Pl. Tibidabo,
Tibidabo

The Church of the Sacred Heart crowns Mount Tibidabo to the north of the city. Mostly gothic in style, it was built in the early 20th century, and with its enormous Christ statue is a recognisable Barcelona symbol. You can reach Tibidabo via the Tibibus from Pl. Catalunya, or by the more adventurous Blue Tram and Funicular Railway.

Mount Tibidabo gets its name from the Devil's temptation of Christ - "Haec omnia tibi dabo si cadens adoraveris me", "all of this I shall give to you if you worship me" - when he offered Christ the world at his feet from a mountain top.

Temptation may take you upwards, on a climb to Christ's feet. The lift inside the church (small charge) deposits you on a stunning terrace from where you greet twelve statues of the Apostles. From there, climb the precipitous and spiralling exterior stone steps to yet another level, and yet another staircase. At the very top you stand giddily at the feet of the enormous gilded Christ figure -- his arms spread wide to the city and sea far below. Here, on a windy day, disorientating gusts from the mountains beyond whip mercilessly around the tower, turning even the bravest knees into a vertigo-melting jelly.

contributor: Nigel Hayler