Visit Vibrant Barcelona This Summer

LONDON, June 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The cosmopolitan city of Barcelona is an ever-popular choice for holidays and long weekend breaks. Its artistic and cultural heritage is impressive, giving lots of opportunity for gallery and museum visiting, as well as sightseeing across the beautiful city. Perfect for short city breaks, or as a base from which to explore the stunning Catalan region, Barcelona has something for everyone. With some fantastic deals on offer, book your flights to Barcelona from Monarch now, and take advantage of the warm and sunny Spanish weather.

There is so much to see and do in Barcelona - from sunbathing on the large city beach to sampling the fantastic food. For a colourful introduction to the city, head down Las Ramblas - Barcelona's famous street - which offers entertainment, restaurants and shops. Also dotted throughout the city are the beautiful and fairytale-like masterpieces of architect Antoni Gaudí. The Sagrada Familia is both breathtaking and bizarre by turns.

There's a good reason why stag parties and night owls from around the globe head to Barcelona in such numbers. There's an energy and creativity in the local nightlife that isn't found anywhere else. The locals really know how to party, and Barcelona is widely regarded as the best place in Spain to see live music. The city has more festivals than there are weeks of the year, and you're just as likely to stumble across a festival of rock documentaries, graffiti art, hip hop or cyber sculpture, as you are to see a traditional parade.

As well as its fair share of shopping centres, Barcelona offers plenty of unique alternatives to the ubiquitous city malls. The city remains known for its old specialist stores, many family-run for generations, and there's nowhere better to browse for just the right kind of pork sausage, or a handmade candle. Fashion is another strong selling point. Head to the Avinguda Diagonal for high fashion and couture, or trawl the El Raval district for an ever-changing line-up of local designers selling from hole-in-the-wall shops. If you're hungry after all that retail therapy, try a few pintxos - platters of bite-sized food served on bread. They're a Basque version of tapas and a popular culinary trend in Barcelona.

Monarch

Leading scheduled leisure airline, Monarch, provides low cost, high quality flights to over 50 destinations worldwide. Visit http://www.monarch.co.uk  now to book a flight to Barcelona from £37.

For more information contact Robert Foulkes at Robert.Foulkes@Monarch.co.uk, or on +44(0)1582-398122

SOURCE Monarch Airlines