Day Two
Day two in Barcelona was a busy one for us and we flagged it off with a walking tour to discover the cultural hub of Barcelona the Gothic Quarters. Taking this trip was the best part of the entire tour.
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| Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia |
Destination One: Walking tour of the Gothic Quarters.
The Barri Gotic or better known as the Gothic Quarter is a beautiful neighborhood that upholds a perfect blend of modernity and tradition. This used to be a Roman village hence glimpses of its glorious historical past are evident in many of the places. In terms of architecture, one can find a mix of both traditional as well as modern buildings standing side by side here, giving this a typical old-world charm with a zing of newness.
This place is quite a labyrinth given its winding streets, all of which have something or the other to offer for the tourists who flock to this place. There are a number of restaurants, bars, cafes, eating joints as well as shoppers delights in this area.
Travel Checks: Try to buy souvenirs from this area, the rates at which they are available here is the best! We bought 3 fridge magnets for 5 Euros. There are a number of shops to make you feel spoilt for choice.
The most tourist-loved area in this place is the Cathedral of Barcelona which is located right in the heart of the Gothic Quater. Officially the church is called Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia. It was build between the 13th and 15th centuries. One of the highlights inside the cathedral is the crypt below the Capella Major, which contains the sarcophagus of Santa Eulalia. One can also visit the cloister, here expect to find a beautiful garden with an orange tree, magnolias and palm trees, and a charming fountain in the middle. An elevator takes you to the top of the church where one can enjoy the amazing panoramic views of the city. There are certain rules associated with entry to the cathedral, one has to be dressed appropriately.
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| Gothic Quater |
An afternoon or late evening stroll through the winding Gothic Quater streets is a great way to discover and explore the plethora of shopping and indulgence experiences that this place has to offer alongside a great and lively night-life!
There are metro stops on both sides of the Gothic Quarter, there are three on Las Ramblas which runs up one side of the area At the top of Las Ramblas is Plaça de Catalunya from where you can go onto Passeig de Gràcia if your shopping tastes are slightly more designer orientated, or if you want to see Gaudí's buildings.
Fun fact: When you go to see the Cathedral of Barcelona, peek at its sides, you will be surprised to discover that only the face or main front of the cathedral was renovated leaving the rest of it untouched and unaltered.
Travel Checks: This tour was a free tour but people can pay as much as they want, based on their experience and how they value it. It is expected that a minimum of 10 euros per head is paid. The group sizes vary depending upon how many people choose to sign up for that particular time slot. Find the link to their Facebook page here.
(How to spot the team? Hint: they will be waiting for you with a big purple umbrella)
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The tour party with our fabulous tour guide Francesca(in the middle)
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The walking tour gave us an experience that took us way back into the history of the city of Barcelona. The lady who was heading the tour for us was extremely well versed in the cultural and social life of the place. The entire tour took us good two-three hours (roughly), but every minute of it was worth it. For instance, the tour started with a visit to the graveyard that marks the last of the remains of the roman inspired past that Barcelona had. Then next we visited the Cathedral, where we learned some fascinating history and facts about it. Next was a long walk down memory lane, where we visited the complex that once witnessed a gathering to felicitate the achievements of Columbus, this same complex also has bloody tales associated with it. While strolling along the streets we heard so many stories related to the various historical events that had unfolded in Barcelona, starting from its discovery, planning the layout of the city to the Spanish flu to the world war scars like the Plaça Sant Felip Neri.
Travel Checks: Francesca our tour guide has a website called the BestFiveBCN (www.bestfivebcn.com) of her own which also provides great insights into the tourist interests of Barcelona, you can check it out.  |
| The walls of the church and the buildings on the square are badly damaged |
The Plaça Sant Felip Neri is a tiny, romantic-looking square which has a sad tale associated with it. In 1938 the square was bombed and 42 people, mainly children who were playing on the square, died from the attack. You will notice that the walls of the church and the buildings on the square are badly damaged. On the left side of the church is a plaque, that read, In memory of the victims of the bombing of Sant Felip Neri. Here 42 people died, the majority of them being children, by the action of the fascist aviation on the 30th of January, 1938, this monument to date stands testimony to its historical past. We also visited a number of locations while on our tour where many famous Hollywood movies like Perfume the story of a murderer.
