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.Beautiful city of Barcelona, capital of Catalonia (a Spain’s province), is situated on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea and bordered at either end by 2 river deltas. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after its capital city Madrid. Barcelona has a population of 1.5 million, over 4 million including suburbs. The varied, eventful history of the city dates back 4,000 years to the first settlements by ancient farmers. Later it became a Roman colony, the Visigoth’s capital city, and then it came under Moorish rule. It went through sieges, destructions and occupations, finally to become an autonomous democracy 1975. The city has always played an important role in political and cultural life of Spain and it is well reflected in the variety and quality of historical buildings, museums, many other tourist attractions. Today Barcelona is one of the most diverse European cities with unique culture and rich traditions. You can find here a formidable balance of the traditional things and the avant-garde. A cosmopolitan metropolis, Barcelona affords visitors a warm and sincere welcome, being acknowledged worldwide as one of the best tourist-friendly cities in Europe. Barcelona’s organization of the 1992 Olympics provided regeneration of this dynamic city, gave a fresh start to its infrastructure development. WHAT TO SEE AND WHERE: POINTS OF INTEREST – La Ramble is a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard packed with buckers, living statues, mimes and itinerant salespeople selling everything from lottery tickets to jeweler. Pavement cafes and stands selling craftwork, street performers surrounded by curious onlookers, a noisy bird market, Palau de la Virreina, a grand 18th-century rococo mansion, the Gran Teeter del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera house- these are all colorful parts of La Rambla’s mosaic. La Rambla ends at the lofty Monument a Colom (Monument to Columbus) and the harbour. Barri Gotic – also known as Gothic Quarter, it is the old part of the city. Picasso lived and worked in Barri Gotic from 1895 to 1904 and Joan Miro was born and lived here during his youth. Gothic Quarter is situated on the right hand side of the La Rambla, it contains a concentration of medieval tall Gothic buildings (14-15th century) on narrow cobbled streets and now is home to much of the city’s nightlife. La Sagrada Familia – La Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous and magnificent among Barcelona’s landmarks. The life’s work of Barcelona’s famous architect, Antoni Gaudi, the magnificent spires of the unfinished cathedral imprint themselves boldly against the sky with swelling outlines inspired by the holy mountain Montserrat. Above each facade there are four towers, 12 in total, which are dedicated to the Apostles. The tower in the center, the tallest of all at 170 m., is dedicated to Jesus Christ. Around these there are the towers of the four Evangelists, and the tower over the apse is dedicated to the Virgin. They are encrusted with a tangle of sculptures that seem to breathe life into the stone. Gaudi died in 1926 before his masterwork was completed, and since then, controversy has continually dogged the building program. Nevertheless, the southwestern (Passion) facade, is almost done, and the nave, begun in 1978, is progressing. La Pedrera – Casa Mila (Mila House) is an apartment building, the last example of Gaudi’s civil architecture.It is one of his finest and most ambitious creations, extraordinarily innovative in its functional, constructive, and ornamental aspects. Visitors can tour the building and go up to the roof, where they can see spectacular views of Barcelona. One floor below the roof is a modest museum dedicated to Gaudi’s work. Montjuic – the largest open space in the city, its main attractions are the Olympic installations, the Spanish Village and the hilltop fortress. Montjuic, the hill overlooking the city centre from the southwest, is home to some fine art galleries, leisure attractions, soothing parks and the main group of 1992 Olympic sites. Montjuic is covered in ornamental gardens with water features and is the most popular destination in Barcelona on Sundays. Tibidabo – is the highest hill in the wooded range that forms the backdrop to Barcelona. It has amazing views of the whole of Barcelona, a stunning cathedral, and a family fun park Parc d’Atraccions with old-style rides offering breathtaking views. A glass lift at the park goes 115m (383 ft) up to a visitors’ observation area at Torre de Collserola telecommunications tower. Modernisme – spectacular modernista architectural creations dotted around the city by famous Antoni Gaudi and his contemporaries. Camp Nou – home of F.C. Barcelona, one of Europe’s leading soccer teams, with capacity of almost 100,000 spectators. The Seu Cathedral – Built in medieval times on the site of a Roman temple, La Seu is one of the great Gothic buildings in Spain. Parc de la Ciutadella – Barcelona’s favorite park and a Sunday afternoon rendezvous for families, friends and ducks The Sardana – traditional Catalan dance, performed outside the cathedral and at national festivals, with everyone encouraged to join in.

