Barcelona, Spain

Introducing Barcelona

With a rich artistic legacy and a cutting edge verve, Barcelona is Spain’s undisputed capital of cool. The imprint of Gaudí, Picasso, Miró, and Jujol is everywhere, from the soaring spires of the Sagrada Família to the whimsical grottos of Parc Güell, and Els Quatre Gats—the artist hangout where Picasso and his peers planted the seeds of modernism.

One of the world’s most iconic promenades, La Rambla is where Barcelona puts on her show. Stretching south from Plaça Catalunya—the de facto city center where the old and new city, or Eixample, meet— musicians, mime artists, magicians, and break dancers perform among pavement cafés and Art Nouveau kiosks selling newspapers, caged birds, fluffy bunnies, and tacky souvenirs. At its midpoint, the Boqueria (one of Europe’s oldest markets) features row after row of eye popping fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, bread, and olives. Along the labyrinthine streets of the remarkably preserved Barri Gòtic, tapas bars and art galleries stand cheek by jowl with ancient apothecaries and hip boutiques. El Born, where the city’s medieval artisans flaunted their wares is now the stomping ground of the city’s fashionistas. Art pilgrims converge upon the Picasso Museum which focuses on the artist’s formative years and his complicated relationship with Barcelona.

Dipping its toes into the Mediterranean and with its back to the lofty peaks of the Pyrenees, Barcelona’s natural beauty is renowned. Less than 30 miles from the city, the achingly beautiful Montserrat mountain range, crowned by the Santa Maria de Montserrat Benedictine abbey, is associated in the minds of many Catalans with the mythical Holy Grail. It’s easy to see why. The otherworldly terrain of serrated mountains sculpted with pink-hued rocks and troglodyte caves affords spectacular hiking opportunities and jaw dropping views. The brown sand beaches of Barceloneta, just south of the Barri Gòtic, are all about action rather than relaxation. Locals and tourists play volleyball or soccer in the sand, take dips in the chilly Mediterranean, or cycle along the sculpture-lined promenade. Then, the world stops around 2pm for a tantalizing lunch of fresh fish or paella washed down with an ice cold Estrella beer.

Airports within a 25-mile radius of Barcelona:

• Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN, 8 miles southwest of the city center)
  • Girona Airport (GR, 47 miles from the city)

Popular aircraft charters* in the Barcelona region include:

• Citation Excel (super light)
• Learjet 45 XR (super light)
• Citation CJ3 (light)
• Learjet 31ER 400A (light)
• Learjet 60 XR (midsize)
• Citation III (midsize)
• Gulfstream G200 (super midsize)
• Citation Sovereign (super midsize)

*This is just a sample. Zephyr provides access to aircraft at every end of the spectrum, from luxurious VIP airliners, to ultra long range business jet, helicopters, and economical turboprops.