Barcelona Vs Madrid!

[barca]

The choice is easy - BARCELONA!

I think there's a debate brewing - could bring out the regionalist tendencies in us all.

I'll throw the first punch (metaphorical NOT real, I love Madrid too!!)

Barcelona is by the sea....Over to you.

[Marbella]

Barcelona is by the sea....

But Madrid is the best port in Spain!

[Ben]

In Madrid you only have to learn one language!

[barca]

Barcelona/Catalunya has Picasso, Miro, Dali and Gaudi - what a strike force (or is it a solid back four?!)

Madrid has Thyssen-Bornemisza, good on the counter attack but not a sharpshooter - more of a supersub!

[Valenciano]

Im nether, my loyalties lie with Valencia. (Im a regionalist)
Besides its a more quiet place to relax in and has one of the best beaches in Spain.

[Brian]

I'll take them all, thank you.

[Ben]

I'll take them all, thank you.
No sitting on the fence, venga, ¡Mojate!

[parubin]

If Barcelona has Dalí and Picasso, Madrid has Velázquez and Goya.

Among them two cities Madrid comes first, as it is more open, welcoming and charming.

Madrid is everybody's town (in fact I see Madrid as a little country "pueblo" where everyone feels at home) while in Barcelona it is more difficult not to feel an outsider.

Anyway both are great cities, although I'd say not the best two ones in Spain. I'd much prefer the likes of Vigo, Bilbao, Santander, Valencia, Málaga, Sevilla, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to name a few.

[Brian]

No sitting on the fence, venga, ¡Mojate!

Valencia. ;)

[Ben]

Barcelona/Catalunya has Picasso, Miro, Dali and Gaudi - what a strike force (or is it a solid back four?!)

Madrid has Thyssen-Bornemisza, good on the counter attack but not a sharpshooter - more of a supersub!

That reminds me, Madrid has a better football (soccer!) team, just wait and see ;)

[chicarcas]

I can't say which one of the two cities is better. Both are great cities, but in Madrid I feel like home, and Barcelona is a great place to visit although I have the feeling that when I'm in BCN I feel like I'm not in Spain 'cause of the language (Catalán). All in all Barça rules !!!

"Tot el camp és un clam.
Som la gent blaugrana,
tant se val d'on venim,
si del sud o del nord.
Però ara estem d'acord,
estem d'acord,
una bandera ens agermana.

Blaugrana al vent,
un crit valent,
tenim un nom, el sap tothom:
Barça, Barça, Barça!

Jugadors, seguidors,
tots units fem força.
Són molts anys plens d'afanys,
són molts gols que hem cridat,
i s'ha demostrat,
s'ha demostrat,
que mai ningú no ens podrà tòrcer.

Blaugrana al vent,
un crit valent,
tenim un nom, el sap tothom:
Barça, Barça, Barça!"

By the way, that was Barça's team anthem :p

[celia s]

Madrid is more spacious;has more plazas,fountains and bars.
The architecture may be more formal but it is older and more colourful generally.
Madrid is full of Spanish people and not tourists.
Madrid is also the greenest capital in Europe.
Some of the most famous paintings in the world are here.
Unfortunately,Barca has a better football team! (sorry Ben)
Madrid may not have a beach but it has beautiful parks.
The Plaza Mayor can count itself as being one of the most impressive squares in Europe.
Madrid has the oldest restaurant in the world.
Madrid has more flamenco and live music.
Ben and Marina live there!
Madrid has more food markets.
Madrid is a mixture of old and modern.
David Beckham lives there!(although,maybe not for much longer).
Madrid has more financial status.
Madrid is the hotest capital in Europe.(I think that is a good thing!)

[Ben]

Madrid is also the greenest capital in Europe.
Are you sure?!!


Unfortunately,Barca has a better football team! (sorry Ben)

You may be right... they have just gone up in my estimation (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/09/13/barca_take_the_moral_high_road.html) too:

For the first time in our more than 107 years of history, our main soccer team will wear an emblem on the front of its shirt," said Laporta at a Unicef executive committee meeting (http://www.fcbarcelona.com/eng/noticias/noticias/n06090708.shtml). "It will not be the brand name of a corporation. It will not be a commercial to promote some kind of business. It will be the logo of 'Unicef'.

[catavino]

There is nothing green about Madrid! Nor are there older buildings!

I loved madrid, for the free tapas, and Padel in the park with Ben.