MUSEUMS – The Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art -the only museum in Europe devoted exclusively to Pre-Columbian cultures. Housed in a gothic palace, its collection is one of the finest of its kind and gives visitors an insight into the rich world of the earliest cultures on the American continent. This tiny museum contains one hundred pieces, including wood and stone sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, jade, often found in international exhibitions and prestige publications. The exhibits represented the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Chavin, Mochica and Inca civilisations. Palau de la Musica Catalana – one of the world’s most extraordinary music halls, it is a Barcelona landmark. From its polychrome ceramic ticket windows on the Carrer de Sant Pere Mes Alt side to its overhead busts of Palestrina, Bach, Beethoven, and Wagner, the Palau is the flagship of Barcelona’s Moderniste architecture. Museu Picasso – is Barcelona’s most visited museum. 3,500 exhibits make up the permanent collection. Picasso spent several years (1901-06) in Barcelona, and this collection, is particularly strong on his early work. Displays include childhood sketches, pictures from the beautiful Rose and Blue periods, and the famous 1950s Cubist variations on Velazquez’s Las Meninas (Ladies-in-Waiting). Gaudi Casa-Museu – Gaudi lived in this pink, Alice-in-Wonderland house from 1906 to 1926, which now houses a museum of Gaudi-designed furniture, decorations, drawings, and portraits and busts of the architect. Fundacio Miro – it was a gift from the famous artist Joan Miro to his native city. The museum opened in 1975, and now it is one of Barcelona’s most exciting showcases of contemporary art.

BEACHES – One of Barcelona’s greatest draws is undeniably its beautiful beaches. Beside world-famous Costa Brava and Costa Dorada which are within 1-hr drive time from Barcelona, there are also several nice beaches over 4 km long within the city boundaries, we will list just several of them here: Nova Icaria- Closest to the Olympic marina, always crowded, this wide swathe of rough golden sand is great for food goers. There are three perfect beach bars and two very popular restaurants on the promenade (Mango and Chiringuito de Moncho) and countless bars and restaurants are just a short stroll away. Bogatell- This beach is twice the length of adjoining Nova Icaria and fringed by a stretch of stone walkway perfect for jogging, roller blading and cycling. Three large informal restaurants on the promenade. Mar Bella (Metro Ciutadella Vila Olimpica, plus 20-minute walk)- Barcelona’s only naturist beach close to a peaceful park – good for a picnic or siesta under the trees. Barceloneta- wide and long, a traditional and popular stretch with locals, crowded, noisy and very jolly.

WHEN TO GO, WEATHER: The best times to visit Barcelona are late spring and early autumn, when the weather is still comfortably warm, around 21-25°C. Summers are usually hot and humid, with temperatures averaging +30 (+ 86 Fahrenheit). Especially avoid the “dead” month of August, when many shops, bars and restaurants close for the month as many local inhabitants head out of the city. Winters are cool with average daytime temperatures around +12 C (+59 Fahrenheit), occasionally rainy.

GETTING THERE AND AROUND: By a direct flight to Barcelona, or through Madrid or via another large European city from almost any major airports in the world. The highest fares are from May to September, the lowest in March-April, October-November and December to February (excluding Christmas and New Year when prices are hiked up). Note also that flying on weekends may increase your ticket cost. If traveling to Barcelona from within Europe you can also chose train, bus or car, though these take much longer than a plane and often work out no cheaper. Many Mediterranean cruises include Barcelona as a port of call.

ACCOMODATIONS: We can offer you a range of choices. You can choose vacation rentals in Barcelona starting from $ 125 USD for a double room in a 4-star apartment hotel. Or you can opt for hotels from $ 65 USD for a double room in a 3-star hotel. Accomodation prices do not change much throughout the year due to the steady all-season flow of visitors to this extremely popular tourist city and surrounding resorts.

