Running in Barcelona: the city of Gaudí
- audreyubertino
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Barcelona is both a city of art and history, known for its Gothic and Modernist architecture, and a party hotspot. A dynamic city where the sun always shines, giving it a perpetual holiday atmosphere, its beaches and boulevards offer a magnificent space of freedom for runners, walkers and cyclists.
‘A thousand scents and a thousand colours, Barcelona has a thousand faces,’ said artist Joan Manuel Serrat. The city that Frédéric Beigbeder describes as ‘a madman's dream’ is a veritable theme park for any runner wishing to combine sport and culture. Stroll through Park Güell with its amazing enamel-covered roofs, resembling the legendary gingerbread house from fairy tales.
Below, take La Rambla, Barcelona's iconic avenue that connects Plaça de Catalunya, the city's nerve centre, to Port Vell, where the Columbus Monument stands. Before heading to the city centre for tapas, you can also enjoy Barceloneta, the long sandy beach that borders the city. Or climb – a challenging hike! – to the spectacular fountain on Montjuïc hill.
Gaudí, the (almost) patron saint of Barcelona
Antoni Gaudí i Cornet, a Catalan architect of Spanish nationality, is the leading representative of Catalan modernism. His work has left an indelible mark on Barcelona's architecture, making him the figurehead of this artistic movement. In many ways, he is the patron saint of the city.
Especially since Gaudí, who was deeply religious and led an ascetic life, is in the process of being beatified. During your run, you will discover some of his works. Seven of them, all located in Barcelona, have been listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. These include Park Güell and Palau Güell, as well as the crypt at Colonia Güell. There are also several famous façades: Casa Milà, Casa Vicens and Casa Batlló. Finally, you won't want to miss his most famous creation, which remains unfinished: the Sagrada Familia.
Running from La Rambla to the Gothic Quarter
The poet and playwright Federico García Lorca said of La Rambla that it was ‘the happiest street in the world, the street where the four seasons of the year live together, the only street on earth that I wish would never end, rich in sounds, abundant in breezes, beautiful with encounters, ancient with blood.’
This symbolic avenue in Barcelona is characterised by its numerous kiosks selling newspapers and magazines, as well as flowers and animals. It is also a favourite spot for living statues, and in the middle stands the adjacent Boqueria covered market. It is completed by a footbridge, known as the Rambla de Mar, providing access to the Maremagnum shopping centre.
In the heart of the Old Town, the Barri Gòtic is Barcelona's oldest neighbourhood, a maze of narrow streets with Gothic architecture. It is home to the remains of Roman Barcelona. You can walk along the foot of the ancient wall and the columns of the Temple of Augustus, as well as admire numerous buildings from the medieval period. As you run, you will discover the Cathedral of Saint Eulalia, the Casa de la Ciutat, and the Palace of the Generalitat of Catalonia.
During your stroll through this maze of narrow streets, you will probably come across Plaça Nova, where two cylindrical towers dating back to Roman times stand. Or Plaça del Rei, home to the Palau Reial Major, a count's residence and later a royal residence.
You will also see numerous traces of the violence of the Spanish Civil War in the streets and on the buildings of the neighbourhood. For example, in Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, where the façade of the church of the same name bears the marks of shrapnel from a bombing raid by the Nationalist air force on 30 January 1938.
From the beach to the hills
Now the focal point of mass summer tourism, Barceloneta borders Port Vell, the city's historic port. This beach, which was originally adjacent to the fishermen's and sailors' quarters, was occupied by shanty towns until the 1960s. After the 1992 Olympic Games, the city replaced them with numerous sports facilities, cultural establishments and infrastructure geared towards seaside tourism. Anyone who decides to run along this long stretch of sand should enjoy the lively atmosphere, as there are casinos, private clubs and luxury hotels. Further along, you will see the Rambla de Mar in Port Vell, with the Maremagnum shopping centre and the Barcelona Aquarium.
If you prefer running on steeper terrain, the hills are waiting for you. The highest point of the Collserola mountain range, overlooking the city, Tibidabo has also become one of Barcelona's tourist attractions. Here you will find the Sagrat Cor Expiatory Temple and the Fabra Astronomical Observatory. The Castell de Montjuïc dominates the city from the top of its hill, and below you can see the 1992 Olympic site. There is also the site of the 1929 World's Fair, where the Font màgica stands, whose water, sound and light shows attract many tourists in the evening.
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This piece beautifully captures how running in Barcelona becomes a blend of culture, architecture, and Retro Bowl pure coastal energy, turning every route into a vibrant journey through the city’s soul.