Moving on, Barcelona doesn't make my throat and nose burn from it's dry, polluted air. Also it has Roman remains, beaches, and mountains(I do miss the mountains of Madrid,, great hiking), better soccer! ;) Oh better, much bettter, food culture(la boqueria!), and some of the best bread I've had anywhere in Spain.

In the end I gues I would have to be diplomatic and point out they have very little in common, and it's case of "better for me or better for you". For me Barcelona hands down is friendlier, tastier, and healthier(more biking)!

on the other hand I do miss the free tapas!

[Marbella]

I'm sure I have read, disbelievingly, that Madrid has more green space than any other European capital city. Maybe it's true but I also read that Madrid is the most polluted.

I like both cities. If I had to live in one then I'd definitely pick Madrid but like catavino says they are quite different places so a comparison might be invalid. Being by the sea is a big plus for Barcelona.

[barca]

This debate is great - but let's not all fall out about it!! We know Madrid and Barcelona are great cities, we all have allegiances based on our personal experiences. Visca Barcelona! Viva Madrid!

[ValenciaSon]

If Barcelona has Dalí and Picasso, Madrid has Velázquez and Goya.

Among them two cities Madrid comes first, as it is more open, welcoming and charming.

Madrid is everybody's town (in fact I see Madrid as a little country "pueblo" where everyone feels at home) while in Barcelona it is more difficult not to feel an outsider.

Anyway both are great cities, although I'd say not the best two ones in Spain. I'd much prefer the likes of Vigo, Bilbao, Santander, Valencia, Málaga, Sevilla, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to name a few.







Valencia has Sorrolla

[Ben]

Personally, there are times when I wouldn't mind living in either San Sebastian or Granada :)

[parubin]

Valencia has Sorrolla


True, but the biggest Sorrolla collection of works by the valencian impresionist master is still in Madrid, where he has is own museum [http://museosorolla.mcu.es/]

It is also true that the most recognizable paint by Picasso (very often linked with Barcelona, although it would be more accurate to point out the Picasso Museum in his hometown of Málaga) is the Guernica, permanently shown in the Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid.

http://www.20minutos.es/data/img/2006/09/11/508113.jpg

[Brian]

True, but the biggest Sorrolla collection of works by the valencian impresionist master is still in Madrid, where he has is own museum [http://museosorolla.mcu.es/]


That may be true, but the master of painting beach scenes is still Valenciano! How in the world could he have been able to paint even the reflections?

This Sorolla is from the Orsay, which we visited last December:

167

[ValenciaSon]

Valencia also has the artistry of Lladro.

[Alan]

I think there are enough Valencia fans here to include it in the argument, what do you think? ;) I have to stick up for Valencia...

[Ben]

Absolutely, let's add Valencia to the debate!

[gary]

On balance Barça has it for me at this moment in time, I have only visited Madrid on a couple of occasions but I did miss the sea.

[Brian]

On balance Barça has it for me at this moment in time, I have only visited Madrid on a couple of occasions but I did miss the sea.

True; Still, Valencia has some beautiful coastline and beaches that are still not completely given over to tourists.

Don't forget that Valencia has the Americas Cup!

Have I mentioned that the cost of living in Valencia is much lower than Barsa or Madrid?

[ValenciaSon]

The newest 5-star hotel (http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=VLCHIHI)in Europe opened up in Valencia. This is where I'll probably be staying when I visit in '08. Not because I'm loaded but because I earn lots of reward points from my current job.

[misternhio]

Madrid seems great. Barcelona IS great. but i heard it will be very hard to practice spanish in Barcelona, due to catalán.:mad:

I'm studying spanish right now and this summer I want to go to Spain to practice my spanish. So, should I go to Madrid? I'd really love to live by the beaches but my goal IS to become better in spanish and I can only stay for one month so I'd really like to get the most out of it!:cool:

Also, the speak very clear spanish in Madrid I read on many websites, but should I worry about the heat in Madrid during summer?!:eek:

Thanks in advance for all answers!

[gary]

Madrid seems great. Barcelona IS great. but i heard it will be very hard to practice spanish in Barcelona, due to catalán.[/quote]

Theres plenty of spanish spoken in BCN - I do a fortnight in the summer each year

Also, the speak very clear spanish in Madrid :eek:


I find the MAD accent very clear and easy to understand.

Why not book in to a language school in each for a fortnight? The accommodation costs are much lower than booking yourself. Most schools run a fortnight from Sunday to a week on Saturday

Arrive Sun MAD - do fortnight language school
Fly to BCN
Do fortnight language school

- for me if I were doing this I would deffinitely finish at the coast then if its all too much you can play hookey at the beach...

