If you’re anything like we are, seeing the word Barceloneta probably left you wondering whether or not we’d lost our marbles. Barceloneta, also known as mini-Barcelona, is one of the quieter sections of Barcelona, where visitors can experience life in one of Spain’s most famous destinations without the disturbances associated with city life.

Barceloneta has its own set of enchanting sites and attractions. Here are seven of our favorites.

7. Castell dels Tres Tragons

The Castell dels Tres Tragons was built back in 1888. It originally served as a restaurant during the Universal Exposition. The building itself was named after Serafi Pitarra, who lived during the middle of the 19^th century and is now well known as the father of the Catalan theater.

The architecture within this building is astounding, proudly displaying visible iron supports and largely exposed brickwork – both of which are features that were rare at the time the building was constructed. The building has changed hands several times, serving not only as a restaurant, but as an arts workshop and, most recently, as a zoology museum.

6. Port Olimpic

Port Olimpic (aka The Olympic Port) is a quaint neighborhood packed with restaurants, tapas bars, and yachts. This is an excellent area to visit if you’re looking to stroll the harbor or simply sample some fine Spanish cuisine.

The Olympic Port is usually bustling with activity later in the day, around 1pm, and restaurants usually stay open until around 1am. The area is especially popular on the weekends as young men and women from all over the area flock to the port for food, friendship, and a great party atmosphere.

5. Arc del Triomf

The Arc del Triomf was built by Joseph Vilaseca and served as one of the main entrances to the Universal Exhibition. The arch is strikingly similar to some of the fabulous arches that were built in ancient Roman times, but this arch, unlike those in Rome, lacks any historic representation.

There are a number of statues and sculptures surrounding the arch. Some are representative of the city of Barcelona hosting the Universal Exhibition, while others are meant to show contributors to the exhibition receiving prizes and awards.

4. Farmacia Saim

Alright, so it isn’t exactly normal to add a pharmacy to a list of “must see” destinations, but the Farmacia Siam building is not only ornately designed but has a history of its own. The architectural work is stunning, with griffins over each door and an intricately designed pharmacist’s insignia.

The structure was originally built in 1902 and is still home to an operating pharmacy. The home is known for being one of the sturdiest buildings in Barceloneta and was even used as a bomb shelter during the Spanish civil war.

3. Zoo Barcelona

The Zoo in Barcelona is located in the La Cuitadella section of Barcelonetta. The zoo takes part in several conservation projects, some of which are aimed at protecting nearly extinct species such as the Gila monster, the black vulture, and the giant anteater, amongst others.

This particular zoo also serves as the home of Snowflake and his friends, all of which are lowland gorillas. Unfortunately, there are currently only 10,000 gorillas living in the wild today due to the hunting of gorillas for use as trophies and in trade. Hunting is now prohibited but the gorillas are still fighting for survival as illegal hunters and land developers swarm their habitats.

2. Cooperative Obrera La Fraternitat

The building known as the Cooperative Obrera la Fraternitat is one of the most stunning buildings in the fisherman’s quarter of Barceloneta. Loosely translated, the Brotherhood Workers Cooperative building used to be home to the progressive workers organization that originally formed in 1879.

The cooperative started out small and simple – originally designed to help workers purchase the bare necessities at the lowest rates possible. The center eventually grew into a spectacular social center and now serves as Barceloneta’s only library.

1. El Transbordador Aeri del Port

If you’re willing to take your life into your hands, the transportation site known as El Transbordador Aeri del Port is a great place to catch a cable car ride over the Barcelona harbor. The views you’ll see as you travel from Barceloneta to Montjuic are spectacular and the cable car is, undoubtedly, the fastest way to get from one place to the other.

On the other hand, the cable car system is old and many claim that a ride on El Transbordador Aeri del Port is scarier than it is entertaining. Fortunately, you can find similar views from safer locations in some of Barcelona’s well-grounded restaurants.

A trip to Barceloneta provides visitors with a great way to experience a more bohemian lifestyle, while still enjoying all that Barcelona and Spain have to offer. Make Barceloneta the focal point of your trip, or include a few days here as a side-trip. Whatever you do, you won’t be disappointed.

Image credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

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