DINING: Besides restaurants you can eat at bars where you would have a succession of tapas (small snacks- three or four chunks of fish, meat or vegetables, or salad, which traditionally used to be served up free with a drink) or raciones (larger ones). The bar option can be a lot more interesting, allowing you to do the rounds and sample local specialities. Generally, the average cost for a meal consisting of two dishes and dessert would come to about 25 Euros. Travellers on an extremely limited budget can do well for themselves by using the excellent markets, bakeries and delis and filling up on sandwiches and snacks. Decent restaurants and cafes are easily found all over the city, though you’ll probably do most of your eating where you do most of your sightseeing, in the old town, particularly around La Rambla and in the Barri Gotic. Look for the best and most authentic seafood restaurants in Barceloneta, a seaside neighbourhood. Gothic Quarter neighbourhood is home to some of the oldest and most traditional restaurants in the city. Gracia is a very popular area among young people during the weekend, it leads the way in terms of exotic restaurants (Lebanese, Egyptian, Thai etc.).

TRANSPORT: Barcelona has excellent transport system comprising the metro (subway), buses, trains and a network of funiculars and cable cars. You can find a link to transport maps at the end of our guide. On all the city’s public transport you can buy a single ticket every time you ride, but even over only a couple of days it’s cheaper to buy a targeta – a discount ticket strip. The T-10 targeta is valid for ten separate journeys on the metro, buses and trains. These tickets can be used by more than one person at a time. The metro is the quickest way of getting around Barcelona. For black-and-yellow taxis there is a minimum charge of $ 2 euro. You’ll obviously have a great deal more freedom if you rent a car . Major roads throughout the city are generally good, and traffic is generally well behaved, though Spain does have one of the highest incidences of traffic accidents in Europe. It also has some of the lowest fuel prices on the continent.

SHOPPING: Barcelona, one of the most stylish cities in Europe offers great shopping, from designer clothes and accessories to household items. You will find the city to be quite cheap for a lot of items, especially if you coincide with the annual sales ( rebaixes in Spanish) lasting from mid-January until the end of February, and throughout July and August. The best shopping areas in Barcelona are the old streets off the upper part of the Ramblas. Souvenirs include ceramics, which are widely sold in the streets around the cathedral; leather goods; city’s delicatessens, particularly cooked Catalan meats and sausages; a porron (the long-spouted glass drinking jar); CDs and tapes of Catalan rock and pop, sardana music, Spanish rock or flamenco. If you’re looking for original gift ideas, some of the best hunting can be found in the shops of any of the city’s museums, where you’ll find reasonably priced and unique examples of Catalan disseny (graphic), and other original items ranging from postcards to replica works of art. We wish you a nice and safe trip!

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Agra holidays would indicate spending some quality time in the shadow of the 17th century marvel that go by the name of the Taj Mahal. It is possibly the most excellent way to initiate your holidays in India. No issue in which corner of the world you are approaching from, so much is the magnetism and attractiveness of the Taj Mahal that it just mesmerizes you completely and makes your vacation an issue to remember all through your life. Taj Mahal Agra provides special trips to Agra.

A trip to Agra, the town of the Taj is one of the easiest things to chart out. As you touch the base in Delhi, the capital of India, you are practically very close to Agra. It will approximately take about half an hour to reach the destination Agra by air. You can arrive in Agra by road in more than two hours and by rail, it takes just about over an hour. Agra is well equipped to offer you excellent lodging.

Agra has an exciting and action packed past. Ruled by the Mughals for nearly three hundred years, Agra is a city full of art and architecture. The majority of the buildings that we see nowadays were constructed throughout the reign of Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan’s masterwork – Taj Mahal – constructed in the much loved remembrance of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, which over shadows  all other buildings.
The Taj Mahal looks eye-catching and enticing even when seen from a distance and  the moment you cross the red stone gate and go through the lawns, you discover the reason why Taj Mahal is among the supreme works of architecture across the world. It is remarkably beautiful when seen on full moon nights.

The Agra Fort is just about two kilometres from the Taj Mahal, is the subsequent attraction in Agra. The fort has countless buildings and was once a tiny city during the 16th century. Shah Jahan constructed the majority of the buildings within the fort. It was actually Shah Jahan who spent the last days of his life at this place gazing at the Taj Mahal.

The Agra vacation is deficient without groping through the markets of Agra. Agra is well-known for its handiwork and hand finished leather. You can also enterprise on Mughlai cuisine, a cooking contribution that the Mughals made to India.
Fatehpur Sikri close to Agra, provides the ideal retreat. Also recognized as the ghost town, Fathepur Sikri was a absolute town once, but is completely deserted now.

