Unforgettable Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona

For Veteran's Day weekend in November, Ryan and I took a trip to beautiful Barcelona, Spain. When we arrived on Friday afternoon we checked into our hotel and set out to explore the city and get the lay of the land. We strolled through the city and down the beach. After dark we headed to the magic fountain of Montjuïc to watch the show. The fountain was constructed for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. In the 1980’s, music was incorporated with the light show and the fountain. 

The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc

 We started out our Saturday morning with a ride on the Hop on Hop off bus. After our bus ride we decided to go back and explore a couple of the Gaudí houses in Barcelona.  Antoni Gaudí was an architect whose works reflect his highly individual and distinctive style. We visited Casa Batlló, which is a remodel of a previously built house redesigned by Gaudí in 1904. We took the time to admire the architecture of Casa Milà. This World Heritage site was designed by Gaudí and built during the years 1906 to 1912. 

Casa Milà

Casa Batlló

Ryan At Park Güell

Park Güell is a garden complex with architectural elements. It was designed by Gaudí and was finished in 1914. The park was originally part of a commercially unsuccessful housing site. Only two houses were built with one intended to be a show house. The house was completed in 1904, was put up for sale, and no buyers came forward. In 1906 Gaudí bought the property and moved in with his family. The house is now the Gaudí House Museum. Gaudí’s mosaic work on the main terrace has been converted into a municipal garden. The focal point of the park is the main terrace, surrounded by a long bench in the form of a sea serpent. From the terrace a beautiful panoramic view of Barcelona is visible. 

A Statue of Antoni Gaudí

 On Sunday we took one of Sandman’s free walking tours. During our four-hour walking tour our guide gave us the history of the Barcelona Cathedral, The Gothic Quarter, King Martin’s Watchtower, Santa María del Mar, Catalan legends and heroes, Picasso in Barcelona, and Roman ruins. One of our stops on our walking tour was the Barcelona Cathedral. The cathedral was constructed from 13^th to the 15^th century and is dedicated to Eulalia of arcelona, co-patron saint of Barcelona. According to Catholic tradition, Eulalia was a young virgin who suffered martyrdom during Roman times in Barcelona. The body of Saint Eulalia is entombed in the cathedral’s crypt. 

Barcelona Cathedral

 We spent most of our tour wandering through the Gothic Quarter. Our guide was quick to point out all the works of Pablo Picasso on buildings throughout the city. One of our tour guides favorite places in the city is the Placa de Sant Felip Neri. This charming square is tucked away down one of the winding walkways of the gothic quarter. Our tour guide explained that during the Spanish Civil War people were lined up in front of a church and executed. In addition to the executions, a bomb also killed 30 school children in the plaza during the war. The front of the church is covered in pockmarks and divots left from the Spanish Civil War. It was hard to believe so many people had lost their lives in such a beautiful and tranquil square. 

Placa de Sant Felip Neri

Picasso on a Building

Following our walking tour Ryan and I took time to visit Sagrada Família or Church of the Holy Family. This large Roman Catholic Church was like unlike any church I have ever seen. Construction of the church began in 1882. Gaudí became involved in 1883, taking over the project and transforming it. Gaudí devoted his last years to the project, and at the time of his death at age 73 in 1926 less than a quarter of the project was complete. Sagrada Família’s construction progressed slowly, as it relied on private donations and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War, only to resume intermittent progress in the 1950’s. Construction passed the midpoint in 2010 and has an anticipated completion date of 2026. 

One of the Facades of Sagrada Família

Inside Sagrada Família

Mies van der Rohe German Pavilion

Before heading to the air port Ryan and I took time to visit the Barcelona Pavilion, take in some amazing views of the city from the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC), and enjoyed the history of Barcelona’s Olymic Stadium.  The Barcelona Pavilion is a “German Pavilion” designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The Pavilion was built for the 1929 International Exposition. The building was used for the official opening of the German section of the exhibition. Ryan was excited to see the building because of its importance in the history of modern architecture. The building is known for its simple form and its spectacular use of extravagant materials, such as marble, red onyx, and travertine. The pavilion was bare, no trade exhibits, just the structure accompanying a single sculpture and purpose-designed furniture (the iconic Barcelona chair). Since the pavilion lacked exhibition space, the building itself became the exhibit. Since the building was planned only as a temporary structure it was torn down in 1930, not even a year after it was completed. Between 1983 and 1986 a group of Spanish architects reconstructed the pavilion permanently using black-and-white photos and original plans. 

View From MNAC with Sagrada Família in the Background

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC)

The second stop on our last day was the MNAC. The MNAC in an impressive building which originally housed the Spanish Pavilion for the 1929 World’s Fair. Since 1934 the museum has been home to a collection of medieval European art. We enjoyed grand views of the city from the steps of the museum. Our final stop was the Olympic Stadium of Barcelona. The original stadium was built in 1927 for the 1929 International Exposition and was renovated in 1989 to be the main stadium for the 1992 Summer Olympics. The stadium has a capacity of 22,926 and is located on a large hill, which overlooks the harbor.

Olympic Stadium of Barcelona

Barcelona

Barcelona Beach