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European Vacations -
Spain Vacation Packages &
Travel Information |
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Overview |
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Barcelona is the most cosmopolitan
and economically active city in
Spain, and has always managed to
stay ahead or abreast of the latest
international trends. This is
evident in the architecture, which
so accurately reflects the zest for
life of this city of vivid colors
and boundless energy.
Barcelona is stretched out on a
plain next to the Mediterranean sea
in the very north of the Spanish
coast, bordering France, between the
rivers Llobregat and Besos and
between two mountains, Collserola
and Montjuïc.The result is scenic
beauty beyond measure.
Barcelona is steeped in history, as
witnessed by the grandeur of its
architectural treasures from the
Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance
periods. During the last century,
Antoní Gaudí, led his contemporaries
in adding new and exciting strokes
to the pallatte as Modernist themes
were blended with those of the past.
Modernism is characterized by the
predominance of curves over straight
lines, the richness and detail of
decoration, the frequent use of
floral motifs, the taste for
asymmetry, the use of a refined
aestheticism and the dynamism of
forms. Checking this list against
any building designed or built by
Gaudí will have the viewer nodding
vigorously in agreement!
Barcelona is a progressive,
commercially sophisticated, upper
middle class European city, while at
the same time being traditionalist
and typically Mediterranean. This
dichotomy between tradition and
progress is a characteristic of the
city and of its nearly two million
inhabitants. In preparation for the
1992 Olympics 250 acres were cleared
along the commercial waterfront, and
a total transformation took place.
The result was a spectacular five
mile long beach and promenade that
are now enjoyed by residents and
visitors alike. As usual, this
ultimate designer city, again
reinvented itself.
Wherever you stay in Barcelona, the
excellent public transportation
system gives easy access to the
entire city. A visitor might choose
to stay in the old town near the
bustling boulevard known as La
Rambla within walking distance of
centuries old, architecturally
splendid buildings. Another choice
would be the spacious Eixample
district with its wealth of shopping
opportunities and fine restaurants.
Whatever the choice, Barcelonians
will be delighted to have you
sharing the beauty of their city.
English is not widely spoken and all
signs are in Catalan and also in
Spanish. However, there are many
guided tours of the city and its
sights that are available with
English speaking guides. Barcelona
has over 50 museums and galleries,
many parks and a wide selection of
waterfront noteworthy attractions.
Modern art lovers shouldn't miss the
Contemporary Art Museum and the
Modern Art Museum. Barcelona hosts
some of the world's greatest
classical musicians including
Montserrat Caballé and José
Carreras. Many contemporary theater
and dance companies perform year
round. Modern music fans will enjoy
the rock, jazz and salsa clubs. The
tradition of dance halls also lives
on in Barcelona.
Sports enthusiasts will find plenty
of action in Barcelona. Sea fishing,
hiking, water sports golf and
cycling are some of the favorite
forms of recreation. Soccer is the
national sport and is almost
elevated to a religion in Barcelona.
Basketball, hockey and handball are
also popular team sports that fill
the local arenas.
Catalonia is a society, with
deep-rooted relationships, in which
great importance is given to the
family. Children are loved and
welcomed. When traveling with
children, visitors may prefer a
slower pace. One way to spend a
relaxing and refreshing family day
is to visit The Parc de la
Ciutadella which is located near the
Old Town and the waterfront. It has
shade trees, acres of lawn, a
boating lake and Spain's best zoo
with over 7,000 animals. Beautiful
beaches are within easy reach, and
Barcelona also has many fine
swimming pools. The weather is mild
and sunny most of the year. Gaudí's
fairy tale-like buildings, the 200
foot statue of Christopher Columbus
pointing out to sea, much of what
makes Barcelona so appealing to
adults is also inherently appealing
to children.
In the shopping districts, the
windows display the latest fashions
for the very slim, but extravagently
delicious culinary delights are
everywhere. Hundreds of restaurants
and cafés in every price range are
conveniently located in all parts of
the city and surrounding area.
Crafts, antiques, ceramics, art
objects, fashions, books: there is
no limit to the wide array of
offerings at the shops, markets, and
stalls throughout the city.
Festivals and carnivals brighten
every season. There is always
something to celebrate in Barcelona
from the grape harvest in the Fall
to the Feast of Santa Eulalia in the
winter and the marvelous Terrassa
Jazz Festival in the Spring,
followed by the summer arts festival
and many more.
There is no question that Barcelona
seems to have discovered the secret
to eternal youth! |
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Facts |
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Population:
1,505,581 in the city and a total of
over 4,000,000 in city and suburbs.
Elevation:
On the plain the elevation is only
about 12 feet, but the city's
highest point, in the Collserola
Hills at Tibidabo Amusement Park, is
1,680 feet above sea level.
