró, the Museu d’Arqueologia, the Museu Etnològic and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, MNAC. The latter, which is housed in the Palau Nacional, the centrepiece of the 1929 exhibition, invites us to discover 1,000 years of Catalan art. The Pavelló Mies van der Rohe, which was the German pavilion at the event, is a superb example of Bauhaus architecture. The former Casaramona textile factory, a modernista landmark by Puig i Cadafalch, is now home to Caixafòrum, a cultural centre which hosts temporary exhibitions. The Magic Fountain and the Poble Espanyol, with its “artisans’ village”, are other places of interest in Barcelona which are a must-see.

The Olympic Ring, the main site of the Olympic Games, features the stadium, the Estadi Lluís Companys, Arata Izosaki’s sports palace, the Palau Sant Jordi, and the telecommunications tower designed by Santiago Calatrava. Nearby, the Museu Olímpic i de l'Esport Joan Antoni Samaranch and the Botanical Gardens are also unmissable sights as you explore the Parc de Montjuïc.