The old cathedral of Lleida is one of Catalonia's most important mediaeval monuments, incorporating…read moreboth Romanesque and Gothic styles. The cathedral occupies a wonderfully impressive location high above the city, surrounded by the remains of the impressive Islamic fortress, La Suda, and the extensive 18th century fortifications. It would be even more impressive if it had not been ransacked during the Wars of the Spanish Succession in 1707 and turned over for military use an ignominy which lasted until 1940. The construction of the castle also saw the old town levelled (to build the fortress) and relocated at the foot of the hill. However, both the cloisters and interior have been restored and enough remains to get an impression of what the church must originally have been like, even if it is now surrounded only by the huge empty spaces of the fortress. Begun in 1203, the building reflects the changes in styles until its completion (with the impressive bell tower) in 1431. It has some superb Romanesque doorways, with capitals incorporating elaborate human, animal and foliage motifs. Similar capitals can also be found in the nave, but the main body of the church is otherwise denuded of significant ornament. Some of the transept chapels retain some impressive vaulting, and some funerary effigies rescued from the church are on display. A number of windows are filled with 'glass' made from very thin pieces of marble an amazing survival. The cloisters are in rather better condition, and are on an impressive and dramatic scale, offering, as they do, splendid vistas over modern Lleida. The windows, although devoid of glass, are filled with stunning tracery, mostly from the decorated gothic period, and some from the 20th century restoration. The remains of 16-17th century classical ornament can also be seen on the cloister walls. The most famous element of the cathedral is its tower, a splendid late-gothic octagonal structure, completed in 1431. You can climb the 238 steps to the top for stunning views over the city and the surrounding area, although be warned that the steps are both and winding and very narrow, and there is no hand rail. It contains a peal of 7 bells, two of which (named 'Silvestra' and 'Monica') date from the 15th century (the rest are 20th century replacements). The entry ticket includes an audiovisual history of the cathedral, presented in one of the old chapels, there's a small souvenir shop at the entrance and toilets built into another former chapel. There is step-free access throughout the main building, although some of the entrance ramps are rather steep. Afterwards, you can walk around the ramparts of La Suda for more stunning views across the modern city.

The best site to visit and enjoyread more

No matter how many photos you've seen, nothing really prepares you for seeing Basílica de la…read moreSagrada Família in person. Gaudí's masterpiece is breathtaking from every angle, and the level of detail on both the exterior and interior is incredible. As sunlight shines through the colorful stained-glass windows, the entire basilica fills with vibrant colors, creating a peaceful and unforgettable atmosphere. We took our time to appreciate all the little details rather than rushing through. The audio guide helped us understand the symbolism behind the design. Booking tickets in advance is highly recommended, especially during the busy season, as entry times often sell out.

Immerse yourself in the rich history and incredible details of La Sagrada, and you'll be captivated…read moreby its grandeur. It's highly recommended to purchase your tickets well in advance, ideally over two weeks, but a month is even better. Taking a private tour with an exceptional guide elevates this experience to new heights. Immerse yourself in the rich history and incredible details of La Sagrada, and you'll be captivated by its grandeur. It's highly recommended to purchase your tickets well in advance, ideally over two weeks, but a month is even better. Taking a private tour with an exceptional guide elevates this experience to new heights.

We had a tour Friday and arrived on the mountain around 10:30 via Bus and Rack Railway (Cremallera)…read morefor the last 10 minutes. You get some breathtaking views as you climb towards 1236 ft. and also experience the railway car that has been around since the 1800s with the original car on display at the station. Once we got to the main area of the mountain, there is quite a bit to do and you can spend a full day if you took the time to take it all in. The jagged rock formations of the mountain range give a few photo ops. The main event was the Basilica/Abbey with the Black Madonna and hearing the Escolania Boys Choir. Peaceful, serene and listening to this choir for a few minutes before bed has to help with insomnia. There are plenty of hiking options with a 15 minute hike to the top for more breathtaking views. Would recommend visiting the museum. Many shopping and food options (Cafes) with our tour guide recommending a Buffet restaurant. I tend to stay away from Buffet spots and should have followed my instincts. It was ok and really was at a disadvantage after the meals we had in Barcelona-stick with the Cafes. Overall, well worth the time and visit!