Time Zone:
Greenwich Mean Time plus one hour:
Time in Lisbon is 6 hours ahead of
Eastern Standard Time in New York.
(7 hours ahead of central time in
Chicago, etc.) Barcelona uses the 24
hour clock, so the numeral 1 on a US
watch would be read as 1in the early
morning or 13 in the afternoon, etc.
Transportation timetables and
schedules will use this method of
representation of time.
(designations of am and pm are
unnecessary)
International Dialing Code:
All numbers for Barcelona begin with
93 and have 7 additional digits. The
country code is 34. (use the country
code only when calling Barcelona
from another country).
Phone booths take coins. Some take
credit cards and phone cards.
To call the US from Barcelona using
your telephone calling card, please
check with your card issuer as each
company has its own codes.
Emergency:
General: 112 police: 346 61 41;
fire: 080;
ambulance 061
Tourist Police 93 301 9060
Lost Property 93 402 3161
Directory Assistance/Operator: 1003
Accessing email and the internet:
El Cafe de Internet Gran Via de les
Corts Catalanes 656 Tel.(+343)
4121915 / or 93 302 1154
Currency:
Throughout Spain the medium of
currency is the euro. The notes are
in denominations of 500, 200, 100,
50, 20, 10, and 5 euro. The
denominations of coins are 2 euro, 1
euro, 50 euro cent, 20 euro cent, 10
euro cent, 5 euro cent, 2 euro cent,
and 1 euro cent. The easiest method
of securing cash at the best
exchange rate is to make withdrawals
using a US credit card from the ATM
machines found at the major banks
and stores. As in the U.S., some
banks charge a fee and a transaction
tax, so check with the banks to find
the best value.
Customs Regulations:
Telephone Tourist information in New
York City (212) 265-8822 for
information.
Average Temperatures (In
Fahrenheit):
High Low
January - March 59 41
April - June 75 50
July - September 82 66
October - December 70 46
Winter evenings in Barcelona can be
chilly. From mid April through mid
June and from September through mid
October, the weather is mild and
pleasant. August often becomes so
hot and humid that many businesses
close for vacations. Rainfall is
moderate throughout the year.
Useful Measurements:
Equivalent Weights and Measures
1 cm - 0.39 inches
1 meter - 3.28 feet / 1.09 yards
1 km - 0.62 miles
1 liter - 0.26 gallons
1 inch - 2.54 cm
1 foot - 0.39 meters
1 yard - 0.91 meters
1 mile - 1.60 km
1 gallon - 3.78 liters
National Holidays:
Jan. 1 New Year's Day
January 6 Feast of the Epiphany (Els
Reis)
March 19 Feast of St. Joseph
Good Friday (date varies - March or
April)
Easter Monday (date varies - March
or April)
June 24 Feast of St. Joan
June Midsummer's Eve
August 15 Feast of the Assumption
September 11 La Diada: Catalan
National Day
September 24 La Mercé Festival
October 12 Hispanitat: Spanish
National Day
November 1 All Saints' Day
December 6 Constitution Day
December 8 Feast of the Immaculate
Conception
December 25 Christmas Day
December 26 St. Stephen's Day
Religious Services:
Roman Catholic: tel. 93 204 4962 (at
Paroisse Françoise (Mass in French
and English)
Anglican:
tel. 93 417 8867 (St. George's
Church)
Jewish:
tel. 93 200 6148 (Sinogoga de la
Communidad)
Public restrooms:
Public restrooms are difficult to
find in most places. It is best to
ask for els serveis (Catalan) or los
aseos (Spanish) in a café, hotel or
department store and be directed to
the employee rest rooms. Always
carry toilet tissue, as that is
usually not provided.
Smoking:
Many people in Spain smoke and very
few restaurants have no smoking
areas or tables.
Electricity:
The electrical current in Spain is
220 volts, 50 cycle AC, and outlets
have openings for two round pins.
Some older buildings still have 125v
systems, but plugs look the same for
either system. The difference is
that appliances such as heaters
which require higher voltage should
not be plugged into the 125v system.
American appliances will need a plug
adapter and will require a three
tier standard travel converter if
they do not have a dual voltage
capability.
Visitors with disabilities:
Spain is attempting to accommodate
the needs of travelers with
disabilities, but so far progress
has been slow. Telephone Federació
at 93 451 5550 for additional
information.
Post Office:
Spain's postal service is called
Correos. it is quite slow, but
express (urgente) mail is available.
Stamps can be purchased from
tobacconists (estanc) Main Correos
are open from 8-9 Mon.-Fri. and 9-7
on Saturday. In Catalan addresses,
the street name is written first,
followed by the number. Zip codes
have 5 digits.
How to get around:
Barcelona has an excellent bus and
Metro system. A map of the city and
transportation systems is essential
for ease of travel.
