Barcelona - Last Post

I have so many photos and little time to sift through them right now.

Here's an overview of what else we saw while we were staying in Barcelona, Spain.

One day we took the train to Terragona. This beach town was settled by the Romans in the 2nd century BC.

Lots of Roman ruins to view from the wall and towers

to the Circle Roman where chariot races were held

to the amphitheater where gladiators once fought.

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A nice walk on a Sunday afternoon brought us to the Arc de Triumph built for the 1888 Universal Exhibition.

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Another day trip was to Montserrat, home to a Benedictine monastery built in 1025.

From the train we took a cable car to the top.

That little church marks the spot where a hermit lived.

We hiked up halfway and here's Dan preparing to go the rest of the way.

Another hermitage site gave me a seat to wait for him.

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An overnight trip was to Madrid by high speed train.

We arrived in the afternoon and found out how to get tickets the next day to the Prado.

Inside the Prado, no more photos after this because no photographing allowed.

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A great museum in Barcelona was the Museum of the History of Barcelona.  We took an elevator down to the basement where you walk through Roman ruins.

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Another tour we took was the Palace of Music of Catalan. 

This is a concert hall.  Designed by a mentor of Gaudi.

Lots of wonderful memories.  You'll see more of these one day.

Barcelona - 6

La Sagrada Familia

From my unTours Guide book:

Unlike any church you've ever seen - seriously - La Sagrada Familia (the Holy Family) is probably Barcelona's most popular landmarks and Antoni Gaudi's most well-known creation.  The church has been under construction for over 125 years ad still has a long way to go.  When questioned on this subject, Gaudi is known to have responded "My client (God) is not in a hurry."

 

Each facade of the church is to represent a biblical scene, specifically: the birth of Christ (Nativity Facade) which Gaudi lived to complete; the crucifixion of Christ (Passion Facade) designed by Joseph Subirach (which has received a lot of criticism due to its break from Gaudi's style) and the future Glory facade to represent Christ's resurrection.  Gaudi died in 1925 and many his original plans were destroyed a decade later during the civil war (though the church was not damaged). Only eight of the planned eighteen towers are finished to date and it is estimated that construction will be completed in 2026.

Nativity Facade

 Passion Facade.

 

 

Here's what's on top of those spires.

We booked a tour for our visit.  Everything is very closely controlled by the church including airport like screening devices.

Here's our guide giving us instructions before we entered.

To me it didn't have the reverence of a church.  There were just too many people and not being particularly quiet.

To read more about the construction go here.

Gaudi's intent they say was to recreate nature with columns representing trees and all the various light coming in.

The stained glass was magnificent.

 We were told that the only people allowed to worship here have to live in the neighborhood.  The church is closed during worship time.