Recommend standard sessions in a lang school which run from 0900 - 1300 leaving the pm free - I found intensive a bit waring once I factored in intercambios... they are a must and such a buzz - speaking to a native speaker that isnt a teacher is really great

[geo555]

Hello,
I was in madrid last year for 3 days in august. It was very hot during the day. During the night, it was cooler and I had no problem sleeping without air condition. I also visited the south, malaga, sevilla, granada and it was very hot there too. However I do believe that cities by the sea are a bit cooler. Somebody enlighten us about barcelona. Is it cooler than madrid?
I am also thinking of going to a school in barcelona.

Madrid seems great. Barcelona IS great. but i heard it will be very hard to practice spanish in Barcelona, due to catalán.:mad:

I'm studying spanish right now and this summer I want to go to Spain to practice my spanish. So, should I go to Madrid? I'd really love to live by the beaches but my goal IS to become better in spanish and I can only stay for one month so I'd really like to get the most out of it!:cool:

Also, the speak very clear spanish in Madrid I read on many websites, but should I worry about the heat in Madrid during summer?!:eek:

Thanks in advance for all answers!

[gary]

Hello,
I was in madrid last year for 3 days in august. It was very hot during the day. During the night, it was cooler and I had no problem sleeping without air condition. I also visited the south, malaga, sevilla, granada and it was very hot there too. However I do believe that cities by the sea are a bit cooler. Somebody enlighten us about barcelona. Is it cooler than madrid?
I am also thinking of going to a school in barcelona.

Yes BCN is cooler than MAD i terms of temperature - weather is best in May June and July in BCN at the end of August it begins to be less reliable...

Nothing to choose between them

If i won the lottery just enough to have one nice place in one or the other it would probably be BCN because it ts by the sea...

[MrMark]

My personal preference would be for Madrid (although Gary's two-centre option may be a good compromise). You'll get more chance to practise your Spanish - yes bar-owners/shop-owners will understand you in Barcelona, but you only need one to cold shoulder you because you're speaking Castellano to really knock your confidence. Plus, if your language school doesn't provide accommodation it's probably easier (and cheaper) to get somewhere in Madrid (try somewhere like http://www.madridrooms.co.uk/ ). As for the climate, it's a dry heat in Madrid and it generally cools down a lot at night, which means you'll be able to sleep at night. The humidity on the coastline can be a real killer in the summer.
Lastly, I'm sure that in future you'll head for Barcelona anyway. For that reason alone you should try somewhere else. If Madrid really puts you off, can I suggest Granada (a fantastic location) ? Or even Valencia - well it's a great city, but signs, newspapers, radio etc have the unfortunate habit of being in the local language Valenciano.

[Exocet]

Madrid seems great. Barcelona IS great. but i heard it will be very hard to practice spanish in Barcelona, due to catalán.

Theres plenty of spanish spoken in BCN - I do a fortnight in the summer each year



I find the MAD accent very clear and easy to understand.

Why not book in to a language school in each for a fortnight? The accommodation costs are much lower than booking yourself. Most schools run a fortnight from Sunday to a week on Saturday

Arrive Sun MAD - do fortnight language school
Fly to BCN
Do fortnight language school

- for me if I were doing this I would deffinitely finish at the coast then if its all too much you can play hookey at the beach...

Recommend standard sessions in a lang school which run from 0900 - 1300 leaving the pm free - I found intensive a bit waring once I factored in intercambios... they are a must and such a buzz - speaking to a native speaker that isnt a teacher is really great[/quote]


They are two different cities, and in Barcelona the heat is more worse than in Madrid because it is very humid. Also, Madrid has more monuments and has the best water in all Europe.

[El Salto]

Vilarreal :cool:

[gary]

They are two different cities, and in Barcelona the heat is more worse than in Madrid because it is very humid. Also, Madrid has more monuments and has the best water in all Europe.

It was 39 degrees in MAD yesterday and prety humid before the storm, it rarely gets that hot in BCN.

The water thing is true BCN tapwater can be a little like drinking swimming pool water at times.

(PS - the water we get in this part of Yorkshire is a match for Mardid but the menu del dia isnt a patch on yours!!!:):))

[Carmen1916]

Barcelona :cool:

[Amigo de España]

I vote for MADRID :p

[MCP]

MrMark:

"Valencia - well it's a great city, but signs, newspapers, radio etc have the unfortunate habit of being in the local language Valenciano."

