Barcelona - Gothic Quarter
We didn't know . . . We didn't realize that the Roman Empire extended into Spain. We were surprised to see Roman ruins in the center of the city. We learned that the Romans ruled Spain for over 600 years.
On Our Own While touring the Gothic Quarter, we passed by a building that Federico called the Music Palace. As we are part-time musicians, we felt an obligation to pay a visit during our free time that afternoon. The Palau de la Musica Catalana was designed by Domenechi Montaner for musical performances. It was completed in 1908. We learned to not judge a building from the outside! What looked like a rather plain shell on the outside was a jewel on the inside!
The lobby was ornate, with a golden circular stairway. Detailed mosaics were on columns. Inside the concert hall was the biggest surprise of all! An amazingly detailed stained glass ceiling was the focal point of the room. Arched windows let in bright sunlight. Carved roses were on walls and ceilings. We enjoyed a short concert on the magnificent pipe organ. We later learned that this is a World Heritage Site and well worth the visit. Travel Tips Take some time to relax and people watch while on a trip. We walked to the end of the Ramblas to the harbor and found a great little bar on the waterfront. They served our wine with a small plate of olives. In Spain, wine usually comes with a little food. Who knew that the saltiness of the olives would complement the wine so well? And they are not those bright green, stuffed with red, olives that we eat back home! This is a custom we brought home with us.
|
This morning we toured the Cathedral of Barcelona. It was lovely from the outside, with an arched doorway and tall spires. The inside was beautiful with grand columns, golden alters and graceful carvings. In the center of the Cathedral was a beautiful courtyard, complete with a fountain and ... a gaggle of guard geese?! A little surprising, but apparently geese have been here for many years and they looked quite at home.
More sites along our walk. Art is everywhere!
Here is a mural by Picasso on a building that we passed. Unexpected treasure on the street! We visited the Picasso Museum, but weren't allowed to take pictures inside. It had a large collection of works done in his youth. We saw his beautiful landscapes and portraits, done at an early age. We saw pictures in blue as he went through his "Blue Period," depressed after the death of his friend. How his style changed as he aged! Our prior impression of Picasso's work was of rearranged body parts.
We saw art, not only in the museums, but out on the street. Walls, sidewalks, gates, and signs all showed beautiful workmanship and attention to detail. We passed a window with large statues and learned that they were part of the Parade of the Giants. Since we weren't there during the celebration, we looked for a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atvkNfxyjJM |