It seems the Catalans of bygone eras did not care much about fun in the sun on a city beach. Unlike the towns of the French Riviera, Barcelona was a sea port that turned its back to the ocean.

Everything changed with the Olympic Games of 1992.

” Barcelona posa’t guapa ” was the motto of the day. The pearl of the Mediterranean had lost its luster and now was getting ready to spruce itself up again .

The downtown area received a costly beauty treatment. Award-winning star architects from all over the world had the opportunity to show what they could come up with.

The old industrial buildings were demolished, tracks and roads were relocated underground. New parks and a modern Olympic Village were built. And the people of Barcelona finally got a city beach that was nine kilometres long. Referring to the Copacabana of Rio de Janeiro the locals lovingly called it “Copa Barna”. Since among locals Barna is the nickname of Barcelona.

We start our tour at Pla de Palau, the big square between Borne quarter and harbour.

Together we stroll to Port Vell and walk through the former fishing quarter Barceloneta. We discover old and new architecture and admire fantastic sculptures. On our historical tour we explore how the Barceloneta developed over the centuries and became the interesting quarter we know today.

And we won’t say no to Tapas.