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| Plaça de la Generalitat |
We also visited the square which is said to be the political heart of Barcelona, Plaça de Sant Jaume (also known as Plaça de la Generalitat). The Casa de la Ciutat, the City Hall, and the Palau de la Generalitat, the palace of the Catalan government, are located here. On Sunday mornings the City Hall opens its doors for visitors and you can take a look inside this stately building. When in luck (mostly on the weekends), you might also be able to see some traditional Catalan traditions showcased on this wide square. For example, one can spot a group of people dancing the traditional Catalan dance the Sardana, or people doing the Castellers, building human towers. The tour concluded with a historical revisiting one of the major tourist attractions of this area the Plaça Reialne of the most famous squares in Barcelona, this is located directly next to La Rambla and hence easy to find. There are a number of bars and palm trees that surround the square, and in the middle stands a beautiful fountain.
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| The Plaça Reial |
Fun fact: It was during this our walking tour that we learned that the seven beaches which revolutionized the tourism scene for Barcelona were all artificially created when the decision of hosting the Olympics was announced for Barcelona. Tonnes of sand had been flown in from the Sahara desert for building them. Now, do you understand we recommend the tour so highly?
Travel Checks: We strongly recommend that you try out either a walking tour or a cycle tour through the city as they serve as the best way to explore the city and learn more about its socio-cultural history and character.
Destination Two: La Rambla to via the Christopher Columbus Monument Barcelona Port
After wrapping up the walking tour we made our way through the famous La Rambla all the way down to see the Christopher Columbus monument and then the Port of Barcelona right beyond it.
La Rambla is a street located in central Barcelona. It is a beautiful tree-lined pedestrian street, that stretches for 1.2 kilometers connecting the Plaça de Catalunya in the center with the Christopher Columbus Monument at Port Vell. La Rambla forms a boundary between the quarters of Barri Gòtic, to the east, and El Raval, to the west. One can find many fine artists on the La Rambla street dressed up as different characters, it may take you a while to realize that it is a human and not a stone statue. Strolling down the street itself is a great way to spend time in Barcelona. At the end of this street, you will find the Christopher Columbus Monument.
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| An artist dressed as Galileo on the La Rambla street |
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| Mirador De Colom |
Christopher Columbus Monument at Port Vell was built as a tribute to commemorate the discovery of the New Land by Columbus in 1493. When he returned to Spain, this place marked his first step back to Catalonia, hence this spot was marked by the construction of a 197-foot column called Mirador De Colom. This structure was designed by Gaietà Buigas I Monravà and stands erected at the Placa De La Porte De Porta De Pau since 1888. Alongside the 23-foot statue of the famous explorer on top, there are also sculptures and statues of men who were involved with Columbus` expedition adorn the monument. The top of the viewing platform is reachable via an elevator. Find the link to the ticket procuring website here.
Just behind this monument lies the vast Barcelona port which boasts of a 2000-year history along with a great contemporary commercial importance as it is one of Europe's major ports in the Mediterranean, as well as Catalonia's largest port.
