Costa Brava is more beautiful, besides, from there you can also visit Girona, a nice town. Of course Barcelona is a must, especially if you are into culture and history.
Welcome to Catalonia (in fact this is the country you will be going to, what you mean with "Barcelona area").
I know nothing about snorkeling.
But there is history and culture all through that region. Many artists lived there at the turn of the last century, and there are museums, and homes that are open to the public (some by appointment only), all over the region.
There's all that neat stuff they were painting, as well.
There are enough little cities to visit and tour and all, just go to the tourist office, first thing when you arrive, and they have folios (you can get them online, as well, from the oficina de turismo) that tell you what to see in any town, and what to eat, too.
You'll manage to find enough to do. The beaches are nice, and you'll have a nice day or two just relaxing, if you like that, too.
Good cities: Cadaqués, Montserrat, Tarragona, Girona, etc. Go inland for hiking, wine country and different culture. Zaragoza isn't terribly far, very historic.
Cross the border to France, and visit some of the artistic cities, there, Perpignan, Carcassonne, the Coastal cities, study the heretics and go to where they hid out. I can't remember their name.
Two weeks would give you time to see the city without always being in a rush to get to the next place. Barcelona has plenty of culture and history, and architecture, etc.
You will be doing a lot of walking. The two of you might want to start walking every day now so you will be in shape for the trip. Wear comfortable shoes.
Learn the pleasure of sitting at a sidewalk cafe and just watching the world go by. Europeans are better at it than Americans.
Heu... how about Cultural and historical glory of Moorish Spain at Cordoba, the land they called Al-Andalus...? In its heyday the city a medina that pulsated with activity of the finest craftsmen, a centre of science and learning, the most civilised capital in Europe....
Cordoba is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
(En fran?ais) - Balade à Madrid, reine d’Espagne...!!! Quel crime de lèse-majesté ! Barcelone par-ci, Séville par-là. On en aurait presque oublié Madrid. Moins jeune, moins branchée, Madrid est aussi moins touristique. Voilà une faute à réparer d'urgence.
La capitale royale de l’Espagne, la ville la plus peuplée du pays avec plus de 3,2 millions d’habitants, possède au moins autant de charme que ses rivales catalane et andalouse. Ses musées regorgent de merveilles et la richesse de ses monuments témoigne des siècles d’histoire de la monarchie espagnole.
Du Palais royal au palais du Real Madrid, en passant par les places à la vie trépidante, sans oublier les toros et le chocolate con churros...
Voici... un photo du Palais Royal à Madrid en Espagne, en toute majesté...
http://www.geo.fr/prismageobook/setaswal...
Yes... Real Madrid might be another city on your next visiting list...!!! Et moi, je viens de Paris...
Me (16) and my mom (42) are planning a vacation to the Barcelona area this summer. We'll probably go the last week of June and the first week of July. I'm wondering if 2 weeks in Barcelona is too long? I don't want to get bored but I don't really want to go clubbing with my mother. Also we are looking at the Costa Brava and the Costa Dorada. Which is better? I would prefer culture and history rather than the amusement park there, snorkeling would be fun too. So any suggestions?