Metro:
There are 5 color coded metro lines
which are also numbered 1-5. Tickets
are inexpensive. The best value is a
T-1 card which gives 10 rides for
the price of 5 1/2 and can be used
on all forms of public transport
(bus, Metro, and FGC lines)
Bus :
Service is efficient and regular.
Trains:
Estacío de Sants is the city's main
train station, for national and some
international arrivals. The Estació
de França (or Estació Terminal),
next to the Parc de la Ciutadella,
is the terminal for long-distance
Spanish and European express and
inter-city trains.
FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat
de Cataluña) travels into the hill
country and around the city.
Ferries:
Ferries Tickets for Balearic ferries
from Transmediterránea, at the
Estacío Maritima tel. 93 443 2532.
Book in advance in July and August.
Taxis:
Black and yellow Barcelona taxis are
metered and fares are reasonably
priced. Luggage is extra. A small
tip is appreciated.
Air Travel:
The airport, 12km southwest of the
city, is linked by a half-hourly
train service. Many trains from the
airport also run on to Plaça de
Catalunya, a more direct way of
reaching the Barri Gòtic.
Alternatively, there's the efficient
Airbus (Aerobus; Mon-Fri every
15min, Sat-Sun every half-hour;
6/6.30-11; 450ptas), which departs
from outside the terminals on a
circular route and runs into the
centre via Plaça España, Gran Vía,
Plaça de Catalunya and Passeig de
Grácia.
Note:
Traffic drives on the right side of
the road in Spain. Driving in the
city center is not advised. There
are approximately 400,000 parking
spaces for the daily infusion of
600,000 cars. The public
transportation system is excellent
and a car is not necessary. |
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Attractions |
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Barrio Gótico (Old Town)
Metro lines 1,3 and 4 Jaume I
Station is in the heart of the
district The Gothic Quarter is one
of the oldest and most interesting
parts of Barcelona. The square of
Sant Jaume was the site of the Forum
in the days of the Roman Empire, and
there are many remnants of old
fortification walls still standing.
Also.located in the square are the
Palacio de la Generalitat and
Palacio del Ayuntiento (Townhall).
In Calle Paradis, on top of the
mountain Táber, there is old
millstone. Iberian tribes lived here
long before the time of the Roman
empire. At Plaza del Rei can be
found the Palacio Real Mayor,
Iglesia de Santa Agata and Palacio
del Archivo de la Corona de Aragón.
The Gothic cathedral and the
medieval palaces of Casa dels
Canonges, Pia Almoina and Ardiaca
are close by.
Casa de l' Ardiaca
Carrer de Santa Llúcia 1
93 318 1195
Metro Jaume 1
Mon-Fri 9-8:45
Standing beside what was the
Bishop's gate in the Roman wall is
the Archdeacon's house. It was built
in the 12th century, but its present
form dates from around 1500 when it
was remodeled and a colonnade added.
In 1870 this was extended by the
addition of a Gothic patio around
the fountain. A Modernista
architect, Domenech I Monrtaner
added a fanciful marble mailbox,
carved with three swallows and a
tortoise which stands beside the
Renaissance portal. The city
archives are housed upstairs.
Cathedral de Barcelona
Plaça de la Seu
93 315 1554
Built between 1298 and 1450, the
cathedral is an excellent example of
Catalonian Gothic architecture. It
was begun in 1298 under Jaume II on
the foundations of a Roman temple
and a Moorish mosque.Its large bell
towers blend medieval and
Renaissance styles. Beautiful
cloisters, the high altar, the side
chapels, the sculptured choir and
Gothic arches are among the features
that make this one of the most
impressive cathedrals in Europe. A
garden of magnolias is surrounded by
vaulted galleries in the cloisters.
The cloister is illuminated on
Sundays and feast days and contains
a museum displaying medieval art.
Among the works displayed is
Bartolomé Bermejo's La Pietat. A
plaque near the baptismal font
records the baptism of six native
Americans of the Carribean brought
to Spain by Christopher Columbus in
1493. Every Sunday noon passersby
join in dancing the sardana, a
Catalonian folk dance, in front of
the cathedral.
Frederic Mares Museum
Plaça Sant Iu 5
93 310 5800
Daily except Mondays from 10 - 5
Sundays and Public Holidays from 9 -
2
The sculptor Frederic Mares I
Deulovol (1893-1991) was a traveler
and collector. This building is part
of the Royal Palace complex and was
occupied by 13th century bishops,
14th century counts, 15th century
judges and 16th century nuns. Mares
had a small apartment in the
building and opened the museum in
1948. It is a fasscinating place and
boasts a fine collection of
Romanesque and Gothic religious art.
Exhibits range from clocks,
crucifixes and costumes to antique
cameras, pipes, tobacco jars and
postcards. There is also a room full
of antique children's toys.
Museum of the History of the City of
Barcelona
Casa Calriana Padellas. Plaça del
Rei.
