North American sports fans are used to regional rivalries: the Yankees vs. the Red Sox, the Canadiens against the Maple Leafs, Army vs. Navy. But there is probably none so famed, so deep in the fiber of the fans than FC Barcelona playing against Real Madrid in football (or futbol as they call it or soccer as we do). There is even a name for this annual game, El Clasico, the Classic.
In the spirit of this contest, coming up on May 10 this year, we offer a comparison of the two cities for wine tasters who’d like to include urban stops along with visits to vineyards.
- Attractions – Any trip to Madrid must include a stop in the Plaza Mayor, the main public square dating back to the 16th century. Barcelona offers the Sagrada Familia, the monumental church designed in the 19th century by Antonio Gaudi, nearly complete today. (One point for Barcelona.)
- Art – In Barcelona you can visit museums dedicated to Picasso and Miro, which are wonderful. But Madrid has the world-renowned Prado for art of Spain’s imperial past and the Reina Sofia Museum for 20th century art, plus the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection. (One point to Madrid.)
- Architecture – As we have written in a previous issue, much of Barcelona was created at the beginning of the 20th century by Modernist architects, not the least of which was the aforementioned Gaudi. There are some interesting buildings in Madrid, but nothing to compare. (One point to Barcelona.)
- Food markets – Madrid has the Mercato San Miguel. Barcelona has the Boqueria. The former is more of a food court with lots of stalls where you can try local Spanish food and wine, plus an extensive selection of Sherry to taste. The same is true at the Boqueria, but it is still just as much of a place to buy fruit, vegetables, fish and meat. (Slight edge to Barcelona, half a point.)
- Restaurants – Both cities have great restaurants and both have places for tapas wherever one goes. We preferred the ones we went to in Barcelona but that’s simply a matter of taste. (A draw, no points awarded.)
- Flamenco – We happen to be aficionados of this quintessentially Spanish dance form. We have seen performances in tablaos (the petite theaters where flamenco is danced) in both cities. Every time we see the most talented Spaniards dancing in their own cities, we leave saying, “That was the best we’ve ever seen!”. (Another draw, no points awarded.)
- Language – Surprise, surprise: They speak Spanish in Spain. But in Barcelona they also speak Catalan, which is a somewhat close language but not the same. In general, visitors can get around in English, but if you learned Spanish in school, this can make Barcelona confusing. (Slight edge to Madrid, half a point.)
- Proximity to wine tasting – The most famous Spanish wine regions are the Douro and Ribera de Douro. Neither of them is close to either city. However, Catalunya is nearby Barcelona, especially the Penedes and Priorat sub-regions. There’s nothing comparable in easy driving distance of Madrid. (One point to Barcelona.)
So, if anyone has been keeping score, the edge goes to Barcelona. That’s our appreciation, but we urge you to visit both cities and decide for yourselves.