Barcelona #5 - Walking Tour at L'Eixample

Note: Please click for detail of full map for the reference places.

Built in one remarkable burst of creative energy in the second half of the 19th century, when the old city walls were demolished, L’Eixample—the name means “extension” or “enlargement” in Catalan—was the brainchild of engineer/urban planner Ildefons Cerdà, who designed a grid for the industrial magnates of the time to fill in with their exuberant art nouveau homes and apartments. It’s an area filled with delightful discoveries in stained glass, wrought iron, polychrome ceramic tile, and carved stone.

Start your walk at Antoni Gaudí’s (1) Sagrada Família church (Carrer deMallorca 401); everybody does. (See “Must-Dos” for a detour to the Hospital de Sant Pau.) Take Carrer Mallorca from there to where it meets Avinguda Diagonal, turn right, and walk west along the Diagonal to the Passeig de Gràcia. Along the way, on the right at Avinguda Diagonal 416-420, is the (2) Casa de les Punxes (House of the Spikes), the turreted, Gothic-quoting apartment building by Gaudí’s contemporary, Puig i Cadafalch. Farther along, at Avinguda Diagonal 373 on the left, poke a nose into (3) the Palau Baró de Quadras, also Puig i Cadafalch’s, built as an aristocratic family home, now headquarters for the cultural foundation Casa Asia (www.casaasia.es).

Turn left on the Passeig de Gràcia—L’Eixample’s fashionable central artery. Two blocks down, on the left, at Carrer de Provença 261-265, is the (4) Casa Milà, also known as “La Pedrera” (the stone quarry), with its wavy walls like ocean waves in stone. Allow at least an hour to explore this UNESCO World Heritage site (see “Must-Dos”) before continuing down avenue to (5) Casa Batlló (Passeig de Gràcia 43, on the west side—another Gaudí masterpiece (www.casabatllo.es). The façade is covered in mosaics of colored tiles, with wrought-iron balconies like rows of grinning skulls; one apartment, the lobby, and rooftop are open to the public. (Tip: Compared to “La Pedrera,” the admission ticket is a bit expensive for what you get to see.) Next door, at Passeig de Gràcia 41, is Puig i Cadafalch’s (6) Casa Amatller, where you can explore the first-floor exhibition space for free—and buy some of Barcelona’s best chocolate. Antoni Amatller, who commissioned the house, was heir to one of the oldest chocolatiers in Europe.

Retrace your steps to Carrer d’Aragó, and walk one block west to the Rambla deCatalunya. On the way, at Aragó 255, is the (7) Fundació Antoni Tàpies (www.fundaciotapies.org), a cultural center and museum established by one of Barcelona’s best-known modern painters. The building, an early work in the evolution of Catalan modernism, was originally the Montaner i Simon publishing house; publishing was—and still is—an important part of Barcelona’s culture and economy, Turn left on Rambla de Catalunya and stroll down this divided boulevard, lined with boutiques and cafés, to the (8) Plaça de Catalunya—the heart of the city—where you end your walk.

Source: Info from http://travel.nationalgeographic.com

Barcelona #4 - Walking Tour at The Waterfront

Note: Please click for detail of full map for the reference places.

This part of the old city brings you to the water-to the medieval age of Barcelona's maritime empire, and the rebirth of its modern waterfront.

From the Plaça de Catalunya, walk east to Via Laietana and turn right toward the port. Turn left at Plaça de Lluis Millet to Domènech i Montaner's (1) Palau de la Música Catalana at Palau de la Música 4-6 (www.palaumusica.org). An over-the-top confection of ornamental brick, friezes and marble sculpture, mosaic tile, and stained glass, it's one of the most important modernista works in Barcelona. Take the guided tour in English on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Return to Via Laietana, turn left on Carrer de la Princesa and right on Carrer de Montcada. The street is lined with the 14th-century noble houses built when Barcelona was a Mediterranean power, most of them now museums and galleries. The (2) Museu Picasso at Carrer de Montcada 15-23 (www.museupicasso.bcn.es) occupies three adjoining palaces; the core of the collection is his series of paintings based on "Las Meninas" by Velázquez. Farther down, at Carrer de Montcada 12-14 on the opposite side, are the (3) Museu Tèxtil i d'Indumentària (www.museutextil.bcn.es) and the (4) Museu Barbier-Mueller d'Art Pre Colombí—both with pleasant courtyard cafés.
At the end of Carrer de Montcada, on the right, is (5) Santa Maria del Mar (Plaça de Santa Maria 1). The church suffered heavily during the civil war, but retains an awe-inspiring beauty; note that it's closed to visitors 1:30-4:30 p.m. and after 8:00 p.m. (see "Must-Dos"). Turn left, and make a short detour up the tree-shaded Passeig del Born to explore the (6) Mercat del Born at Plaça Comercial; inspired by Les Halles in Paris. Recent restoration work uncovered remains of a section of the city dating to the Bourbon occupation in the 18th century. The market is now a cultural center and a venue for performances and exhibitions.