Destination Three: Park Guell
The advantage of being on the La Rambla is that there are three metro stations at your disposal, so we took the L3 (Green) metro line, this was located the closest to the Barcelona port, boarded the metro towards Trinitat Nova and in about 11 minutes we reached the Vallacarca station. Now, Park Guell is located at a higher ground, and the climb to reach the park can seem to be a tad bit tiring especially if you are traveling with your elderly family members or kids in that case what you can do is mentioned in our next travel checks below. The climb uphill took us about 15 minutes. There are entry time slots that are provided on the tickets. You are not going to be allowed inside before your scheduled time slot, however once in there are are no time-related restrictions. You can book your tickets from their official website linked here.  |
The entrance as seen from the Plaza de la Naturaleza
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Park Güell, created by Catalonia’s brilliant artist Antoni Gaudí, is more like a dream crafted into reality, this was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984 and the park attracts around three million visitors every year. This is considered to be one of the best examples of Catalan Modernism and speaks volumes about the imagination powers of the artist. Interestingly, this park was initially conceived to be a luxurious housing complex commissioned by Eusebi Guell a wealthy Catalan businessman. However, with the onset of World War I in 1914 the building work was stalled and after that given the various economic reasons coupled with Guell`s death in 1918 the Barcelona City council purchased the estate and this area was then eventually opened as a public park in 1926. The entire space of the park is broken down into different segments. Most iconic out of these are the Plaza de la Naturaleza, this a wide, oval space that was originally designed both as a Greek theatre and a community meeting place. Around its edge runs a great undulating bench, that is covered with trencadís mosaics, this is a rage amongst the tourists as this place offers a panoramic view of the cityscape, on a clear and sunny day one can easily see up to the blue borders of Barcelona. This is a must-go-to place for taking photographs of Barcelona, especially at sunset. The motifs on the collages are mostly abstract. Gaudí had collaborated with Josep Maria Jujol, for the construction of the bench.
Another great attraction is the monumental entrance to the Park which was conceived as the gate of Paradise, it is guarded by a wrought-iron grille flanked by two pavilions that display outstanding features. Their domes are clad in coloured ceramic tiles, the stone walls are covered with huge medallions inscribed with the words ‘Park’ and ‘Güell’. On the entrance to the forecourt, is the great Dragon Staircase which has become one of the park’s icons. The dragon is covered with ceramic mosiac which is also called Trencadis. There are two places in particular that offer the best views of the park itself and of its surroundings. One is the Jardines de Austria, and the Second one is the El Calvario, located at the park’s highest point, at this spot Gaudí had planned to build a chapel in the shape of a six-petalled flower. Upon entry, you are given a map of the park so feel free to explore to your heart's content. Did you know that some scenes of the movie The Reporter starring Jack Nicholson and María Schneider was shot in Park Guell?
Fun Fact: The part of the park that is called the Sala Hipóstila is a 1,500 m2 space, its upper terrace rests on 86 Doric columns, the bases of which are embellished with trencadís. The beautiful semicircular domes of the ceiling are similarly adorned. This space was designed by Gaudí as the marketplace of the originally planned housing development and conceals a secret: the columns channel rainwater to an underwater reservoir which is used to water the park. The excess water is expelled through the mouth of the famous dragon.
Travel Checks: If you are traveling with elderly people or kids we would recommend you hire a cab to Park Guell, the cabs usually drop you off at the park`s parking area which is located at the higher part and that way you can walk down to the main part of the park rather than having to walk up the inclined path!
Historical Fact: Inside the premises of the park a beautiful modernist mansion is located, this used to be the home of the extraordinary artist Antonio Gaudi from 1906-1925. The house allows the visitors a peek into the private life of the artist. The tour of the house includes his studio and his bedroom, wherein one can behold some of the original furniture that had been designed by the artist.
Once we finished our exploration of this beautiful piece of art masked as a public park we set out towards our next destination for the day, the world-famous La Sagrada Familia. There was a bus service available from the park entrance that dropped us off at the nearest metro station.
Destination Four: La Sagrada Familia
If you visit Barcelona, even if you do not get to see any other place of tourist interest the one must-see and cannot afford to miss monument is the La Sagrada Familia, which serves as an iconic symbol of Spain. The Sagrada Familia is a magnanimous Roman Catholic church that was designed by the world-renowned architect and artist Antoni Gaudi. What makes this monument stand apart from any of the other world heritage sites is the fact that it is still under construction, making it the most famous incomplete building in the world! The construction of this mammoth Church has started way back in 1882. The grandeur and the architectural masterpiece of the monument are very difficult to be put into words, this is a place that one needs to feel rather than explore! The tickets for entrance can be purchased from the official website. We had purchased the 25 euros per person ticket, this however does not include the tour to the summit of the church.
Travel Checks: There is a basic dressing decorum that one needs to follow to enter the basilica so be sure to dress accordingly!
