Eyewitness Travel Guide to Barcelona and Catalonia [Paperback]

Roger Williams (Author)

Book Description

Series: EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE | Publication Date: October 1, 1999

The guide that shows you what other travel books only tell you!

The enthusiasm for life in the northeastern region of Spain literally jumps off the pages of DK's Eyewitness Travel Guides: Barcelona & Catalonia with colorful street maps, cutaway diagrams of historic buildings, and over 500 full-color photographs. Barcelona, located halfway down Catalonia's coastline is one of the great Mediterranean cities, both saturated in the rich history of the region and boldly modern. Catalonia has an exceptional collection of medieval architecture from the 11th and 13th centuries and it is easy to see the influences of many different cultures. Easy-to-use color coding and clearly labeled photographs help guide you through nearly 2,000 churches. A special section highlights entertainment, sports, music, and recreation. If it's the beautiful palm-tree lined beaches or breathtaking views of the Pyrenees this comprehensive guidebook is designed specifically so you can't overlook any of the regions amazing sites.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...You feel, looking at them, as if you could close the book and step into the street. -- Contra Costa Times

...considered to be the world's best travel resource to over 30 destinations around the world, make it easier to plan a splendid vacation. -- North American Press Syndication

The best travel guides ever. -- Sky Magazine -Delta In flight Magazine

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: DK Travel; 1st American edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789446200
• ISBN-13: 978-0789446206
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,365,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Travel > Europe > Spain > Catalonia
  • #100 in Books > Travel > Europe > Spain > Barcelona

More About the Author

London-based journalist, editor and author, I am a perpetual tourist with a penchant for hotels called Bristol. See www.rogerwilliams.eu

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars not up to the usual D-K standard, February 14, 2001

By 

Philip Greenspun (Cambridge, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eyewitness Travel Guide to Barcelona and Catalonia (Paperback)

This guide is not up to the usual D-K standard. I like to take pictures for photo.net when I travel and it is very helpful to have the little sample photos of destinations so that one can decide whether or not to invest the time.

But D-K Barcelona is very skimpy on details and also on tourist attractions and facilities as soon as you venture out of the Old City.

For authoritative restaurant and hotel recommendations, go with Michelin Red. For architecture and art history, get the Blue Guide. For nightlife, try the TimeOut guide. Overall, people say that the Rough Guide is very good.

Whatever guidebook you choose, watch your belongings in Barcelona. Pickpocketing is an industry there, esp. in the Old City and on La Rambla. Women should not carry purses. Men should keep money in a money belt or zippered inner jacket pocket. Limit yourself to one camera that you can keep in your hands at all times.

46 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Photographs and Historical Synopsis, November 9, 1999

By 

Michael Elioff ([e-mail]) (massachusetts, usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eyewitness Travel Guide to Barcelona and Catalonia (Paperback)

The cover says it all: "The guide that shows you what others only tell you." Each page is illustrated with breathtaking shots of Churches, Mountains, Beaches, City streets, or great works of art. Another remarkable feature of this guide is the detailed history given to each town or monument or region listed. It's a little shy on maps, however, because although there are detailed guides of certain sections of the city of Barcelona showing buildings, streets, and recommended walking cultural iteneraries, there is no good map of the entire city on one leaf. It also leaves a bit to be desired in the "rest of catalonia" category. For example, only a short vignette is given for the fine Roman city of Taragonna. Overall, I'd recommend this guide to anyone planning to visit Barcelona.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for Barcelona, not so much for rest of Catalonia, June 20, 2000

By 

amazonmw - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eyewitness Travel Guide to Barcelona and Catalonia (Paperback)

This is a great book for any newcomer to the beautiful city of Barcelona. The images pull you in, and the background history on the Barcelona area is well done. My only gripe is that the "rest of Catalonia" section is quite small for all that's out there! If you're spending a few days in Barcelona, this is the book to buy. If you plan to spend most of your time in the surrounding region, or in the Balearic islands, I'd skip it.