Barcelona's classic Catalan National Art Museum

Now more than a century old, the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya is an impressive destination on many levels. First there's the 50,000 square meter (538,000 square feet) building, constructed for the International Exhibition of 1929, along with other structures on the Montjuic hill. The museum moved to this location in 1934.

The impressive building, with the Font Majica in the foreground.

The central dome is modeled on the one at Saint Peter's in Rome.

Here are some other photos of the interior

The art covers a wide range of times and styles, from Medieval Romanesque to Modern and photography, and of course some works by Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro, who each have their own museums in Barcelona. There's even a set of doors designed by Antoni Gaudi.

Architect Antoni Gaudi designed these doors, which don't seem to ever have been installed.

As impressive as the art and architecture are inside, stepping out onto the terraces offers spectacular panoramic views across the city. You are looking directly at Mount Tibidabo and can easily spot the spires of Sagrada Familia, among other landmarks.

Font Majica is directly below, then Placa Expanya. Come for the "dancing fountain" sound, water and light show.

The MNAC is included in Articket BCN, which also covers the Picasso and Miro museums and three others. Unlike in some other cities, this pass is good for 12 months, so you don't have to cram all your visits into a day or two to enjoy the 45% savings while you bypass the lines of daily ticket buyers.

This decorator-owned two bedroom apartment is conveniently located near Las Ramblas and not far from Montjuic. While this is a vibrant area, it is set to the the interior of the building for calm. It's priced very fairly and offers all the comfort and features you'd expect, all in a very attractive package.

See examples of other vacation rental apartments we can offer in Barcelona and in Paris at www.likelivingthere.com. Or, just send an email to info@likelivingthere.com with your dates, number of persons and any other details you'd like to share, and we'll respond promptly with suggestions.