Work in progress The Sagrada Familia is a huge Christian church dedicated to the Holy Family in Barcelona. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, and consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI himself in an elaborate ceremony - despite the fact that it is still unfinished.  Building began in the 1880s and has been carried out intermittently since, as its construction relied heavily on private donations and was also interrupted by various cultural and political events throughout the years; a couple of inconvenient world wars and the Spanish Civil War were chief among the disturbances.  Great heights The lead architect on the project was Antoni Gaudí, who combined the drama of Gothic and Byzantine architecture with the fluidity of Art Nouveau in his ambitious designs. The result is an otherworldly Basilica that looks like a hybrid of Christian cathedral and fairytale palace. The three façades, representing the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ, are peopled by extraordinary angular figures. Its eighteen lofty towers represent the Twelve Apostles, the Virgin Mary, the Four Evangelists, and, tallest of all, a central tower dedicated to Jesus Christ. Their hierarchy and symbolism emphasise elevation towards God; expressive form is married to divine function. While Gaudí wished to make an impact on the Barcelona skyline, he believed that the work of man should never supercede the work of God - so despite an impressive 172.5m, the building is just shy of the height of Montjuïc, the highest point in the municipality of Barcelona. Gaudí took his time over the building - stating that his client, God, was in no rush - and left it roughly 25% complete on his death in 1926. It is now not expected to be finished until 2026, which would total 144 years of construction. Since 2010 the nave of the church has been available for use in religious services, though visitors today will probably still see cranes and scaffolding around the outer façade of the huge Basilica. The Sagrada Familia has a remarkable story, and will only increase in grandeur over the coming years: it is truly an extraordinary sight.

Gothic quarters The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia is a gorgeous Gothic cathedral in the old centre of the bustling Catalan city; it is also the seat of the Archbishop of Spain. Construction of the Cathedral began at the end of the 13th century during the reign of King James II of Aragon, and took around 150 years to complete, by which time King Alfonso V ruled the kingdom. It was built on the site where two less regal Christian churches had previously stood; a primitive paleo-Christian temple was replaced by a Romanesque Cathedral in 1058, which was in turn replaced with the majestic Gothic structure we see today. The Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Eulalia, a young virgin who became a martyr for her faith when she was killed during the persecutions of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The story goes that she was publicly shamed by being forced to go naked in the streets, but that snow miraculously fell to cover her. She was then put in a barrel which was stuck through with knives and rolled down the street, now called Baixade de Santa Eulalia. Her tomb is in the crypt of the Cathedral. L’Ou com Balla Eulalia is also commemorated in the Font de les Oques, a well in the cloister which houses thirteen white geese - the age at which the saint was allegedly martyred. While the structure and internal decoration of the Cathedral were completed by the 15th century, its neo-Gothic façade was added at the end of the 19th century, covering the rather plain original exterior; the roof was also adorned with an impressive range of gargoyles. Mass is celebrated daily in the Cathedral and the church remains extremely popular with members of the Catholic community today. Visitors of the Cathedral can marvel at its magnificent Gothic art, Baroque altar, splendid choir and the mysterious sepulchre of St. Eulalia. If you are lucky enough to visit during the feast of Corpus Christi, you may see the Catalan tradition of the Dancing Egg - a hollowed egg suspended dancing on the jet of the cloister’s fountain.