93 315 11 11
July, August and September 10 - 8
Sun 10 - 2 p.m. Rest of the year 10
- 2 and 4 - 8 Sundays and Holidays
10 - 2 . Closed on Mondays all year.
The museum occupies a Gothic
building that in 1931 was brought
stone by stone from its original
location in Carrer dels Mercaders.
During the excavation at this site,
the remains of Roman water and
drainage systems, baths, mosaic
floors, and a road were found. The
basement now contains these
treasures of some of the ancient
construction of Roman Barcelona. The
three other floors have exhibits
relating to local history and post
Roman development..). There are many
documents, prints, paintings,
sculptures and ceramics.
Palau Reial Major (Royal Palace)
Plaça del Rei
93 315 1111
Originally the palace of the counts
of Barcelona, this later became the
residence of the kings of Aragón.
During the Inquisition, the accused
were tried in this square.
Of particular interest are the Salon
de Tinell, a 14th century banquet
hall with a wood paneled ceiling,
the Mirador del Rei Martí containing
a gothic chapel of 14th century
design and the ceremonial hall of
the counts of Barcelona, where
Christopher Columbus is said to have
been received by the king and queen
after returning from America.
Palau de la Generalitat (Parliament
Building)
Plaçe de Sant Jaume
93 402 4600
Catalonia's parliament building
constructed in gothic and
renaissance styles, has a superbly
designed chapel and stone staircase
that rises to an open air, arcaded
gallery.
Palau del Ayuntiento (Townhall)
The facade is of neoclassic, the
inner court of gothic style.
The Palau de la Música Catalana
At the corner of Carrer adeu Vives
stands this fascinating building:
the work of the architect Lluís
Domènech i Montaner, a follower of
Gaudí. The Palau de la Música dates
from 1908, and its interior is the
most typical of the modernist style.
Polychrome materials (tiled mosaics,
stained glass); floral themes and
the figures with the body in mosaic
and the bust in relief were created
by Eusebi Arnau. To the left of the
stage there is a willow tree in
stone, sculpted by Pau Gargallo,
evoking Catalan folk song in the
person of Anselm Clavé and the girls
of the song Les Flors de Maig. The
right-hand side depicts
international music, with the bust
of Beethoven and the ride of
Wagner's Valkyries. The Palau de la
Música was created as the home and
the concert hall of the Orfeó
Català, a great choral society
founded a few years earlier by the
composer Lluís Millet. It should be
noted here that the Orfeó Català has
had great importance in the
development of Catalan popular
music.
La Rambla
This boulevard is about 1 1/2 miles
in length and is situated between
Plaza de Catalunya and the port in
the Barrio Gótico section of
Barcelona. It is the main artery of
Barcelona's street system. People of
every age and social class can be
found here. Shoe shine boys, small
stands selling flowers and
vegetables, street theater,
commercial galleries, cafeterias,
terraces as well as some of the
great theaters of the city.
Postal Museum
Palace of La Virreina La Rambla, 99.
93 301 7775.
Monday to Friday from 9:30- 2 by
prior arrangement.
Wax Museum
Pasaje de la Banca, 7 (at the end of
La Rambla)
93 317 2649
Contains a collection of wax figures
representing famous people from the
world of the arts, science, history,
etc.
The Mercado de La Boquería
This is the most important and most
visited market of Barcelona, while
Pla de la Boqueriawas the old center
of town. In Palacio de la Virreina,
today seat of the culture department
of the regional government,
frequently you can see expositions
of art. Impressive is Casa Bruno
Cuadros with its dragon at the
front. You arrive to Plaça Reial, a
beautiful square with arcades,
palms, fountains and luxurious
shops. Here lived in former times
the bourgeoisie, but today it is the
heart of an artists district and
offers charming ambience with its
pubs and cafés. Sundays are a
popular market day for coin and
stamp collectors.
Museum of Geology
La Ciutadella Park. Passeig Tillers.
93 319 6895.
daily except Mondays from 10-2.
This is Barcelona's oldest museum.
It was opened in 1882. It has a
large collection of fossils and
minerals, including specimens from
Catalonia and around the country.
Museum of Modern Art
La Ciutadella Park. Plaça de Armas.
93 319 5023
Metro: Arc de Triomf
daily except Mondays 10 -7
Has paintings and sculptures from
the end of the 18th century up to
the present day. There are paintings
by Fortuny, Rusiñol, Casas, Nonell,
Regoyos, Zuloaga, Sunyer, Sotomayor
and Solana as well as sculptures by
Llimona, Gargallo, Hugue, Clara and
Rebull. there are also some bold
pieces of Modernista furniture
acquired from the houses in the
Eixample.
