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Les gegants
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Refugi 307
This one is for a rainy Sunday morning. Carved into the Montjuïc mountainside, this 400-metre network of tunnels offered shelter to the inhabitants of Poble Sec during the air raids of the Spanish Civil War. Public tours take place on Sundays with an hour-long English tour starting at 10.30am. Booking required.
Take shelter from the storm in the centre of town and come face-to-face with the famous gegants at the Casa dels Entremesos (Plaça de les Beates 2)—this is where they live when they’re not busy parading the streets. There are giants from every corner of the Ciutat Vella, and plenty of explanations to go with them.
3. Sweeten your day at the Museu de Xocolata
The rain is a good excuse for visiting museums that you often walk past but can’t quite find the time to visit. So why not pop into the Museu de Xocolata and admire chocolate sculptures of everything from Minnie Mouse to the Sagrada Familia. They also hold activities and cooking classes.
4. Bargain shopping and design in Les Glòries
Although the remodelling of this area isn’t finished yet, there’s plenty for a grey day. Find some second-hand bargains at Els Encants, the city’s main flea market, then cross the road to the bright and airy Museu del Disseny where, until May 22nd, you can catch a photography exhibition by Carlos Collado.
5. Behind the scenes at the Liceu
Even if you’re not an opera fan, the Gran Teatre del Liceu opera house is well worth a visit. Designed by architect Miquel Garriga i Roca and inaugurated in 1847, the Liceu was closed for five years after it was damaged by a fire in 1994. Take a 25-minute express tour for €6 which includes the vestibule, the auditorium, the Hall of Mirrors and the foyer.