Take the Carrer d'Espaseria from the front portal of Santa Maria del Mar to the (7) Plaça del Palau, turn right on Passeig d'Isabel II, and walk to the ornate Central Post Office at Plaça d'Antoni López, where Via Laietana ends at the Passeig de Colom. En route, at Passeig d'Isabel II 7, you pass (8) La Llotja—the stock exchange—the earliest sections of which date to the 14th century. Cross the Passeig de Colom to (9) Roy Lichtenstein's sculpture "Barcelona Head," and walk east and then south along the Passeig de Joan de Borbó past the (10) Palau de Mar—the only building of Barcelona's old port still standing, now home to the Museu d'Història de Catalunya at Plaça de Pau Vila 3 (www.mhcat.net)—to where the mini-grid of (11) Barceloneta begins on the left.

This working-class barrio was once the fishermen's quarter; its narrow streets have some of the city's cheapest and best tapas bars and seafood restaurants. At the far end of the barrio begins the first of Barcelona's public beaches, stretching nearly three miles (4.8 kilometers) along the Passeig Marítim to the north.

Return toward the Passeig de Colom, turn left, and walk along the (12) Moll d'Espanya waterfront park and marina. At the far end, at Port Vell, where cruise boats depart for tours of the harbor, cross the footbridge to the Plaça del Portal de la Pau and the (13) Monument Colom. Nearly 200 feet (61 meters) high, the monument was erected for the Universal Exhibition in 1888; the statue of Columbus points—a classic misdirection—out to sea, to North Africa, and not North America. Take the elevator inside to the top, for a fine view of the port.

If time permits, cross the roundabout and visit the fascinating (14) Museu Marítim at Avinguda de les Drassanes (www.museumaritimbarcelona.com); if not, take Las Ramblas up to the Plaça de Catalunya to end your walk.

Source: Info from http://travel.nationalgeographic.com

Barcelona #3 - Walking Tour at Ciutat Vella

Note: Please click for detail of full map for the reference places.

This walk takes in part of medieval Barcelona, filled with detours and labyrinths of narrow streets and small squares, easy to get lost in; you’ll need the better part of a day to do it properly.

From Plaça deCatalunya, walk south on (1) Las Ramblas, the long promenade to the port—filled at all hours with strollers, human statues, con artists, fortune tellers, and portrait painters. Carrer de Bonsuccés, the second street on the right, affords a worthwhile detour through (2) El Raval—until recently one of the city’s darker and more dangerous areas, now a funky ethnic mix approaching gentrification—to the (3) Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona, at Plaça dels Àngels 1 (http://www.macba.es/).

Return to Las Ramblas and continue south. Turn left on Carrer de la Portaferrissa, and right on Carrer de Petritxol. This short street lined with galleries, art supply shops, and chocolatiers leads to the 14th-century Gothic church of (4) Santa Maria del Pi (Plaça del Pi), a serenely simple space with a single wide nave and superb stained glass; the adjacent Plaça Sant Josep Oriol has an artists’ market on weekends. Resist—for now—the warren of Barri Gòtic streets behind the church, return to Las Ramblas, and continue south.

Pass the (5) Palau de la Virreina on the right, at Las Ramblas 99—a baroque palace built for the ex-viceroy of Peru, now housing the municipal department of culture. Next door, join the throngs of shoppers and casual noshers in the 167-year-old (6) Mercat de Sant Josep (la Boqueria) produce market, at Las Ramblas 91. A block farther on is the (7) Gran Teatre delLiceu (opera house), opposite the Metro station at Las Ramblas 51-59. Tip: guided tours are in Spanish, but at 11:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 12:30 p.m., and 1 p.m., you can explore the main building on your own. Continue down Las Ramblas to the (8) Palau Güell at Carrer Nou de Las Ramblas 3-5, the grand residence Gaudí designed for his immensely wealthy patron Eusebi Güell.