Palau Güell
(1886-1889)
Carrer Nou de la Rambla 3-5
Gaudi's first major building in the
center of the city was commissioned
by his life long patron, Eusebi
Güell in 1889. The mansion stands on
a small plot of land in a narrow
street. Inside Gaudí created a sense
of space by using carved screens,
recesses and galleries. Furniture
designed by him is also on display.
With its cupola, stairways and
impressive windows the house seems
to be of giant dimensions, but its
base is only 40x60 feet.
La Llotja (Commodity Exchange)
Carrer del Consolat de Mar 2
Metro: Jaume I
Built in the 1380's as the
headquarters of a guild of Catalan
sea traders, it was remodeled in neo
classical style in 1771 and housed
the city's stock exchange until
1994. The upper floor housed the
Barcelona School of Fine Arts where
the young Pablo Picasso and Joan
Miró both studied. The building is
now being used as a public library
and as local government offices.
Picasso Museum
Montcada, 15 - 19
Metro: Jaume I
Tuesday - Saturday and Holidays 10 -
8 , Sunday 10 - 3 , Monday closed.
The collections are housed in three
adjoining medieval palaces on Carrer
Montcada.
The works are divided into three
sections: paintings and drawings;
engravings and ceramics. The most
valuable exhibit is the 3,000 piece
collection of Picasso's early
drawings and paintings. These show
that even at the age of 15 and 16 he
was painting major works. Picasso
arrived in Barcelona when he was 13.
He was admitted to the upper school
where all the other pupils were at
least 20 years of age.
Zoological Museum
La Ciutadella Park.
93 319 6912
daily except Mondays from 9 - 2
Built as a restaurant for the 1888
Universal Exhibition and inspired by
the Gothic style Llotja (commodities
exchange), it has housed the museum
since 1937. Exhibition of stuffed
animals and interesting zoological
study collections.
Thyssen Bornemisza Collection
Foundation
Baixda Monestir, 9
93 280 1434
Daily: 10 - 2 . Saturday 10 - 5 .
Closed Mondays 71 paintings and 8
sculptures from the most
representative areas of the whole
collection: Italian and German
painting. It takes you on a journey
through the history of art from the
13th century to the 18th, with
examples of Italian Renaissance,
European Baroque, northern European
painting and late Venetian Baroque.
Barcelona and the Sea
La Barceloneta
Located just below the City center
on a triangle of land jutting into
the sea. Originally this was a
district of fishermen, but during
the last years this has changed
dramatically. The ambience of a
maritime village is still present,
but young business people have
discovered the excellence of the
seafood and restaurants have
renovated to accommodate the crowd
The offerings range from a
fashionable harbor-tavern to
moderately priced and more expensive
restaurants and cafés.
Maritime Museum
Located in the medieval Reales
Atarazanas (Royal Arsenals). Av.
Drassanes. 93 318 3245.
Open daily except Mondays from 10-7.
Contains objects and documents
relating to the history of
navigation, as well as the Llibre
del Consolat de Mar (the oldest
legislative book on maritime law in
existence). The Cartography and
Scale Model sections are of
particular interest.
Nao de Santa Maria del Mar
An accurate replica of Columbus'
ship Santa Maria, on which he was
sailed to the Americas.
Montjuic
The mountain of Montjuic, rising to
699 feet above the port on the south
side of the city is Barcelona's
largest recreation area. The Romans
called it Mons Jovis and built a
temple to Jupiter there. A Jewish
cemetery on the hill probably
inspired its name (Mount of the
Jews). Until 1640 when the castle
was built, there were few buildings
due to the lack of water. This trend
was reversed in preparation for the
World's Fair of 1929 when a building
boom occurred. Huge exhibition halls
lined the avenue and the Font Mágica
(Magic Fountain) sprang up in the
center. The fountain is now
illuminated in color. Another
building surge took place prior to
the 1992 Olympic Games. This has
left Barcelona with world class
sports facilities. On top of the
mountain, surrounded by beautiful
parks, there is a 17th century
fortress. As in other districts of
Barcelona, the old and the new
reside together.
Archeological Museum
Montjuic Park. Paseo de Sta.
Madrona.
93 423 2149
9:30 - 1:30 and 3:30 - 7 (except
Mondays). Sundays and Public
Holidays from 10 -2.
Exhibits from Prehistoric times to
the 7th century, with some rooms
reserved for interesting artifacts
from Balearic cultures. Magnificent
collection of Roman mosaics.
Bullfighting Museum
Located in the Monumental Bullring
245 5803.
Open during the bullfighting season
from 10:30 - 2 and 4 to 7.
On bullfighting days the museum is
open in the morning from 10 - 1
only. It consists of two large rooms
and exhibits the branding-irons and
emblems of famous stock farms, the
heads of famous bulls, a collection
of posters from the past, old
tickets, the suits of famous
bullfighters and rejoneadores
(mounted bullfighters), photographs,
documents, documents, a library and
other objects relating to
bullfighting in general.
