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La Sagrada Familia and more of Gaudi

Home -> City trips -> Barcelona -> Travelogue Barcelona -> 25 November 2001

Sunday 25 November, La Sagrada Familia and more of Gaudi

After first taking in the necessary amount of coffee we walk through the mediaval districts Ribera and Barri Gotic to the Placa de Catalunya. It is a very pleasant walk with all the narrow streets and attractive squares and it is almost a pity when we reach the lively and modern square. Every night of this trip we wander for a few hours through the old city to taste and feel the atmosphere (and to have a snack and a drink, of course).

In Ribera one can visit the Picasso-museum, established in 1963 in an impressive medieval patrician house. To the left the Santa Maria del Mar church.

After buying a 3-day metrocard (about € 10 p.p.) we first walk down the Ramblas to look at the living statues and other artists. Apart from the many artists there is a continuous bird market. We even see a rooster. People from Barcelona love having birds. When walking through the city it is possible to see and hear all kinds of birds, like parrots, who have escaped and can easily survive in the mild climate.

Even on a quiet sunday as today there are many artists on the Ramblas, among them several living statues, an art which originates in Barcelona, we are told.
The remainder of the day we spend visiting the Sagrada Familia, constructed by Gaudi, and some other buildings made by him. Here a few pictures, but you can find more information and pictures on the special Gaudi-page on this website.

The work started in 1882 and in 1883 Gaudi became the architect. From then on he put a firm personal stamp on the building. The church, also called "Cathedral of the poor", was only to be build with money from gifts.

During the construction of the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi experimented in other projects with his ideas, which he later used in the building of the cathedral. The last 12 years of his life (1914-1926) Gaudi dedicated himself totally to this magnum opus. When he died, only the eastern facade, dedicated to the life of Christ, had been finished.
At the moment the work is continued and is expected to be ready around 2030 or maybe even later.

We climb the towers, but afterwards regret that we haven't saved that part for the last day: 426 steps up and the same amount down again give us quite trembling legs and for days we have sore muscles...

There is also an elevator, but that is too easy an option for us and one misses all the nice views on the way up from the towers and the fantastic figures and symbols which seem to be glued to the cathedral on every side.

But the view over Barcelona makes it all worth while. We would like to be up here once the cathedral is finished, but until then the view will be a mixture of artistic towers and towering cranes.

Between 1904 and 1907 Gaudi rebuild a house from 1877 for the industrial Josep Batllo Casanovas. The building looks very modern and especially vivid, qualities which Gaudi gave to many of his creations. Many present architects can learn a lot from that.

Casa Mila was build between 1906 and 1912 by Gaudi, an assignment of the rich family Mila. Today it is an apartment building and we can go inside the central hall to admire the entrance.

Casa Vicens was the first important building that Gaudi completed. The house was build between 1883 and 1888. It is a mosaic of colourful tiles.

At the end of the afternoon we are a bit tired of looking at all these buildings and we decide to have a break at the Placa Reial, near the Ramblas, to have a rest and to indulge ourselves in a meal and drinks. Tramps are still busy searching for usefull stuff among the leftovers from the morning market and come by now and then to beg for money or cigarettes.

But we can't escape Gaudi: the lampposts on this square turn out to be made by him in his youth.

After a short rest in our hotel, we walk to the Ramblas at night, without taking the camera. We don't want to walk to much since our feet and legmuscles still hurt very much. There are enough bars where we can sit and watch the nightlife of Barcelona.

La Sagrada Familia and more of Gaudi

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Sunday 25 November, La Sagrada Familia and more of Gaudi