What's unfortunate about this? They have the right to use whatever language they want, surely? Besides which the main local newspapers, Levante and Las Provincias, left and right leaning respectively, are both predominantly in Spanish. Most signs are bilingual and streets tend to have their names in both languages, so there's no problem in any case, is there?

[MrMark]

MrMark:

"Valencia - well it's a great city, but signs, newspapers, radio etc have the unfortunate habit of being in the local language Valenciano."

What's unfortunate about this? They have the right to use whatever language they want, surely? Besides which the main local newspapers, Levante and Las Provincias, left and right leaning respectively, are both predominantly in Spanish. Most signs are bilingual and streets tend to have their names in both languages, so there's no problem in any case, is there?

Sigh :rolleyes: I wrote "unfortunate" in the sense that if you're learning Spanish it's obviously going to be harder if you don't have as much exposure to the language. No-one here (that I'm aware of) is saying people don't have the right to use whatever language they want.
As for street signs, this can be academic if the Castellano part has been sprayed out by language zealots (or even no longer displayed, which seemed to be quite common).

[MCP]

OK, understood, no offence meant.

[adeherrpal]

Barcelona/Catalunya has Picasso, Miro, Dali and Gaudi - what a strike force (or is it a solid back four?!)

Madrid has Thyssen-Bornemisza, good on the counter attack but not a sharpshooter - more of a supersub!

Madrid has one of the best museums in Europe the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza one of the best art collection of Europe and the Reina Sofia museum one of the best modern art museums in Europe, The Royal palace of Madrid one of the most imppresive palace in Europe, the archelogical museum, the Meso-American museums, el Escorial, Aranjuez, el Pardo, it is very close to Toledo or Segovia. In art there is no comparison.

[WesleyHH]

Freddie Mercury admiraba la ciudad maravillosa cantando "Barcelona" :)

[Legazpi]

Quote:
Originally Posted by barca http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8016#post8016)
Barcelona/Catalunya has Picasso, Miro, Dali and Gaudi - what a strike force (or is it a solid back four?!)

Madrid has Thyssen-Bornemisza, good on the counter attack but not a sharpshooter - more of a supersub!

Madrid has one of the best museums in Europe the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza one of the best art collection of Europe and the Reina Sofia museum one of the best modern art museums in Europe, The Royal palace of Madrid one of the most imppresive palace in Europe, the archelogical museum, the Meso-American museums, el Escorial, Aranjuez, el Pardo, it is very close to Toledo or Segovia. In art there is no comparison.

Yup. When it comes to art (and culture in general) then Madrid wins hands down. I think Barcelona has more interesting architecture though.

[gary]

I spend a couple of weeks (or more if i can) a year in each of these cities. I have beeb doinf this for several years. I STILL couldn't choose one over the other if you asked me, so dont ask me!!

[Pippa]

Madrid. Better culture (museums, theatres, concerts), people more friendly.

But too hot to live and WORK there.

[MrMark]

Madrid. Better culture (museums, theatres, concerts), people more friendly.

But too hot to live and WORK there.

Too hot???? The normal complaint is that central Spain (including Madrid) is cold half of the year.

[yunouguaramin]

I’m planning, like most of my friends have done yet or they are planning to do, leave Barcelona and go to living to some village or small city more or least near Barcelona, cause I work there.

Since some time ago Barcelona is such a unfriendly place to live… and sure this will be worst and worst.

Yes, ‘native’ people are fleeing from Barcelona too.:'(
They (who have fled yet) always say ’ojalá lo hubiera hecho antes’.

[Legazpi]

I don't find Madrid too hot to work in because everywhere has air conditioning. In summer, by the time I leave work, the worst of the day's heat has gone and there's still usually a pleasant evening still to be enjoyed. If it's a hot summer then the nights can be too hot sometimes, but it's bearable and usually only lasts a few weeks.

January to March can be cold, but altogether we're talking about 3 months when it's too cold and maybe 1 month when it's too hot. That leaves at least 8 months of the year when the weather is either fine or fantastic and, to top it all, you actually get seasons in Madrid. My only slight complaint is that it doesn't rain enough in Madrid.

[adeherrpal]

Quote:
Originally Posted by barca http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8016#post8016)
Barcelona/Catalunya has Picasso, Miro, Dali and Gaudi - what a strike force (or is it a solid back four?!)

Madrid has Thyssen-Bornemisza, good on the counter attack but not a sharpshooter - more of a supersub!



Yup. When it comes to art (and culture in general) then Madrid wins hands down. I think Barcelona has more interesting architecture though.

Except modernism Barcelona has nothing expecial about arquitecture.