Calrá Museum
Calatrava, 27.
93 203 4058.
Open daily except Mondays from
9:30-1:30.
Contains a collection of sculptures
by Calrá.
Ethnological Museum
Avinguda Santa Madrona Montjuic Park
93 424 6807
Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to
7 p.m. (24 September to 24 June)
Wednesday, Friday Saturday and
Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed
on Mondays. Contains objects from
the American Civilization before
Columbus; also artifacts from the
Philippines, Asia and Africa.
Footwear Museum
Plaça de Sant Felip Neri.
93 301 4533.
Open daily except Mondays from 11-2.
Gallery of Famous Catalans
Calle Bisbe Caçador, 3. Requesens
Palace
93 315 0010.
Visits by prior arrangement Monday
to Friday from 9 - 2
(Telephone for reservation: Museum
of the City of Barcelona 315 1111).
Contains a collection of portraits
of the great figures of Catalan
history.
Gaudí House and Museum
Next to the Carretera del Carmel.
93 284 6446.
Open daily except Saturdays.
Located in the house where Gaudi
lived. Guëll Park.
Holographical Museum
Jaume I, 1 (next to the Plaça de
Sant Jaume)
93 310 2172.
Monday to Saturday from 10:30-1:30
and 5:30-8:30. Closed on Sundays and
Public Holidays.
Contains holograms and demonstrates
holographic techniques.
Miró Foundation
Centre of Studies of Contemporary
Art.
Located on the hill of Montjuic.
Montjuic Park.
93 329 1908.
Open daily except Mondays from 11-
7. Sundays and Public Holidays from
10:30 - 2:30.
This private, cultural foundation
was set up by the painter Joan Miró
and has exhibition rooms, an
auditorium, a library, a prints
archive and areas set aside for
artistic and other exhibits. There
are three courtyards, gardens and
upper terraces for outdoor
exhibitions, as well as a permanent
exhibition of the works of Joan
Miró. The white, luminous building
was the work of the architect J.L.
Sert.
Montjuic Castle Military Museum
Montjuic Castle.
329 8613
Open daily except Mondays from 9:30
- 1:30 and 3:30 - 7:30.
Has a valuable collection of weapons
and historical documents.
Museum of Catalan Art
Montjuic Palace
93 423 7199
daily except Mondays 10 - to 7
Thursday 10-9 Sun. 10-2:30
Contains collections of Romanesque
and Catalan-Gothic art:; 11th and
12th century murals (perhaps the
best collection in the world), altar
pieces and carvings. Spanish and
European Baroque art are also well
represented.
Museum of Funeral Carriages
Sancho de Avila, 2
93 484 1720.
Monday to Friday from 9 - 2.
Saturdays and Sundays: Visits by
arrangement.
Museum of the History of Medicine
Pasaje Mercader, 11
93 216 0500
Open Monday to Friday from 10-1.
Contains a collection of some 2,500
exhibits showing the evolution of
medicine, as well as the personal
effects of the great masters of
Catalan medicine.
Textile and Costume Museum
Montcada, 12.
93 310 4516
Tuesday - Saturday 10 - 5 Sundays
and Holidays 10 - 2 Closed on
Mondays. Palace of the Marquis of
Llio. Rocora collection. Embroidery
section.
Vedraguer Museum
Vila Joana.
93 204 7805.
Open daily except Mondays from 10
-2.
The home of the Catalan poet Jacint
Verdaguer.
Buildings designed or enhanced by
Gaudí
Bellesguard
(1900-1909), C. Bellesguard
Landmark of Catalonia. This gothic
building, formerly summer-residence
of King Martí I., was modified by
Gaudí in genial harmony with the
original.
Casa Batllo
(1904-1906) , Passeig de Gracia 43
Another futurist work, with no
single straight line at its front.
Even the walls are curved and seem
to be covered by leather.
Casa Calvet
(1898-1900) , Carrer de Casp
Perhaps the most traditional work of
this master of extravagance. That
might be the reason why Gaudí
received for this building his one
and only honorable mention by the
city of Barcelona.
Casa Mila
(1906-1910) , Passeig de Gràcia 92
The irregularly curved walls of this
building remind of dunes in the
desert. When it was made, this
building was too futurist for most
people, and gained the nickname La
Pedrera, the quarry. Today it is
considered a landmark work of modern
architecture.
Casa Vincens
(1883-1888)
Carrer de les Carolines 18-24
Gaudí's first architectural work,
and a milestone in his career. The
building resembles the palace of an
Arabian prince, but was made for the
owner of a tile factory - material
of which Gaudí made ample use.
Colegio Teresiano
(1888-1889)
Ganduxer, 87
When he built this school, Gaudí
evidently was inspired by gothic
style and created a masterpiece of
simple and clear lines.
