Barcelona
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Barcelona is a city in north-eastern Spain, situated at the Mediterranean. It is the second largest city in Spain, the capital of the province of the same name and the autonomous community of Catalonia. The city is very well known for Gaudi's art, the catalan architect. It's the city of different cultures, people and many places that it's worth to visit.
There are to many places that everyone should see but I will try to focus on most famous ones.
Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, is one of Barcelona's most popular tourist attractions. Construction on this church will continue at least until 2041, but it has already become Barcelona's most important landmark.
When finished, the Sagrada Familia will have a total of 18 towers. Currently construction is mainly focusing on the nave and the main southern facade known as the Glory Facade. This facade will picture life and death. Passion FacadeThe first facade, facing east, is known as the Nativity Facade. It was finished by Gaudí himself and is ornamented in a baroque fashion with motifs of animals and plants. Opposite the Nativity facade is the 'Passion Facade'.
Even though the Sagrada Familia is far from finished, the remarkable church is well worth a visit. You can visit the crypt were Gaudí is buried. A museum tells the story of this great architect and the history of the church.
You can also visit the towers where you have a magnificent view over Barcelona.
Parc Guëll
Guëll Park is one of the world's most intriguing parks. The pavilions and main staircase designed by Antoni Gaudí look like they belong in some fairy tale. It's my favourite place in Barcelona:)
The pavilions, designed by Gaudí have curved roofs covered with brightly colored tiles and ornamented spires. The staircase at the entrance of the park is also designed by Gaudí. The dragon-like lizard at the center of the with trencadis-ceramics decorated staircase is the best known symbol of the park.
A connecting flight of stairs leads to another famous feature of the park: the Gran Placa Circular. Originally intended as a market place for the residents, this plaza is bordered by what is known as the largest bench in the world. The colorful ceramic serpentine bench, designed by Josep Maria Jujol, twists snakelike around the plaza.
Casa Batlló
The colorful Casa Batlló, a remodeled 19th century building, is also one of Gaudí's many masterpieces in Barcelona.
The facade of the Casa Batlló is made of sandstone covered with colorful trencadis (a Catalan type of mosaic). The first floor features irregularly sculpted oval windows. Balconies at the lower floors have bone-like pillars, those on the upper floors look like pieces of skulls. These features gave the house the nickname 'House of Bones'. The enlarged windows on the first floor gave it another nickname, 'House of Yawns'.
The colorful scaled roof recalls a reptile skin. According to some authorities on Gaudí architecture, the roof represents a dragon.
Additioonaly for those who are really interested in Gaudi's art, a short video:
Source of information about places : http://www.aviewoncities.com/
There are to many places that everyone should see but I will try to focus on most famous ones.
Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, is one of Barcelona's most popular tourist attractions. Construction on this church will continue at least until 2041, but it has already become Barcelona's most important landmark.
Even though the Sagrada Familia is far from finished, the remarkable church is well worth a visit. You can visit the crypt were Gaudí is buried. A museum tells the story of this great architect and the history of the church.
You can also visit the towers where you have a magnificent view over Barcelona.
Parc Guëll
Guëll Park is one of the world's most intriguing parks. The pavilions and main staircase designed by Antoni Gaudí look like they belong in some fairy tale. It's my favourite place in Barcelona:)
The pavilions, designed by Gaudí have curved roofs covered with brightly colored tiles and ornamented spires. The staircase at the entrance of the park is also designed by Gaudí. The dragon-like lizard at the center of the with trencadis-ceramics decorated staircase is the best known symbol of the park.
A connecting flight of stairs leads to another famous feature of the park: the Gran Placa Circular. Originally intended as a market place for the residents, this plaza is bordered by what is known as the largest bench in the world. The colorful ceramic serpentine bench, designed by Josep Maria Jujol, twists snakelike around the plaza.
Casa Batlló
The colorful Casa Batlló, a remodeled 19th century building, is also one of Gaudí's many masterpieces in Barcelona.
The facade of the Casa Batlló is made of sandstone covered with colorful trencadis (a Catalan type of mosaic). The first floor features irregularly sculpted oval windows. Balconies at the lower floors have bone-like pillars, those on the upper floors look like pieces of skulls. These features gave the house the nickname 'House of Bones'. The enlarged windows on the first floor gave it another nickname, 'House of Yawns'.
The colorful scaled roof recalls a reptile skin. According to some authorities on Gaudí architecture, the roof represents a dragon.
Additioonaly for those who are really interested in Gaudi's art, a short video:
Source of information about places : http://www.aviewoncities.com/
