Its been quite a busy week for me. I know i shouldnt have but i took my Nan to Barcelona so she could see things she wants to before sher goes blind. and well....what a gorgeous city!
The architecture is just simply amazing! Its known as Gaudi's city.
Some of his works were completed during his life, others like the Sagrada Familia however, are stil incomplete. It is scheduled to be finished in 2025. He designed and begun making the temple knowing that he would be dead before he saw it finished.
The lower regions of the temple have been completed. On one side of the temple, the statues and stone works which have been added look fantastic. They tell
the story of the birth of Jesus. Looking around from left to right, you can see the story unfolding.
It shows Mary and Joseph trying to find a place to stay for the night, being turned away by the inn keeper. The middle section showing Jesus in his cradle with Mary and Joseph, the Three Wise Men, the Shepherds, Angel Gabriel and the star. Its all there.
I dont know how well you can see that picture above, but that is the main part of the structure which tells the story of Jesus' birth.
Some buildings which he constructed contained his creative side. They are relatively normal looking and hold back on the colours and mosaic. Others however dont. The Facade of Casa Batllo, for instance is one building along a row of average looking Hotels. This is an example of Gaudi letting loose on his creative manner.
As you can see from the picture above, the front of the Building has got abstract shape balconies and columns, as well as instead of your average mediterranean building fronts of pastel shades and plaster, the front of this building is covered with mosaic.
There isnt a strict pattern to the mosaic, but the roof has been specifically shaped to represent a Dragons back. The edge tiles are of a different shape and the actual roof tiles ahve a metallic colour to them. Which supposedly represents the dragons scales.
It really catches your eye seen as its stuck in the middle of a row of rather average looking hotel buildings.
The Spanish are very proud of Barcelona. It is a beautiful city. Its not only known for its connections with Gaudi, who, by the way, is buried in the Sagrada Familia, but also for its shopping.
With regards to that its a little bit like London. *Its got your average stores like Topshop, River Island, Foot Locker, Starbucks, H&M and so on, but also your rather expensive designers. Its a huge district and if you have the money, get over there and shop!
There are lots of different Art Museums and Gaudi places to visit,. Another is Park Guell. It was designed by Gaudi. Supposedly to represent an elephant. You walk in under the elephants trunk, then walk up its feet, under its belly then end up on top of the elephants back.
You do need a bit of imaghination to actually see what he is talking about but it is possible, The whole thing is decorated mosaic style and its gorgeous to look at. Very intricate work. Of course, Gaudi being a well known atrist at the time designed all of this, but never actually did any of the work.
Its a brilliant park to take a walk around, but mostly its just lovely for its imagination and style.
Those are just two of the sculptures leading upto 'the elephant stomach'
On the underside of the elephant stomach were some gorgeous mosaics in the cieling:
Now i have left you with some nice images, im off out for lunch :)
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