Finca Güell
(1884-1887), Av. de Pedralbes 77
Through a narrow portal the visitor
enters a fantastic world of forms
and colors, which the genial
architect created for his friend and
sponsor, industrialist Eusebi Güell.
The portal of Finca Miralles
Passeig Manuel Girona
Only a small work for another friend
of his, in an interesting contrast
to Casa Calvet, which was made
during the se period of time.
El Ensanche (Eixample) The Expansion
The modern center of Barcelona,
built between 1870 and 1936, was
planned by civil engineer Ildefons
Cerdá I Sunyer (1815-1876), who
wanted to create an luxurious
district for the bourgeoisie and to
enlarge the city to five times its
original size. His goal was
achieved. All the streets in the
area cross rectangularly, an unusual
thing in European town planning. The
best known monuments in El Ensanche
are the works of Antoní Gaudí, e.g.
the great cathedral Sagrada Familia,
Park Güell and Palacio Güell,
together with Casa de los Punxes and
Casa atler de Puig i Cadalfach, all
of them masterworks of modernistic
style. The central square is Plaza
de Catalunya, whose dimensions are
comparable to those of the Vatican
in Rome. Regularly this square is
modified, most recently in 1986.
Passeig de Gràcia
Along this boulevard, between the
streets Consell de Cent and Aragó on
the southwestern side, stands the
famous city block popularly known as
l'illa de la discòrdia , due to the
contrast in the architecture of its
buildings, all from the first decade
of the 20th century. The building at
the seaward end of the block is the
Lleó Morera mansion, by Lluís
Domènech i Montaner, built in
modernist floral style. This is
followed by two buildings of a
modernized Louis XV type, by Enric
Sagnier, and a neo-Gothic mansion
decorated with polychrome tiles,
designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch.
Next door is the Batlló house , with
a mosaic façade and a tiled roof, by
Antoni Gaudí. A little farther up
the street, on the right-hand side
on the corner of Carrer Provença, is
the Milà mansion 'La Pedrera',
designed by Gaudí shortly after the
completion of the Batlló house . The
uniqueness of La Pedrera is not
limited to the sculptural forms of
its façade, but also extends to the
interior of the building.
The one hundred city blocks
centering on the Paseig de
Gràcia,are known as the Quadrat d'Or
(Golden Square) as they contain so
many of the buildings constructed in
the best Modernista style. Stained
glass, ceramics and ornamental
ironwork abound. The area is a
showcase of highly original
buildings and smart shops.
Sagrada Familia (The Temple of the
Holy Family)
(1883-1926)
Plaça de la Sagrada Filia
Situated to one side of the Plaça de
la Sagrada Fília, between the
streets Marina, Provença, Sardenya
and Mallorca, stands the Temple
Expiatori de la Sagrada Família,
which was initially a neo-Gothic
project designed by the architect
Francesc de Paula del Villar. Gaudí
was commissioned to continue the
work in 1891, and replaced the
existing project with a much more
ambitious one which resulted in the
enormous present-day structure.
Sagrada Familia was designed to
convey religious symbolism. It has
three monumental facades: the east
front, dedicated to the Birth of
Christ; the west front, dedicated to
the Passion and Death; and the south
front, the facade of the
Glorification, which is the largest
of all. The four towers of each of
the three facades jointly symbolize
the twelve apostles. The dome shaped
tower which crowns the apse is the
symbol of the Mother of God, and the
four large towers dedicated to the
evangelists encircle the central
spire, which symbolizes the Savior.
This great cathedral, inspired by
the Gothic style, yet a landmark of
modern architecture, is in reality
not much more than a facade. Gaudí
died unexpectedly before he could
finish his grandest and most beloved
project. Gaudi had sold everything
he owned to contribute to the
cathedral's construction and lived
as a pauper in a shack on the site
while he oversaw the building
process. The plans for its
completion were locked in his head
when he was run over by a tram in
1926. There should be galleries with
space for 1500 singers, 700 children
and 5 organs and the magnificent
structure should be filled with
hymns of praise. Instead, the
project lies dormant. The question
is whether it will ever be finished.
Hospital de la Santa Creu I de Sant
Pau
Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret
167
93 291 9000
Grounds open daily. Call to see
interior.
Hospital of 15th and 16th century,
together with a church of 15th
century and an archive building.
Luis Domenech Montaner believed that
patients would recover more rapidly
in a beautiful setting. Thus, he
envisioned a hospital with 26
attractive pavilions set in large
gardens. He hoped to get patients
out of wards and into the out of
doors where there were fresh air and
trees. The pavilions were decorated
lavishly in bright colors to cheer
those who were ill. The turreted
roofs were tiled with ceramics and
the reception pavilion embellished
with mosaic murals and sculptures.
After his death, the project was
completed by his son, Pere.
Perfume Museum
Passeig de Gracia, 39
93 216 0146.