Overlooking BarcelonaPerched atop Montjuïc, which translates as Jew Mountain in medieval Catalan, is the majestic Montjuïc Castle. A fortification was first built here in 1640 when a Catalonian revolt broke out against King Philip IV of Spain; an inauspicious beginning, as the Spanish troops lost the Battle of Montjuïc. This hastily built fortress was turned into a proper castle in 1694, with grounds covering the mountain summit and huge stone ramparts looking out over the sea, and improvements continued to be made on the structure throughout the years. The castle remained a strategic foothold in the Catalan territories and changed hands multiple times throughout the centuries. It was famously captured by Napoleon Bonaparte’s army in 1808 without a weapon being fired, as the soldiers were under orders not to fight the French. A castle of conflictThe large and handsome castle we see today was completed in 1799, with contemporary style in mind and with more efficient defensive capabilities, including 120 cannons. However, the castle has since become a grim symbol of Catalan submission: Barcelona was bombed from the castle heights on a number of occasions, most notably in 1842, in order to quell revolutionary stirrings. It has also been used to house political prisoners. During the Spanish Civil War, both sides used the castle as a place to torture and execute high profile captives; 173 people were executed by firing squad between 1936 and 1938. Notoriously, the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Lluís Comanys, was shot dead here in October 1940 by dictator Francisco Franco. In 1960 the castle ceased to function as a prison, and it was made a military museum in 1963 - inaugurated by the same Franco who had used it as a house of execution. In April 2007 the castle was officially given over to the City Council of Barcelona to be used for civic and cultural purposes. To mark the occasion, 40,000 Barcelonese ‘invaded’ the castle and held a festival with concerts, theatrics and dancing to celebrate its municipal ownership by the people whom it once loomed over so darkly. Today, as well as a popular spot for is exceptional panoramic views of the city and the sea, it is an important centre for exploring the fascinating and tumultuous history of Catalonia.

A mountain of distinctionTibidabo stands 1500 feet above Barcelona and is one of the city’s most beloved landmarks. Anywhere in Barcelona you need only look up to see the monumental Sagrat Cor Church, the looping rides of the Tibidabo amusement park and the surprisingly stylish Torre de Collserola Communications Tower which occupy the summit; climb up, and there are spectacular views of the sprawling city below and the sparkling Mediterranean coastline. The Sagrat Cor (Church of the Sacred Heart) is a remarkably beautiful piece of 20th century neo-Gothic architecture, made all the more impressive by its imposing location. The first stone was laid in 1902 and the huge church we see today was completed in 1961. While the church itself looks like a medieval cathedral, the crypt on which it stands is a blend of classical Roman and Gothic design, and displays beautiful painted images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ outside as well as stunning mosaics and alabaster sculpture in its interior. Atop the church is a huge stone statue of Christ with outstretched arms, whose open gesture embraces the city below. Trains and planesAmazingly the amusement park actually predates the church, having first opened in 1889 - it is one of the oldest in the world. Many of the original rides are still operating, such as the Red Aeroplane which takes you flying over the city. Newer rides include the Muntanya Russ rollercoaster, which whirls around the top of the mountain, the Hall of Mirrors (Miramiralls), and a 4D cinema. The fame of the park earned it a scene in the film Vicky Cristina Barcelona with Scarlett Johansson and Penélope Cruz.Tibidabo is a charming destination, and well worth a journey: it is in fact relatively easy to access by public transport. To get there, take a train from Barcelona city centre to the Tramvia Blau station. In keeping with the quaint antiquity of the theme park, this electric tram, dating from 1901, brings visitors about halfway up the mountain, where you can pause at a café before taking a funicular cablecar the rest of the way to the summit.

Set on a triangular spit of land just south of Barcelona’s Parc de la Ciutadella, Barceloneta wasn’t always the golden-beached go-to city hotspot that it is today. For centuries after the city was founded, its beachfront was almost entirely ignored, except by the occasional day-trippers venturing out from the centre, and Miguel de Cervantes, who included the beach as the setting for Don Quixote’s fight against the Knight of the White Moon. In the late 1980s, suddenly faced with the prospect of hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics, the city council decided that it was time to shake things up. Beach LifeNow the former fishing district is alive with activity, and is the perfect place to unwind in the sun. There are seven kilometres of beaches in all, starting at the thriving, similarly-renovated Port Vell, and stretching all the way down past the Port Olímpic to the Fòrum. However, the first two kilometres belong to Barceloneta, and these are invariably the most lively at all times of day and night. Keeping it FreshBarceloneta is without doubt one of the finest areas in the city for fresh seafood. Eateries vary from plush five-course restaurants to tiny bistros serving the catch of the day. Can Solé has perhaps the most extensive fish menu in the city, and the food is exquisite, but it is a little on the pricey side, while at the other end of the scale Can Maño is a bustling tavern where you can see fresh fish coming through the door as yours is being prepared in the kitchen.

Waterfall-lined path in Montjuic

Barcelona 360° viewpoint, known to be the place where anti-aircraft guns were installed during the Spanish Civil War.