Barcelona’s Center of Contemporary Culture, or CCCB, is known for its innovative art exhibitions and striking contrast of traditionalism and modernism in the architectural styles of its own buildings. However, this arts center also contains some hidden gems, such as its small, hip library and, even lesser known, its lookout point. That’s right- at the top floor of CCCB’s towering glass building is its Mirador that boasts panoramic views of the entire Raval neighborhood and beyond.
However, the Mirador is so secretive because it is only open once per month!
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Inside the Mirador
To access the lookout point, you have to enter into the main glass building of CCCB and take the elevator all the way to the fifth floor. Once you step into the space, you will be surrounded by glass walls that offer unparalleled views of the neighborhood. In addition to the landscape of Raval, the viewpoint extends out to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in Plaça de Espanya, the hills of Mont Juïc, the Barcelona Cathedral in Gotico, and the Mediterranean Sea.
Wrapping around the walls are comfortable benches with cushions upon which you can sit and contemplate the views- or even spend the afternoon there drawing, writing in your journal, reading a book, etc. When I went last month, they were also playing a video in the center of the room that discussed Barcelona’s history.
Important Details
The part of the glass building that juts out at the top is the Mirador
Normally, the highest floor of the CCCB is reserved for private events such as workshops, debates, presentations and receptions- which thus have to be booked and paid for in advance. However, if you remember to mark your calendar for the first Sunday of each month, the Mirador is open to the public- free of charge. The hours are from 11:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.
CCCB is located at Carrer de Montalegre, 5, behind MACBA. The closest metro stop is Liceu (green line).
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