Barcelona
The First Steps of Our Cruise Journey
Our selfie before boarding the Norwegian Breakaway. "Hey Hey Hey Breakaway"
Barcelona marked the beginning of our Mediterranean cruise—and my first cruise experience. Departing from the Barcelona cruise port, we would visit a new destination each day for 11 days before ending in Venice and flying home from Venice International Airport. Before embarkation, we spent two full days exploring Barcelona, discovering ancient Roman ruins tucked into the Gothic Quarter and layered into the city’s modern streets — part of what I explore more deeply in my post, Walking Ancient Rome in Barcelona.
We wandered through La Boqueria Market (Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria), Barcelona’s famous public market dating to 1853 with roots stretching back even further. We visited Nova Icaria Beach and dipped our toes into the Balearic Sea, part of the Mediterranean coastline that makes Barcelona such a dynamic seaside city. Standing before the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, Antoni Gaudí’s architectural masterpiece, was unforgettable—even without going inside.
On embarkation day, I rode the Metro de Barcelona to track down Roman ruins we had missed the day before. Then it was time to board our Mediterranean cruise ship from Barcelona—and I still found myself wondering how something that massive can even float.
Getting Around Barcelona: Buses, Metro, and Miles on Foot
Just like our 2024 adventures in Paris and London, we discovered that you truly don’t need a car in Barcelona. The city is wonderfully walkable, and when our feet needed a break, we hopped on the HOHO (Hop-On, Hop-Off) bus, riding the upper deck and jumping off wherever curiosity pulled us.
On our final day, I ventured out on the Metro de Barcelona to explore more of the Gothic Quarter and track down a few ancient Roman ruins we had missed the day before. There’s something fitting about descending underground in a modern city only to emerge among stones that have stood for nearly two thousand years.
Like any major European city, it’s wise to stay alert. Keep an eye on your belongings, be mindful in crowded stations, and watch for pickpockets and common scams—especially in busy transit hubs and tourist-heavy areas. A little awareness goes a long way toward keeping the adventure stress-free.
La Boqueria Market
La Boqueria Market
La Boqueria Market, officially known as Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, is one of Barcelona’s most famous and historic food markets. Located just off Las Ramblas, its origins date back to the 13th century, when vendors first began selling meat in the open air outside the city walls, and the current iron structure was completed in the early 1900s. Walking through the market today is a sensory overload of colors, sounds, and aromas. While the traditional butcher stalls reflect its deep culinary roots, that section can be overwhelming for some visitors. In contrast, the vendors selling sweets, fresh fruit, juices, and beautifully arranged cookies create a vibrant and inviting atmosphere. For many, those bright displays and handcrafted treats are the true highlight of a visit to La Boqueria.
La Boqueria Market Macaron
La Boqueria Market Nuts
La Boqueria Market Chocolate
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
Seeing the outside of the Basilica de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona is an unforgettable experience. Designed by visionary architect Antoni Gaudí, construction began in 1882 and continues today, making it one of the most unique and ambitious churches in the world. Gaudí devoted the final years of his life entirely to the project, blending Gothic and Art Nouveau forms with intricate symbolism inspired by nature and his deep Catholic faith. The soaring spires, detailed façades, and sculpted biblical scenes create a powerful and almost otherworldly presence. The basilica is hosted and overseen by the Fundació Junta Constructora del Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, which continues Gaudí’s original vision through ongoing construction funded largely by visitors. Even without stepping inside, standing before its elaborate exterior leaves a lasting impression of artistic genius and spiritual devotion.
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic)
Exploring Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter feels like stepping back in time, where narrow medieval streets open into historic plazas filled with character and charm.
At the heart of the district stands the magnificent Cathedral of Barcelona with its soaring Gothic façade and quiet cloister tucked behind stone walls. Nearby, Plaça Nova offers a striking contrast of old and new, where remnants of the ancient Roman city walls stand beside modern life. Wandering deeper into the quarter, Plaça del Rei reveals layers of history beneath your feet, including preserved Roman and medieval structures.
Among the most impressive remains is the Porta Praetoria, one of the original Roman gates that once marked an entrance to the city of Barcino. Walking in the early morning light and seeing the Pretorian Gates and aquaduects was an experience I will never forget.
Barcelona’s ancient Roman quarter, Barcino, shows the city’s ancient Roman History. Learn more history at the City Council's Official Website.
Placa del Rel
Placa Nova
Porta Praetoria. Beginning of the Decumanus Maximus in Barcelona.
Walking Along the Cardo Maximus in Ancient Barcino, Barcelona
The Cardo-Decumanus Series. Original AI-Generated iconography for gordoneaton.com
Walking through the historic center of Barcelona, I followed the line of the ancient Cardo Maximus as it leads toward Plaça de Sant Jaume, the heart of the old Roman city of Barcino. The narrow streets were packed with people, and when we arrived at the square it was even busier than expected — a protest was taking place, filling the plaza with voices, banners, and energy. Standing there, surrounded by modern civic life, it was striking to realize that this same crossroads has served as the center of the city since Roman times. Beneath the movement of today’s crowds lies the ancient grid of Barcino, where the Cardo Maximus once met the Decumanus Maximus at the Roman forum, a meeting point that has shaped Barcelona’s civic center for nearly two thousand years.
Roman Street Grid
Ancient City: Barcino
Cardo Maximus: Carrer de la Llibreteria axis
Decumanus Maximus: Carrer del Bisbe / Carrer de la Ciutat axis
Status: Traced through modern streets
Mapped on: Cardo Maximus Map
Departing Barcelona by sea, with Palma de Mallorca on the horizon.
With Barcelona’s Roman streets beneath our feet and Gaudí’s skyline behind us, we finally stepped aboard and watched the city fade into the horizon. The Mediterranean stretched out ahead, calm and promising.
Before we sailed on, here’s what ancient Barcino left us to explore:
- Cardo Maximus – the original north–south Roman road that still shapes the heart of the Gothic Quarter.
- Decumanus – the east–west axis that intersected the Cardo and formed the backbone of the Roman grid.
- Praetorian Gates of Roman Barcelona– monumental entry points that once marked the fortified access to the colony of Barcino.
- Roman Aqueduct Remains – fragments of the engineering system that brought fresh water into the city nearly 2,000 years ago.
- Roman Walls – 3rd-century fortifications, some still standing, that once defended this strategic Mediterranean outpost.
As we turned toward Palma de Mallorca, I found myself wondering — would we find another Roman thread waiting to be uncovered on our first island stop?