Open Monday to Friday from 10:30
-1:30 and 4:30 to 8. Closed on
Saturdays afternoon, Sundays and
Public Holidays.
Contains a valuable collection of
scent bottles and cosmetics jars
dating from antiquity to the present
day.
Museum of Music
Avinguda Diagonal 373
93 416 1157.
daily except Mondays from 9-2.
Wednesday 5 - 8
Contains string and wind
instruments, manuscripts and
personal effects of the great
musicians.
Attractions in the Area Just Outside
the City Center
Note: Much of this area was
developed in the late 1980's and
1990's. Sants, the city's main
station was rebuilt and the
neighboring Parc de l"Espanya
Industrial and Parc Joan Miró were
created containing futuristic
sculpture and architecture. Close to
the Poblenou the city has a national
theter and concert hall. In the west
the streets climb steeply toward the
Royal Palace and Monastery of
Pedralbes and Parc Güell. Tibidabo,
the highest point in Barcelona has
an amusement park and is reached by
funicular.
Museum of Barcelona Football
(Soccer) Club
Avinguda Aristides Maillol.
(Stadium).
93 330 9411
Open Tuesdays to Fridays from 10-1
and 3-6. Saturdays, Sundays and
Holidays from 10-2 (closed on match
days).
April to October: Mondays to
Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Holy days from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed on Sundays.
Explains the club's history and
displays its trophies. Special video
shown on five screens. Includes
visit to the presidential box.
Museum of the Monastery of Pedralbes
At the end of the Paseo de Reina
Elisenda
Baixda Monestir 9
93 203 9282
Open Tuesday - Friday and Sunday 10
- 2 Saturday 10 - 5 Closed on
Mondays. This building, which is of
great architectural value, contains
personal property which shows the
history of the monastery.
Museum of the Arts, Industry and
Popular Traditions
Poble Espanyol
93 423 6954. Call for times.
The streets and roads built for the
1929 World Exhibition give a glimpse
of the country's many architectural
styles. Reproductions range from the
gleaming white houses of Andalucia
to the flat granite facades of
Galicia, all blended to form one
"village." The buildings house
restaurants, cafés, and workshops
where crafts and artifacts from all
over Spain are displayed. In the
evenings dinner is served
accompanied by live music and
flamenco dancing.
The Palau de la Música Catalana
At the corner of Carrer adeu Vives
stands this building, the work of
the architect Lluís Domènech i
Montaner, a follower of Gaudí. The
Palau de la Música dates from 1908,
and its interior is the most
important testimony of the modernist
style. Here we find polychrome
materials (tiled mosaics, stained
glass); the floral themes and the
figures with the body in mosaic and
the bust in relief are by Eusebi
Arnau. To the left of the stage
there is a willow tree in stone,
sculpted by Pau Gargallo, evoking
Catalan folk song in the person of
Anselm Clavé and the girls of the
song Les Flors de Maig. The
right-hand side evokes international
music, with the bust of Beethoven
and the ride of Wagner's Valkyries.
The Palau de la Música was created
as the home and the concert hall of
the Orfeó Català, a great choral
society founded a few years earlier
by the composer Lluís Millet. It
should be noted here that the Orfeó
Català has had great importance in
the revaluation of Catalan popular
music.
Parc Güell
(1900-1914)
Carrer d'Olot
A fascinating scenario of gardens
and overdimensional architectonic
forms which seem to be born by the
ground. Gaudí created an equilibry
that usually only exists in nature,
but never in architecture. The Parc
Güell.
The Parc Güell is situated on the
Carmel hill, which, along with that
of La Creueta and the Muntanya
Pelada, separates the district of
Gràcia from that of Horta. The
financier Eusebi Güell decided to
construct a garden city on the old
estate of Can Montaner, and
commissioned the project to Gaudí.
Only two houses came to be built
within the enclosure of the Park,
which was conserved as such and
which is now a municipal garden. The
whole of the urban development part
was realized between the years 1900
and 1914.
Science Museum
Teodor Roviralta, 55
Tibidabo Station.
93 212 6050.
10 - 8 (except Mondays).
Planetarium shows. Weekdays at 1 and
6. Saturdays, Sundays and Public
Holidays every 30 minutes (Children
under 4 not admitted to planetarium
shows)). Scientific film shows.
Saturdays, Sundays and Public
Holidays in the morning and the
afternoon.
Ceramica Museum
Palace of Pedralbes.
93 280 1621
daily except Mondays from 10 - 5
Fine collection of Spanish and
Foreign ceramics
Museum of Ceric
Palacio de Pedralbes
Tuesday to Sunday 10 to 2 , Monday
closed.
Museum of Decorative Arts
Av. Diagonal, 686
Tuesday to Sunday 10 to 2 , Monday
closed.
Outrageous collection of tapestry
and other objects of art. |
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