[adeherrpal]

The climate in Madrid is the following one :

From middle of November to middle of March is cold.
From middle of March to the end of May and from October to the middle of November is very pleasant.
From June to September is very hot.

The climate in Barcelona is the following one :

From January to middle of March is a little bit cold but not very much.
From middle of March to the end of May and from October to the middle of December is very pleasant.
From June to September is very hot and very humid which makes the hot even more unbearable

the rains are very few like in the rest of Spain except the Atlantic coast of the north.

I think the climate in Barcelona is better than Madrid's because in summer both places are hot but at least the winter in barcelona is very mild compare to Madrid's

[Legazpi]

Except modernism Barcelona has nothing expecial about arquitecture.

I get confused by what people mean by modernism. I hear Gaudi's architecture (which I think is interesting) being described as "modernismo", but to me modernism means those plain ugly blocks of flats built in the 50s and 60s. The two styles are complete opposites, but they share (almost) the same name.

As well as Gaudi though, Barcelona also has a bit of gothic architecture as well as the usual baroque. In Madrid you get more/better examples of baroque, which is a style I like, but not much else.

[richardksa]

My only slight complaint is that it doesn't rain enough in Madrid.
So, today's weather is your fault. Now, stop complaining!!!;)

[Legazpi]

So, today's weather is your fault. Now, stop complaining!!!;)
;D;D;D

Yup, it was actually raining as I wrote it. I think you need the odd rainy day to make the ordinary days seem brighter!

[Pippa]

Too hot???? The normal complaint is that central Spain (including Madrid) is cold half of the year.
I can deal with the cold, but when is too hot I am very tired and don't feel like doing anything, least of all work. That's why I have gone to live in the mountains. San Lorenzo is 1025m high above sea level.

[richardksa]

I love the heat. Madrid in summer is just right for me. It's winter where I want to hide myself away in front of a fire.

[Pippa]

I get confused by what people mean by modernism. I hear Gaudi's architecture (which I think is interesting) being described as "modernismo", but to me modernism means those plain ugly blocks of flats built in the 50s and 60s. The two styles are complete opposites, but they share (almost) the same name.


Modernism is the arquitectural style from the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th. In Madrid there are some buildings, the most famous one is the Palacio de Longoria, unfortunately now owned by the SGAE, but well worth seeing (Calle Fernando VI). There are others, one in la plaza de Matute, in Huertas.

The "style" of the 50's and 60's is called funcionalismo or realismo - not sure if it is the same in English - (or basically I have not got any money to build houses:rolleyes:)

I lived for many years in a flat in a 1960's building, ugly on the outside, but the best house I have ever lived in, plenty of space, good views, some green space around the building and very well situated in town. Could not afford that now.

[adeherrpal]

I get confused by what people mean by modernism. I hear Gaudi's architecture (which I think is interesting) being described as "modernismo", but to me modernism means those plain ugly blocks of flats built in the 50s and 60s. The two styles are complete opposites, but they share (almost) the same name.

As well as Gaudi though, Barcelona also has a bit of gothic architecture as well as the usual baroque. In Madrid you get more/better examples of baroque, which is a style I like, but not much else.

Barcelona has an interesting medieval quarter with a very interesting cathedral, although the facade is neo-gothic, and baroque it hasn't much example of this arquitecture, almost all the historic city is eclectic, neo-classical, neo-baroque, ... from the XIX century due to the developement of the city in the end of the XIX and first of XX thanks to the industrial development.

[Victor]

I get confused by what people mean by modernism...

"Modernismo" is spanish for Art Nouveau. What you know as modernism, is called in spanish "Movimiento Moderno".

[ValenciaSon]

Isn't modernism the post-classical art movement which emerged in the latter end of the 19th century?

[Legazpi]

...
The "style" of the 50's and 60's is called funcionalismo or realismo - not sure if it is the same in English - (or basically I have not got any money to build houses:rolleyes:)
...

As Victor pointed out, it appears that in English "modernist architecture" refers to the 50's 60's architecture (e.g. by Ludwig Mies) while in Spanish "modernismo" refers to turn of the century architecture.

[Legazpi]

Isn't modernism the post-classical art movement which emerged in the latter end of the 19th century?

Yes I think you're right. It adds another layer of confusion!

[Victor]

Isn't modernism the post-classical art movement which emerged in the latter end of the 19th century?
That's right when referring to art in general, but modern architecture has its origins in the Bauhaus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhaus) school and the CIAM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congrès_International_d'Architecture_Moderne) (International Congress of Modern Architecture) which was -according to Wikipedia- founded in 1928