VISIT THE SPANISH GP BARCELONA, 8-11 MAY, 2020
YOUR GUIDE TO BARCELONA
As the traditional race to herald the start of the European season, the Spanish Grand Prix is one of the most popular events on the F1 calendar. In years past the grandstands were always packed full of fanatical Fernando Alonso fans, while today there are still a decent number of supporters cheering on local racer Carlos Sainz.
Located on the outskirts of the city at the Circuit de Barcelona-catalunya, next year’s race takes place in early May, when the Spanish weather is typically warm and sunny. Located on the Spanish coast between the Llobregat and Besos rivers, Barcelona is regarded as one of the world’s most cultural cities and is famous for holding many high-profile world heritage sights.
Possibly one of the most famous influences on Barcelona’s architecture and culture is from the artist Antoni Gaudi. The Sagrada Família and the Park Guell are without doubt two of the city’s top attractions. The sheer beauty and quirkiness of these buildings is truly breathtaking. Work on the Sagrada Família was started in 1883 when Gaudi was entrusted with the design of the temple (aged just 31). It is still being constructed today and is predicted to finally be completed in 2026, a century after Gaudi’s death.
Another highly recommended trip is to see the tree-lined mall called Las Ramblas. It flows through the city and connects the Plaça de Catalunya in the centre, with the Christopher Columbus Monument at Port Vell.
Barcelona is unlikely to disappoint when it comes to sunshine, being in a warm climate and located on the coast it offers around three miles of golden sandy beaches, which is certainly a must-see if you fancy a seaside afternoon. Barcelona has a very relaxed vibe, with locals getting up and staying up late it’s certainly a great destination to unwind while exploring the city’s crowning jewels. With an extensive public transport network, sightseeing is easy.
The city comes alive after dark, with many bars and restaurants offering fantastic cuisines to suit even the fussiest of eaters. If you head to the Gothic Quarter make sure you visit the Mingus Bar, named after the famous jazz legend. They also serve excellent tapas; we recommend trying the ensaladilla rusa. Another plus side is that they have great beer on tap.
For something a bit more rock ‘n’ roll, Psycho in El Poble-sec is a fantastic bar named after a song by The Sonics and even houses a room where you can dance the night away.
Some of the sights to see on any trip to Barcelona are the Sagrada Família (above, left) and Las Ramblas (above, right). Unusually for a city, Barcelona also has three miles of sandy beaches (below)
By Darren Heath
Price £23.95 artofpublishing.net
For the past five seasons veteran Formula 1 photographer Darren Heath has worked with a publishing company whose mantra is to allow the pictures to tell the story. Just released is Heath’s latest work which focuses on the 2018 Formula 1 season, as seen through the lens of his trusty Canon cameras.
This is a perfect hardback coffeetable book. Each of the 250 pages contains a picture from the season past, in chronological race order. Measuring 210mm x 200mm and printed on 140 gsm matt art paper, this is a book that encapsulates the beauty of Formula 1 – from wide-angled epic vistas to incredibly detailed close-ups.
For many years Darren Heath was F1 Racing’s principal photographer and the style of the imagery in Art of the Race mirrors the many ‘Parades’ of Heath’s that used to adorn the front of this magazine. If you like this book, then previous editions are still available to buy.