After a relaxing sea day we arrive in Barcelona around 8 am. It’s a lovely sunny day and temperatures will reach a high of 70.
I have been here several times and each time I am impressed with the vibrant city with so much to discover and each time I discover something new. The city of 1.6 million swells to 4.6 around city center. The traffic is quite horrendous, but everyone takes it in strides. Barcelona grew up around Barcino, one of the largest know Roman settlements in Europe. In the oldest part of the city, known as the Gothic Quarters, you will stroll through medieval lanes so narrow that even in the olden times they had signs posted on the corner of the buildings indicating “one way” traffic (of course that was for horses, not cars ). Eventually you will emerge out into the Royal Plaza, where a variety of boutiques and restaurants beckon you to shop, and relax while enjoying tapas and or just drinks. There is so much more to be discovered in the city and only so much you can in 1 1/2 days. Both days we opted for a ship organized tour.
Day 1: We departed early in the morning and drove through the Catalan countryside through the mountains of Montserrat to visits the Benedictine abbey and the famous “The Black Virgin” housed in the gorgeous basilica. The Virgin of Montserrat is a statue of the Madonna and child and is a Patron Saint of Catalonia. Lots of fascinating stories as to why she is black, how she was found and eventually ended up at this basilica. But for that you will have to visit Google. It was quite a unique experience not only to see the statue, but the Abbey perched 4,000 feet above the valley. How they managed to build it on those steep slopes is beyond my comprehension. I truly surreal place. I hope the picture will give you a better idea.
After our visit to the Abby we drive back down the winding road and return to Barcelona to visit the UNESCO world heritage site the “Guell Park”. The Guell Park was meant to be a housing community of 56 homes, however only 3 were built. His designs were just to futuristic and experimental that no one bought into the project. Designed by Gaudi between 1900 and 1914. Antoni Gaudi of Catalan, Spain has to be the most unique and individualized architect of his time. He is most famous for the La Sagrada Familia Cathedral, whose construction began in 1882 and is expected to be completed in 2026. Gaudi incorporated nature into his designs and since he said there are not straight lines in nature, non of his creations have straight lines. It really defies description. I absolutely adore his designs. Regrettable the part of the Cathedral that is under construction, while following Gaudi’s grandeous style, now incorporates a lot of straight lines and to me incongruent with Gauid’s vision.
Day 2: We have a scenic drive and walking tour of Barcelona and get a closer look of the La Sagrada Familia Cathedral. Truly impressive and I wish we had taken the tour that included an inside visit of the Cathedral, they say the inside is as impressive as the outside. Next time!
Perched high up on the Montserrat Mountain is the Montserrat Abby, home of the “Black
Virgin”
Typical country scenery as we head to Montserrat Abby.
We arrive at the Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery on the Montserrat Mountain in Catalonia.
It is quite grand, we are there early in the day and not too many people have descended on the Place
A glimpse of the inside, unbelievably beautiful.
Most of the statues are not out of marble as is typical, but rather out of gorgeous alabaster.
The famous “Virgin of Montserrat, the Black Virgin”. One account of her being black is prolonged exposure to candle smoke. One used to be able to kiss or touch the sphere she holds in her right hand for good luck. The sphere from all the people’s touching is no longer black.
View from the Monastery /Abby
A cemetery with some really impressive tombstones
Statue of Christopher Columbus
Streets in Barcelona
Streets in Barcelona, a bridge connecting two buildings. While the buildings were old the bridge was a more modern addition but built in the old style.
Signage on the side of buildings indicating “one way streets”. The horse’s head and the person’s arm would indicate which direction. The streets are so narrow that they had have one-way streets even during the horse and buddy days.
Yummy backers store.
One of many plazas
Don’t know if you can make it out but there is a mani can sitting on the top right balcony. I guess they are hard up for company.
Arch of Triumph gate in Cuidadela Park, Barcelona city. The gate was built as a welcome gate, to welcome all those who came to visit the Universal Exposition of 1888, unlike most gates that usually recall an act of war.
The Park Guell, one of the most famous sights in Barcelona. The park and buildings were designed by Antonio Gaudi. One of the most characteristic features of Gaudi’s work is how it translates his fascination with the natural world. Everything from the patters he uses to the way he constructs his design is inspired by nature. The parks construction started in 1900. It became a UNESCO site in 1984.
No mortar or concrete was used to build these arched parkways. Essentially a wooden platform was placed and the rocks where dumped, then removed, if no rocks fell down the roof was considers sturdy. If a rock fell it would be disassembled and process completed until they held. Also the side columns appear to be rocks placed on tope of each other, however some are solid columns and then carved to make it appear as individual rocks.
Ergonomic and dual purpose seating surround an open plaza. The molded concrete seats are covered in ceramics. The seats have drain holes, so rainwater flows into the columns that support the seats. The water cools the columns creating a very cool area below.
One of the two buildings in the park and a lovely view onto the city of Barcelona
The columns that support the seating area above. They are not of even height and outer columns are not 100 percent vertical. It has a purpose which I no longer recall.
Gaudi loved to recycle material so the ceilings incorporated all sorts of items and used to add special interest and features.
Another of the Gaudi designed houses.
Better view of the unusual rock columns, ceiling and passage ways in the park.
You will find lots of people walking their dogs in the city,
One of the older buildings renovated into the Gaudi style.
Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. It is a large unfinished minor basilica and is currently the largest unfinished Roman Catholic Church designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. Construction started in in 1882 and expected completion is 2026, consecrated on November 7, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI.
When completed it will consist of three different architectural styles: Gothic Revival, Art Nouveau and Modernism. It is so huge it is difficult to take a picture of it. Obviously Gaudi is not alive to complete the project and those, while following his design, that followed deviated and too me it has a rather hodgepodge appearance. Non the less it is an incredible work of architecture, art, design and worth seeing.
It is an incredible building and even more so on the inside, however our tour did not include visiting the interior, something one should definitely do next time.
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