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The main entrance to La Sagrada Familia
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Once you enter into the church be prepared to be enthralled by its beauty! I remember developing a sprain in my neck because I just kept looking up, trying to soak in the architectural wonder that was in front of my eyes! You just cannot ever feel that you have seen and admired this monument enough! It is breathtakingly well crafted and it is a living testimony to the creative genius that Mr. Gaudi was! We would suggest taking ample time to explore and wander around inside this monument! This is going to be worth it part of your Barcelona trip and you will be cherishing the memories of this for as long as you live! This monument truly made us Wander n Wonder!
Fun fact: It was at a much later time into our visit that I realized that there is a mirror placed inside where you can stand and look down to see the wonderful creatures and artwork that adorn the ceiling of the monument, so please discover it early and save yourself the neck pain!
Antoni Guadi had worked on this design and construction of this church right until his death in 1926. after his demise, the construction work was continued by architects and craftsmen from his k workshops. The reliance on private donations and the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in the late-1930s, meant that construction progressed slowly, only becoming more steady in the 1950s. The central nave vaulting was completed in 2000. The current chief architect Jordi Fauli announced in October 2015, that the construction was 70% complete. The towers and most of the structure are planned for completion by 2026, the centenary of Gaudi’s death, with decorative elements complete by 2030-2032.
There is a gallery in the monument where all the original designs, drawings and some of the artifacts that Gaudi used are put on display be sure to check it out.
Travel Checks: You might find it a little tricky to capture the whole of the church on your lens, to do so try going around the church to the lake area, from here you can catch a more or less full view of the monument in its full glory!
We spent about 1.5 hours at the Sagrada after that we made our way to La Rambla to witness the famous Spanish Flamenco dance at the City hall.
Destination Six: Flamenco Show
A theatre that looks right out of a typical old-world, dim red lights, mesmerizing Spanish music and the foot-tapping melody with the colourful and graceful swirls of the famous flamenco dress, coupled with a glass of Sangria, sounds alluring doesn't it? This is exactly what our last destination for the day promised us. If in Spain you must witness your own Sanorita moment in real life through a Flamenco dance.
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The show in motion
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Flamenco as a traditional Spanish dancing style is originally from Southern Spain, specifically the Andalusia region. Today it is practiced throughout Spain and around the world. Flamenco is popular not only in the United States but also highly appreciated in Japan so much so that now Japan has more flamenco academies than Spain. The Spanish art form is made up of three parts: Guitarra (guitar playing), cante (song), and baile (dance). Flamenco is traditionally a dramatic art form that tells a story, through the body language of the dancers, their physical movements, the music, and the elaborate costumes. The costumes being extremely important to the story. In its original form, the only sounds that accompanied the dance were singing and the clapping of hands called toque de palmas. However, as the reach of flamenco grew larger and larger, musical instruments were added to the performance. Movement of the arms is called braceo and movement of the hands and fingers is called floreo. The posture and the co-ordination of the arms with the rotation of the wrists during braceo is very important and differentiates flamenco from other styles of dance. There is an iconic expression Ole! that is used to energize the singers and dancers and to express enthusiasm and praise for the dance.
(Info source:https://spanish-trails.com/flamenco-the-dance-of-spain).
The city hall hosts flamenco dance programs three shows per day (everyday of the week). We had learned about them from our walking tour guide, with the reference of their tour company we were given a discount on the entry ticket prices. The tickets are originally priced at 18 euros per person(inclusive of a glass of drink). You can purchase tickets from their official website. We had watched the 7:30 pm show. The show, the ambiance all of it was everything that we had been promised, it transported us to an enchanted world, the experience was surreal. If you have the time, please do watch one of these shows, they are so talented and gifted!
Travel Checks: The artists who perform here are all local artists making this even more authentic. So many good things are associated with this including the employment of locals artists, promotion of local art and culture.
From here we went to a restaurant to treat ourselves to some authentic Spanish delicacies.
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Thank you for the appreciation and encouragement. We hope to come up with many new posts in the coming days
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