If in the past we already got to know Barcelona in a classic way, we will be surprised by the different perspective offered by discovering the city with your own transport. It opens up a completely different perspective of the city and its inhabitants. This time we got to know Barcelona behind the wheel of the new smart fortwo and forfour, which are born for modern urban city adventures, and discovered a completely new face of Barcelona and its magical immediate surroundings.
A "smart" city with smart
The concept of modern fly & drive urban adventures has been growing rapidly in recent years, as in addition to discovering the city, it also offers a direct experience of it through the perspective of a city dweller. In principle, annoying traffic jams become an opportunity to look around and notice details that would otherwise go unnoticed. One such, very special experience is driving around the most famous of the famous - Sagrada Familie, from where we can watch the crowds through the car window. Circling around this world landmark soon becomes an endless circling. It is not only its colorfulness that surprises, but also the magnetic character of this architectural marvel, which attracts hordes of tourists at any time of the year. We can be found just a five-minute drive away Park Güell, a monument to "deflected" architecture, which unsuspectedly merged with art and nature right here. Of course, we can drive to the famous market in the city center - Mercat Santa Caterina, where we will get to know some indigenous people in the most authentic atmosphere culinary specialties of Catalonia. It starts just a few meters away old town "El Born", which ends on the hillside with the most famous promenade of the Mediterranean La Rambla. When we want sun and Mediterranean leisure, after just a few minutes' drive we will enjoy the famous beaches of the Catalan capital nearby Parc del Port Olimpic. Spain's second largest city has lived up to its reputation as an open and trendy city for decades. And right by the coast, its special character can be felt in one of the multitude of bars and restaurants. We will certainly enjoy watching the locals gather at typically large Spanish tables with an even larger tray of traditional paella. At the end of the year, when winter coats already rule in our climate zone, we will, with a bit of luck, be lounging in the warm afternoon sun in Barcelona even in short sleeves. Unforgettable!
Smart and urban mobility
Smart is at home in the city and we are not surprised that the Germans chose Barcelona for the presentation of the new model. Namely, back in 1998, the first generation of this car was presented here, which conceptually and characterically embodied what this city represents. Barcelona ranks among the ten cities where urban mobility is best developed. And smart felt extremely at home on the streets of Barcelona. All thanks to the concept, which is written on the skin of such cities. In the city, it attracted the attention of the Spaniards, who immediately took the new smart as their own, as passers-by gave it an enviable amount of curious glances.
Magical day trips to the surrounding area
If Barcelona impresses with its mobility, it certainly more than impresses as an excellent starting point for discovering magical Catalonia. In fact, it offers urban travelers a multitude of excursion spots within a one-hour drive, which fascinate one by one with their uniqueness and natural beauty. There are some of them that we definitely have to put on the "necessary" list of those that are worth visiting. We set off with a smart forfour, which felt great on the romantic, winding roads of the suburbs and offered us a great tool for discovering new things. Driving with a panoramic roof revealed views in all directions and thus made it possible to experience nature in a different way.
Montserrat - natural beauty and heritage
Just a good hour's drive from the city center, a good 63 kilometers north of Barcelona, it lies the Benedictine monastery of Montserrat, which is surrounded by magical mountain massifs that seem like something from a fairy tale. Definitely one of those spots for all of us who are passionate about history and cultural monuments. We will be able to take a gondola ride to the monastery, which has been in operation since 1930. This destination is also great for short hikes in the surrounding hills, which provide spectacular vantage points for observing the landscape. For all those who love culture, a visit to the basilica is a must, where every day from 1 p.m. you can listen to one of the most famous church choirs - the Monteserra Boys' Choir. He has already recorded more than a hundred albums, and his fame is worldwide.
Sitges - Mediterranean romance
Basically the old fishing town of Sitges, only 35 kilometers from Barcelona, is surrounded by as many as eleven sandy beaches and several smaller towns that offer a whole range of possibilities for nautical activities. The drive from Barcelona to Sitges takes place along one of the most romantic roads, along which various views of the extraordinary coastal landscape open up. Sitges is particularly famous for its nightlife and the many festivals that take place throughout the year. Here is also home to one of the best Mediterranean cuisines, where the local stands out a typical Xato dish, definitely worthy of our culinary attention. It is a particularly interesting urban outpost Fosbury Cafe in the immediate vicinity of Sitges in a small town Castelldefels. Here they will offer us excellent cuisine, which is combined with modern tastes and preparation techniques in their own way.
READ MORE: New Smart fortwo & forfour
Montseny – a fairytale nature reserve
UNESCO-protected Montseny is located just over 40 kilometers northeast of Barcelona and offers an urban escape into the magical Catalan forests, surrounded by mountain massifs with peaks over 1,700 meters high. The specific location of this nature reserve allows us to find flora and fauna that are typical only for this area and represent an incredible mix of Mediterranean and continental climates. The park also offers the possibility of staying the night with a number of small hotels and organized campsites. In the center is the cuisine again in the multitude of mountain outposts, where we will be offered typical local dishes.
In the company of an urban legend...
... we will never be bored. New smart proved to be not only an excellent city vehicle, but also a car that impresses with its multifaceted functionality. While the smaller, three-door, smart fortwo as tailor-made for the urban nomad, smart forfour with an additional pair of doors, it adds functionality without losing its charm. It proved itself both in the city where it is at home and on the dynamic Catalan roads. It must be admitted that it is different, which is probably its main asset, with which it will convince younger and urban buyers. Above all, those who want to stand out and are eager for seductive looks when they go on new adventures.
Infomat:
www.barcelona.com, www.fosburycafe.es, www.montserratvisita.com, www.montseny.cat, www.smart.com
