Some general information about Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, and the second largest city of Spain.
It lies on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. In 1992 the Summer Olympic Games were held in Barcelona.
The city is also famous of the buildings of Gaudí. 
He was Spain's famous architect, and now his fascinating legacy of colourful buildings and creations are the main attractions of Barcelona.
For example the Güell Park, or the Sagrada Familia.

The Plaza Real

The square opens via an arcaded passageway from the Ramblas. It is an important and lovely tryst especially at night, generally filled with people from the city and tourists. There are a lot of palms trees, and on the center there is a fountain with a sculpture of the Three Graces and next to the fountain there are 4 nice street lamps designed by Antoni Gaudí in his early years.

Sagrada Familia (Holy Family Church)

The Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) is a massive Roman Catholic temple. Construction began in 1882. Antoni Gaudí worked on the basilica for over 40 years, devoting the last 15 years of his life entirely to this project. On the subject of the extremely long construction period, Gaudí is said to have joked, "My client is not in a hurry." :) After Gaudí's death in 1926, work continued, but parts of the unfinished building and Gaudí's models and workshop were destroyed during the war by Catalan anarchists. The design, as now being constructed, is based both on reconstructed versions of the lost plans and on modern adaptations.

According to the media, 2,26 million people visited the partially built temple in 2004, making it one of the most popular attractions in Spain. It has 12 bell towers between 90 m and 112 m high represent the apostles. The main central bell tower will be 170 m high and with a huge cross on their top, but it will follow in the future.

Sagrada Familia - Colorful windows

Sagrada Familia - Inside

The entrance fee is 8 Euros. An elevator takes up one of the towers. From this level bird's-eye view on the works, and a wonderful panorama of the city can be seen. Unfortunately usually we have to wait a lot of time in a very long queue before we can go up. We've haven't got enough time, so now we don't have any pictures from the tower. :(

Sagrada Familia - Museum in the basement

The scale-modell of the complete church:

Sagrada Familia - When will it be complete?

Sagrada Familia - Gaudí's endurance modell

Antoni Gaudí

Antoni Gaudí was born in Reus as a son of a coppersmith, Spain in 1852. He studied at the Escola Superior d'Arquitectura in Barcelona and designed his first major commission for the Casa Vincens in Barcelona using a Gothic Revival style that set a precedent for his future work.
Over the course of his career, Gaudí developed a sensuous, curving, almost surreal design style which established him as the innovative leader of the Spanish Art Nouveau movement. Gaudi's characteristically warped form of Gothic architecture drew admiration from other avant-garde artists.
Although categorized with the Art Nouveau, Gaudi created an entirely original style. He died in Barcelona in 1926.

The Güell Park

The park built in the years 1900 to 1914 and designed by Antoni Gaudí. The park is a fantasy land that combines the natural and the man-made. It was originally conceived as a residential garden city and built for Gaudí’s patron, Eusebi Güell Bacigalupi, a textile manufacturer who had a keen interest in the arts and helped develop the architect’s career. But the project was too radical for its time and, as a real estate project, was a great failure. Only 2 houses were built against the planned 60. The property was sold to the city of Barcelona in 1922, and today it remains an amazing public park and World Heritage monument. Don't miss it when You visit Barcelona, Gaudí's creativity is unbelievable!

Güell Park - On the main teracce

Sorry, Gaudí's mosaic work on the teracce bench isn't visible because the resting tourists... So You must go to Barcelona to see it closely! ;)

Güell park - Sloping columns

Güell park - Flowered Gate