Hola a tots! Com estàs? Barcelona is the biggest city of Catalonia, second largest city in Spain, behind only Madrid and largest city of the whole Mediterranean coast. In the land of Gaudi, the charm is not concentrated only in his grandiose sights such as the Sagrada Familia or Parc Guell. Is in them. You are in every corner bending as in the late afternoon sitting under the tree Parc de la Ciutadella.
1. Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família or just Sagrada Familia – There isn’t words to describe what it is. Magnificent! The facade has a lot of elements of nature and religion. The symbolism of these elements is the most eloquent expression of the genius of Gaudi and his love for nature, and own Catalan cultural identity. The Sagrada Familia began to be built in 1882. The following year Gaudí, with 31 years old, took over the project, working on it until his death 40 years later. With the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the works were suspended and still have not been completed. The expectation is that only be ready in the year 2020 with eighteen towers. It will be the highest Catholic Church in the world. But much depends on the donations and numerous studies to maintain the most accurate work possible for Gaudi’s designs. The ticket to enter in the church costs € 13, 50 for adults and € 11, 50 for teenagers from 11 to 18.
2. Barri Gotic – It’s not a real gothic style, because the neighborhood was restored before 1929. Even with this, the area is one of the coolest places in the city. The shadows projected on the narrow alleys of the “Barri”, fruit of the palaces and mansions of blackened facades, are the perfect picture of the Gothic imagination, nowadays. On this place, you can find the Temple of Augustus. It’s just the ruins of the real temple, but it’s great to see. You really feel inside history.
3. Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria – Barcelona has about 40 food markets. This was built in the first half of the nineteenth century when there was a liberal revolt in Barcelona. The revolt leaders destroyed many assets of the church and the market was a convent called Convent de Sant Josep. The market has become a much visited tourist attraction and thus, it has become very expensive. People say that if you want good food there, you must try one of the dishes of Pinotxo. And if you don’t want to hear a scolding from a salesman, do not touch in any food without permission.
4. Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya – MNAC – On the Montijüic Mountain, we see, nowadays, the MNAC. In a modernist style, the palace was built in 1927 and was reformed in 2004 to be the museum. MNAC collection has over a thousand years of Catalonia art history. The famous sections of the museum are: romantic art and modernist sections (with Dalí and Picasso works of art). The museum also has a terraced (you pay separate for the visit of both) that you can have a full view of the city. If you leave the museum in the end of the day (8pm – 9pm), you can see the Font Màgica of Montijüic.
5. Parc Güell – Located in a mountain behind the city of Barcelona, the park, that today is must-see in the city, previously was a failure. The area was destined by Güell, in 1900, to be a garden-city with a lot of houses (people would live in the middle of nature), but no one showed to be interested in the houses. So Gaudi decided to live there. Today, the park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (was declared in 1984). Gaudí was inspired by nature forms. The Salamander is one of the icons of the park. It was inspired in Greeks dragons. Behind it, you can see the Hall of 100 Columns. It’s amazing! It’s easy to see Gaudí style there. Under the Hall, you can enjoy a wonderful view of Barcelona.
6. Camp Nou – After the repressive regime of Francisco Franco from 1939 to 1975, the only way to the Catalan people openly express their pride and their identity was through football. Catalan people appear to love more the FC Barcelona instead of the Spain national football team. Especially if the opponent was Real Madrid, which has always represented the central government. Years later, the passion and the flashy football players like Cruyff, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Messi won admirers around the world and are well represented in the museum mounted worth a visit to Barça field, the legendary Camp Nou. As in NYC, I think that is important to go to this place too. Of course, is very expensive (a ticket cost around € 500), but I think that it’s a good value for the money.
7. Parc de la Ciutadella – It’s kind the Central Park of Barcelona. The park was built in 1888 in an area of the ancient fortress of the city, Ciutadella. The project was inspired on gardens from France, England and Italy. In the park, we can see a lot of monuments as: the Monumental Fountain (is one of the most beautiful places of the park), Castell dels Tres Dragons, The Umbracle and the Hivernacle (two greenhouses installed in the park; the second was built using iron and glass, imitating the Crystal Palace in London) and the many statues of the park.
8. Casa Batlló – This building in one of most important of the genius, Antoni Gaudí, as a reflex of the most creative period of the artist. The building is known as “casa de las máscaras” or “casa de los huesos” (bones) for the similarity with these elements. Its history started in 1903, when Josep Batilló bought the building and asked for Gaudi to do the reshuffle. The work was completed between 1904 and 1906 and was so pleased with Batlló the work of Gaudí, who referred to the construction of La Pedrera, his friend Pere Milà i Camps. Gaudi worked on a new facade for the house and he add his personal style on it. When you see the house for the sidewalk, is kind an impressionist art work right in front of you. Every detail has a symbolism for the whole house. I don’t have words to describe it, guys. So, you should understand why I want to go there. The ticket costs around € 20.
9. Plaça de Catalunya – It’s the most important plaza of Barcelona and it’s on the heart of the city. It’s also the biggest plaza, in Spain, with 30 thousand m². Begins on La Ramblas (it is an avenue that begin in the square and, end at the Columbus monument. It has a lot of cafés and traditional stores to visit).The Plaça de Catalunya is surrounded by great shops, including El Corte Inglés stores, FNAC and the main Apple Store in Barcelona and buildings that were already occupied by elegant hotels, bars and theaters, in the early twentieth century. This place has the most expensive m² of Barcelona.
10. Tibidabo – Tibidabo is a mountain dominating the landscape Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. With 512 meters is the highest point of the Serra de Collserola. It provides beautiful views of the city and the coast of the surroundings. There is an amusement park, a telecommunications tower (Torre de Collserola) and a Catholic church, the temple color Sagrat at the top of the mountain, all three visible from almost everywhere in Barcelona. The top of Tibidabo can be accessed by funicular of Tibidabo, by bus, by road. The funicular Railway, dating from 1901, was the first of its kind in Spain.
My travelers, sorry for the delay in posting. My classes started is three weeks and I’m adapting me yet. So I am counting on the patience of you. Malu loves you and hopes you next week with another top 10 of a very famous and cultured city.
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