Cross the promenade and wander into the (9) Plaça Reial, a classical square of mid-19th-century apartments, with towering palm trees, Gaudí street lamps, and a ground-floor arcade of shops and restaurants. On Sundays the square has a coin and stamp market. Leave the Plaça Reial through the arch on the north side, turn right on Carrer de Ferran, and walk up to the (10) Plaça de Sant Jaume, the heart of the Barri Gòtic. On the right side of the square, at Plaça Sant Jaume 1, is the (11) City Hall—the Ajuntamentor Casa de la Ciutat; on the left, at Plaça Sant Jaume 4, is the (12) Palau de la Generalitat, seat of the government of Catalonia.

From the Plaça, take Carrer de Jaume I to the (13) Museu d’Història de la Ciutat (Plaça del Rei 7-9: see "Must-Dos"); allow an hour to discover Roman-era Barcelona. From the (14) Saló del Tinell and (15) Plaça del Rei, where you exit the museum, walk through the lovely courtyard of the (16) Palau del Lloctinent (“viceroy’s palace”), to the back of (17) the Catedralde Santa Eulàlia (Plaça de la Seu). Walk around to the Catedral’s square—where sardanes folk dances take place on Sunday mornings—and explore (if you dare) the narrow streets off the square leading into the Barri Gòtic.

Leave the square by Carrer de Bisbe toward the Avingudadel Portal de l’Angel, with the out-of-place Collegi d’Arquitectes de Catalunya building on your right—a white concrete box with a Picasso-designed frieze, oblivious to its historical surroundings—and stroll up this boutique-lined arcade to the Plaça de Catalunya and the end of the walk. On the way, turn right at the third corner for a quick detour to (18) 4Gats at Carrer de Montsió 3—a turn-of-the-20th century bohemian café and art circle that mounted the first solo exhibition for a promising young hanger-on named Pablo Picasso.

Source: Info from http://travel.nationalgeographic.com

Barcelona #2 - Some Information about Barcelona

In a privileged position on the northeastern coast of the Iberian peninsula and the shores of the Mediterranean, Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain in both size and population. It is also the capital of Catalonia, 1 of the 17 Autonomous Communities that make up Spain.

The capital of Catalonia is unequivocally a Mediterranean city, not only because of its geographic location but also and above all because of its history, tradition and cultural influences. The documented history of the city dates back to the founding of a Roman colony on its soil in the second century B.C. Modern Barcelona experienced spectacular growth and economic revival at the onset of industrialization during the second half of the 19th century. The 1888 World's Fair became a symbol of the capacity for hard work and the international outlook projected by the city. Culture and the arts flourished in Barcelona and in all of Catalonia; the splendor achieved by Catalonian modernism is one of the most patent displays.

Barcelona is one of the nicest cities to visit. Its museums, theatres, art galleries and nightlife are of an impressive high standard. Besides that, this art and design centre has a lot of interesting sights to offer to its visitors.

Spring is the best time to visit Barcelona, you will expect the temperature of about 20 DegC and it is just a nice weather to walk around the city. Be take note as well, during summer, it can get very hot and humid and crowded, due to the tourists and cultural events taking place in September.

There are two official languages spoken in Barcelona: Catalan, generally spoken in all of Catalonia, and Castillian Spanish. The city of Barcelona has a population of 1.510.000, but this number spirals to more than 4.000.000 if the outlying areas are also included.


Place: Gothic Quarter


Place: Las Ramblas Promenade


Place: Main Pedestrian Promenade


Place: Near the Templo de la Sagrada Familia


Place: North Entrance to Parc de la Ciutadella


Place: Oceanarium

Source:
(A) Barcelona's Photo from travel.nationalgeographic.com
(B) Information about Barcelona from www.sprachcaffe.com

Barcelona #1

When say about Barcelona, the first thing come into my mind is:-

THIS!!!

and THEM!!!

and THE EXCITEMENT MOMENT OF GLORY!!!

If you are first time visiting the city of Barcelona in Spain, you certainly will attract with its fantastic tastes. Barcelona is the city known for its history, impressive culture, aesthetic opulence, fabulous monuments, fantastic modernist architecture works, museums & art galleries, and on top of above all, is their people.

Why I say so??? More to share in coming Posts...