By Tay Suan Chiang

It is hard not to fall in love with Barcelona. So it is no wonder that American director Woody Allen chooses to set his latest movie, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, in the Spanish coastal city.

The movie, which opens here on Thursday, stars Rebecca Hall (Vicky) and Scarlett Johansson (Cristina) as two women who spend a summer in Barcelona. There, they both meet and fall for Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), a painter.

Barcelona provides a pretty background to the plot. It enjoys a warm climate all year round, boasts amazing architecture and great shopping.

While actors Penelope Cruz, Bardem and Johansson keep audiences glued to the plot, travel buffs will find themselves drawn to the city's sights.

And if, after the movie, you feel like packing your bags immediately, don't forget your camera. Never mind if you are no movie director, you would want to capture on film these landmarks where Allen shot his scenes.

The quirk, colourful sculptures on the roof terrace

Tibidabo Amusement Park (above)

Placa del Tibidabo

The girls headed here for an afternoon of fun. It may be out of the way from the city centre, but it is more than 100 years old and is one of Europe's most well-known amusement parks.

There are carousels, a ferris wheel and plenty of fun rides to keep the kids entertained.

Fundacio Joan Miro

Parc de Montjuic

The late Miro (1893-1983) was one of the city's most well-known artists, and the museum houses more than 8,000 drawings, 150 sculptures and nine textile hangings. His works have been described by critics as surrealist.

Don't miss the quirky, colourful sculptures (above) on the roof terrace; one work appears in a shot in the film.

Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia

Mallorca, 401

This is arguably Barcelona's most famous building. You cannot say you have been to the city unless you have come here, so it is not surprising that this is one of the first places that Vicky and Cristina visit in the film.

Although its construction first began in 1882, the massive cathedral is still not completed.

Barcelona's most amazing architect, Antoni Gaudi, took over its design almost two years later, when the first architect quit the job, and dedicated the last years of his life to it.

He designed three facades representing the Nativity, the Passion and the Glory of Christ. Only the Nativity facade was completed in his lifetime and features sculptures of plants and animals.

Since his death in 1926, a new team of architects has gone on to complete the Passion facade. Work is still ongoing for the Glory of Christ facade.

A museum in the basement of the cathedral shows models, photographs and floor plans of the building. No date has been set yet for the cathedral's completion.

Hotel Casa Fuster (right)

Passeig de Gracia, 132

To date, it is the city's only historic hotel, set in what was once a home that was completed in 1911.

The five-star hotel is luxurious but retains its old-world European charm, which was why it appealed to Allen.

Architecture buffs will like its beautiful castle-like facade which was designed by renowned Barcelona-born architect Lluis Domenech i Montaner.

Allen shot a scene where Vicky has tea with her aunt at the hotel's Cafe Viennese. He also plays the clarinet with his band here whenever he is in town.

La Rambla (right)

This 1.2km tree-lined pedestrian walkway is the most iconic street in Barcelona.

No surprise then that Allen also filmed Johansson taking in the sights along this walkway.

It is always packed no matter what time it is, so keep a close eye on your belongings.

It is lined with kiosks selling souvenirs, flowers and even pets. Restaurants here also have alfresco dining areas, making this a great spot for people watching.

Walk down the street and you will see many live 'statues', such as a man sitting on a toilet bowl. Some of these buskers do not stay still, however, but invite tourists to take pictures with them - for a tip.

Museu Nacional D'Art De Catalunya (MNAC) (above)

Palau Nacional, Parc de Monjuic

If you have time for only one museum, this is it.

The MNAC houses a range of Catalan art and sculptures from the 11th century to the 1940s.

A highlight are the wall paintings from the Middle Ages that have been stripped from churches, restored and blended into the museum's interior walls. Doing this prevents such paintings from being sold commercially.

The wide range of works over the centuries means that there will be pieces that will appeal to most visitors.

Even the painted dome ceiling of the museum is worth a photo shot. In the film, Vicky and her aunt take a stroll outside this building.

Parc Guell (right)

Olot

Yet another Unesco World Heritage Site by Gaudi. In the film, Vicky bumps into Juan Antonio here.

Modelled after English parks, Parc Guell was meant to be a housing estate for the rich, but was commercially unsuccessful. The Guell family donated it to the city in 1922.

Set aside at least half a day to explore the park. Most of its attractions are near the entrance. A colourful mosaic lizard is a popular photo spot, which leads to a hall with 100 palm-shaped pillars which was meant to be a market hall.

Head to the top of the park, marked by three crosses, for a panoramic view of the city.

La Pedrera (left)

Provenca 261-265

Another of Gaudi's work which was completed in 1912.

Also called the Casa Mila, it is more popularly known as La Pedrera (Catalan for the stone quarry). It was designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1984.

It is amazing to know that there are no straight lines in La Pedrera. Its wavy facade appears as if Gaudi was sitting at the bottom of the sea when he designed it.

Meant to be rented out as an apartment block, today La Pedrera houses exhibition space, one of which showcases Gaudi's works.

An apartment has also been done up to resemble a family home there during its early years.

Be sure to climb to the roof terrace where there are several alien-like structures. Called scare-witches, they are Gaudi-designed chimney stacks.

Vicky and Cristina also visited this place.

Other cities in movies City: Las Vegas Movie: Ocean's Eleven (2001) George Clooney and Brad Pitt lead a team of 11 that take down three casinos along The Strip. Their targets are The Bellagio, the Mirage and the MGM Grand. City: Tokyo Movie: Lost In Translation (2003) Directed by Sofia Coppola, the movie stars Bill Murray (above) as an American film actor who forms an unlikely bond with neglected newlywed Scarlett Johansson whom he meets in the Japanese capital. City: Paris Movie: Before Sunset (2004) A sequel to the indie romance Before Sunrise, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy meet again, this time in Paris. They stroll through the Parisian streets, spending hours talking, talking and talking. City: London Movie: Match Point (2005) American director Woody Allen's first film shot outside the United States. Johansson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers play a pair of illicit lovers. City: New York Movie: I Am Legend (2007) Will Smith (above) plays the last healthy man left standing in New York City. The rest of the world has supposedly been killed by a vicious virus. The movie included a US$5-million (S$7.1-million) scene shot at the Brooklyn Bridge. City: Bangkok Movie: Bangkok Dangerous (2008) A remake of the 1999 Thai movie by Hong Kong directors Oxide and Danny Pang, this Hollywood version - also directed by the brothers - stars Nicolas Cage. He plays an assassin who arrives in Bangkok on an assignment and later falls for a deaf-mute

taysc@sph.com.sg

Singapore Airlines flies to Barcelona via Milan daily.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on September 23, 2008.

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