Beautiful monastery, located against the backdrop of the Montserrat mountain where the peaks are…read moreliterally surrounding the monastery. The Cathedral that is at the heart of this monastery is very ornate and gorgeous with classic European craftsmanship from an age gone by clearly visible throughout the cathedral. As beautiful as the monastery is, the elevated views from this location are drop dead gorgeous and worth the trip alone. Unfortunately, on the day we visited, there was a mass going on where they closed viewing of the black Madonna for the day to not be in conflict with the mass which is standard practice. So you need to keep an eye on this if you plan to visit this site. The other negative thing is that the place was slammed with tourist and I felt that the outlying buildings were completely commercialized to sell trinkets to the tourist that visit. I personally am not a fan when places of worship do this, but I do understand that this type of operation probably funds the maintenance and operation of monastery year-round and is probably a necessary evil in this case. All in all, this is one of the main attractions in the Barcelona area and should be included on any itinerary during your visit here. Opportunities to see beauty like this along with it's historical relevance are far few and in between and should be taken advantage of anytime you're given this opportunity.

The Gothic Quarter is exactly my kind of architecture. This is where the Catedral de Barcelona…read moresits, and it was so beautiful in person. I wish I had more time to actually learn about the cathedral and its history. Great place to take pictures obviously. Even though there were a lot of people around, we were still able to get shots without anyone in the background. Probably because we went there around evening, but it was still rather bright at night. Highly recommend!

The Cathedral of Barcelona, which is also called the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia,…read morewas built in the Gothic style from 1298 to the 15th century. It is an active church that provides masses, confessions, and other sacraments. It also provides tours for 16 euros and up (as of the time of this review). I understand that some people think that a church should be free to enter, but I also understand that many tourists are not practicing Catholics and that the church needs to bring in revenue to pay its bills. My tour guide took my husband and me to the exterior of this church and explained its architecture and history. We did not pay for an interior tour. It is a lovely church to see.

Don't let the distance dissuade you from visiting. There are a few ways to get there including…read moremetro and bus though we did taxi from where we were at the time. We actually went here before we visited La Sagrada Familia. If it had been reversed it would have felt anticlimatic. This site though has its own charms. The view of Barcelona is amazing. Definitely pay for the elevator (5 euro) ride. It takes you from ground (church ) level almost to the top just below the statue of Christ. The final level is accessed by stairs. When we arrived they were actually getting ready for Mass and we happily joined in. The Mass was in Castilian but the Catholic Mass structure is universal and I downloaded readings in English prior. As churches go, it was small but highly ornate. Oddly enough there is a carnival park as part of the grounds. Seems out of place but I suspect if you're going to haul your kids up there for Mass then they need to make it a family affair plus it brings in money. There is also a restaurant but we did not do that.

I would absolutely recommend hiking up to the temple. The view of Barcelona is stunning. We took a…read moretrain to the funicular and hiked up to the church from there. The hike is ~1.5 miles, but there is a notable incline. There is a funicular available for 5€ round trip, but this only gets you about halfway up

Europe has so many amazing old churches and no picture can replicate the experience of walking in…read moreand just taking it all in. But in looking at pictures it's hard to tell them apart from each other. Something this had that other didn't is the view of the city from the top put you have to go up narrow spiral staircase that is less than fun to navigate and deal with people going the other direction. But the view from the top was def worth it. Obviously if you have mobility or claustrophobia this wont be something you should try.

After visiting the other must see Catholic Churches in Barcelona this was by far my favorite…read more Built by the people for the people. The remnants of the fires that destroyed most of the original art in the church gives it character. We were not able to go to mass there but we most definitely will next time in town. Beautiful example of Catalonian Gothic and simply majestic and a must see.

The Basilica de Santa Maria del Pi is a Gothic church that was built in the 15th century. Today it…read moreis an active church with a worship schedule. My tour guide took my husband and me to view this church. We did not attend a worship service, but we admired the architecture. For example, the front facade has a main entrance that is surrounded by beautiful columns, arches, and a large window, which my tour guide said has a covering to prevent debris from falling. The bell tower still rings. Overall, I felt interested in seeing this church that is much older than what we have in the U.S.

Less than a 5 minute walk from my hotel, Chic&Basic Habana Hoose. Attracts lots of locals and…read moretourist, open until late and has a lighting tower on certain days. Def helped me find my way back home lol. To each their own but I'd say you don't need to pay to see a church that has all the same magical designs. Sorry Antoni and Sagrada Familia. The church rings its bell every hour on the hour, I truly enjoyed hearing them.