Places Mat Wants to Go

Barcelona's only remaining tram system takes riders to the Tibidabo funicular.

One of Antoni Gaudí's least-visited works, an homage to Catalan patrimony that mixes neo-Gothic with Modernista forms.

Occupied for six centuries by Franciscan Order nuns, this monastery is an amazing ode to Catalán Gothic architecture.

A vista of the city and sea from atop the little-known viewing deck on an unassuming Columbus statue.

18th century anatomical amphitheater of the Royal College of Surgery of Barcelona.

Possibly the oldest church in Barcelona, this basilica has its pagan and Christian mythologies all mixed up.

A once-secret library of Freemason history in Catalonia.

This cafe offers a curated collection of treats and tipples made by monks and nuns.

One of Europe's largest supercomputers is housed inside of a disused chapel.

A temple to modernity, tucked away amid Barcelona's more well known museums.

Turntable anonymously received orphans, alms, and groceries.

The largest Art Nouveau complex in the world is a Barcelona hospital with a 600-year-long history.

Barcelona's historic 19th-century sewers, whose foundations were laid in medieval times, are open to the public for exploring.

An unusual stroll through gentlemen's erotica demonstrates that pornography is timeless.

These secluded and abandoned anti-aircraft defenses have become one the most scenic viewpoints in Barcelona.

Gaudí's famously flamboyant architectural style is on full display in this sprawling park and garden.

This cemetery features modernist statues as strange as its name.

A beautiful but toxic fountain of mercury.

One of Antoni Gaudí's most classic buildings is well-known for its "dragon-back" design.

Construction of Barcelona’s iconic (but controversial) church was finally completed in 2026—a century after the death of its architect.

Guitarist Paco de Lucía overlooks travelers as they pass through this train station dedicated to his legacy.

This postmodern apartment block was designed to be a vertical neighborhood.

Madrid's last horchata kiosk is a blue-and-white beacon of refreshment.

Among the oldest structures in Madrid, these Moorish walls once guarded the medieval city of Mayrit.