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| Ancient Walls of Barcelona |
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| Catalan Flag |
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| Statue of Columbus |
Until the end of the 19th Century, Barcelona was
a walled city. Now it seems a window to the world, framed in gothic and
medieval churches, palaces and narrow streets. Modern Barcelona is a hub of
cosmopolitan activity, bohemian arts scene, world famous edifices and parks
constructed by Gaudi, lively markets and avenues, shops, restaurants, one of
the best soccer teams, plazas and last but not least – the site of the world
famous Cathedral of Sagrada Familia,
also designed by Gaudi.
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| La Rambla |
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| Municipal Market - a delight for the senses... |
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| Iberian Ham by the side or kilo - not exactly dirt cheap |
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| Plaza Real, a large inner court lined with restaurants, and paradise for people watching |
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| Barcelona's Main Gothic Cathedral |
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| Truffles, only 980 Euros a Kilo |
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| EIght out of the famous Soccer Eleven, with Messi bottom right, second one in |
Barcelona is proudly Catalan, and both Spanish and Catalan language
are spoken and written. It was the scene of horrific fighting during the Spanish
Civil war, when Fascist Generalissimo Franco finally defeated the spirit, will
and strength of the Barcelona resistance fighters, but not until a lot of
carpet bombing had destroyed much of the city and killed a huge number of its
inhabitants.
Barcelona also is the World Capital of pick pockets, beating
out Naples for that honour.
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| Antoni Gaudi - madman or genius? |
One moves around with the same caution as the locals do, with
one eye on the surroundings and the other on ones belongings. Nevertheless, a
ride in the most modern, clean and cheap Metro takes one safely to all the
places in Barcelona one desires to visit. A stroll along the broad Rambla, the
most popular avenue of Barcelona, offers multiple opportunities to see these
artists at work, as well as enjoying vastly overpriced sangria.
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| Interior of Sagrada Familia - like an airy forest of lofty columns |
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| Stained Glass Windows give forever changing light |
Sagrada Familia is such an incredible – as yet unfinished –
creation of an almost crazed artistic imagination (namely Antoni Gaudi) that it
merits more than one visit spanning several years. Each year, more surprises wait,
as each year another segment of this gigantic work of art is completed and open
to view.
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The Passion Façade
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| Scene from the Nativity Facade |
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Choir of the Sagrada Familia
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