CAPA WORLD

Barcelona attracts tourists from around the world for a variety of reasons: the food, history, art, architecture, and more. In this blog post, Isha gives us a peek into Barcelona's incredible cultural scene and shares some of her favorite museums in the city for history and art.

If you're a foodie, Barcelona is the place to be! Specifically, Isha recommends visiting La Boqueria, a bustling market where you'll find native Catalonian specialties, as well as high-quality food from around the world.

Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) is truly an urban campus, clustered in three main areas of Barcelona: Ciutadella, Poblenou, and Mar. The majority of CAPA students will study on the Ciutadella campus, so this blog will focus on the neighborhood where it this campus is located and the walkable areas nearby. This is called Barri Gòtic (or the Gothic Quarter), which is within the larger Ciutat Vella (old town) district. UPF is very well connected to the rest of the city, located near the neighborhoods of El Raval, with its art galleries and famous La Boqueria market, Poble Sec’s old-school playhouses and charming cafes, and La Barceloneta, which is lined with sandy beaches.

Read on to find out about some of our favorite local highlights, some useful amenities, a brief snippet of history, a look at the area’s general demographics, and some notes on transport links.

If you want to explore the city you're studying abroad in while getting work done, student blogger Isha recommends studying in local bookstores, coffee shops, and coworking spaces. Read more to find out her favorite spots to get work done in Barcelona!

Interning abroad can help you build valuable skills including intercultural communication and time management. Find out what Isha’s work environment looks like at her CAPA Global Cities internship placement atBarcelona Metropolitan Magazine.

When you study abroad on the CAPA Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) direct enroll program, you’ll hear many different languages spoken on campus. It’s a trilingual university (Catalan, Spanish, and English), and welcomes 9,000 students each year, about 1,500 of them international, so as one may assume, there will be an exciting mix of cultural backgrounds and opportunities to make friends from around the world. UPF is an authentically urban campus, with classes in three areas of the city: Ciutadella (Social Sciences and Humanities), Poblenou (ITC and Communication Sciences), and Mar (Health and Life Sciences). You’ll get to know Barcelona quickly and intimately as you navigate your way to your classes and beyond.

Student blogger Isha shares the highlights of her CAPA-led day trip from Barcelona to the city of Girona, where she explores Game of Thrones film sites, Salvador Dali's surrealist art, and historic neighborhoods rich in Catalonian history. 

When you directly enroll on the new CAPA Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) study abroad program, you’ll be welcomed into one of Spain’s most prestigious academic institutions. UPF ranks in the top 1.1% of universities worldwide, has been named number 11 among the world’s top young universities by Times Higher Education and best university in Spain by the (London) Times Higher Education Supplement.

After just two weeks in Barcelona, Isha is left spellbound by the city. She writes about preparing for a culture shock and how she adjusted to a new living environment. She also learns about the philosophy of adopting the city as part of your living space and navigating Barcelona through its neighborhoods.

Have you heard that we’ve launched a brand new study abroad program with Barcelona’s Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) this year?

CAPA students can now directly enroll at UPF during spring, summer, and fall terms for a truly international experience. Sign up and you’ll live, learn, and enjoy Barcelona just like a local, surrounded by students and faculty from an incredible mix of nationalities.