Author is an associate editor for Taj Mahal Agra. Get all possible information about Taj Mahal Tour and Taj Mahal India. We also provide information about online hotel reservation, Holiday Packages and Flights Booking in India.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/holidays-in-agra-1736072.html

The Trident Hotel in Agra, is situated amidst the lush green surroundings, spray, lovely central courtyards, is all made up of red stone which remind you of the Mughal era. The Hotel is magnificent and attracts numerous people.
Rooms and suites   
The Trident Hotel has 2 suites and 136 rooms which are placed amidst the Mughal style gardens, architecture and courtyards where the guests can enjoy their dinner and can get the feel of the Mughal way of dining.
The due attention is paid that food and beverages served to then guests is of good quality and the guests are promised a comfortable stay.
Note: The hotel also has the custom to arrange an elaborate dinner on Christams Eve (24th December) and on New Year eve (31st December). A compulsory extra amount of 3000 (plus tax) is charged by every person on these two days.
Meetings
Trident Hotel, is a venue for the business travelers also as there are 2 meeting rooms and a conference hall which can accommodate maximum of 80 guests. These rooms are well furnished with modern gadgets.
Facilities Offered:
There are numerous services which are offered by the hotel to its customers they include; Audio-visual equipment, Wired and Wireless Internet access, Meeting Rooms, Business centre, Facsimile, Photocopying Service, Car Rental, Currency Exchange, Car Park, Wheel chairs, Laundry & Valet Service, separate rooms for the differently challenged people, Doctor on call, availability of Babysitter and a Beauty Salon.
Recreational Activities 
The guests at Trident are provided with some recreational activities some of these activities are: gym facility to maintain the fitness, swimming pool, table tennis, jogging track, some sports, paddle Tennis, walking tour, playground, and sight-seeing tours. 
Trident has also made special provisions for the kids, there is a kids Club where the children can spend time and have fun. There is a personal dwelling for the children of different age groups. Cool Kids (8- 12 years of age) and Groovy Kids (4-7 years of age). The children here can have the best time and involve themselves in the various leisure activities. All the activities performed by the children is done under the guidance of Kids Club Manager, there are people to take due care of the children. There are no extra charges for the young guests who wish to be the part of Kids Club and enjoy with the children. There are also outdoor games for the kids where they can play cricket, badminton etc.

Author is an associate editor for Taj Mahal Agra. Get all possible information about Agra Tour, Tajmahal and Agra Hotels. We also provide information about online hotel reservation, Holiday Packages and Flights Booking in India.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/the-trident-agra-1661589.html

The Agra city in the state of Uttar Pradesh is the chief traveler destination. Agra is one of the most important cities which are known for its historic monuments and rich culture. The city stands on the bank of Yamuna River. Historically Agra has been very important as it was under the influence of Mughals for long time. There are many historical monuments in Agra which grab the attention of the travelers and most important being the Taj Mahal. There are several forts in Agra city which were constructed during the Mughal era. Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Fatepur Sikri are the well known edifices of the Agra city.
 
The tourists come to Agra from all the nooks and corners of the world, they can see the superb pieces of architecture and design which leave them awestruck. The accommodation facility in Agra is quiet good the tourist coming to Agra, don’t need to bother about it. Agra has many good hotels which one can choose according to the requirement and affordability. 
 
The hotels are well furnished and equipped with all modern facilities that the travel seekers look for. The rooms are designed to provide a comfortable stay for the guests; the soothing décor gives the feeling of happiness to the visitors. The hotel promises friendly atmosphere to the guests. The hotel staff is well trained and tries to cater to the needs of all the visitors. There are numerous facilities and services offered to the guests which can make their stay pleasurable and give them a lifetime memory. Some of the services offered to the guests are as follows:  24 hours room service, television with satellite connection, attach washroom with continuous supply of hot and cold water, telephone facility, travel desk facility etc for the comfort of the visitors.
 
There are many more amenities which are given to the guests when they will stay in the hotel, the visitors can enjoy the leisure time. There are many frivolous facilities, corporate facilities; dining services and other amenities which are given are doctor on call, travel desk and help desk, laundry service, due to the numerous services offered the tourists the tourists can have the most convenient stay without any inconvenience. The hotels at Agra are situated close to the business centers and some of the tourist destinations situated in the city. Due to the location of the hotels the commuting within the city becomes very easy.

Author is an associate editor for Taj Mahal Agra. Get all possible information about Agra Tour, Tajmahal and Agra Hotels. We also provide information about online hotel reservation, Holiday Packages and Flights Booking in India.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/tourist-destination-agra-1661594.html