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Come to Life in Barcelona!
March 4th, 2010 by Derek Beaumont, under Uncategorized. No Comments
Its always worth to travel to Barcelona, as the city never sleeps and offers nice temperatures during the whole year. Due to its great location at the sea there are millions of tourists arriving every year to enjoy the great flair and special ambience of the city. Most of them are amazed by the beauty and the wide range of cultural offers and a lot of them come back and visit Barcelona again.
You absolutely must visit the architectural works of Antoni Gaud: The Sagrada Familia: Gaud spent ten years working on the designs for his masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, which is in the heart of the city. To find it, take the Metro L2 or L5 and leave at the Sagrada Familia station. You’ll find yourself standing right in front of the cathedral! You can gaze at this masterpiece from either of two parks. Although the cathedral was Gaud’s life’s dream, he died in a tragic traffic accident in 1926 and was not able to see his project finished. Optimists expect that the construction will finally be completed in 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaud’s passing.
Parc Gell: Take the metro, disembark at Vallcarca, and ride the escalators up the steep hill. You’ll find yourself in Parc Gell, an amazing garden created by Gaud in the north of the city. Gaud’s intention was for the park to be a marketplace or central gathering place, and he decorated the inner and outer walls of the seating with many thousands of mosaics. Explore the Gaud museum, in a house where the architect once lived. Unwind on the Sala Hipstila, the huge terrace that made the park famous, and enjoy a panoramic view of all Barcelona and the sea. Before you go, don’t forget to photograph the celebrated salamander that welcomes visitors at the main entrance, just at the bottom of the stairs!
If you’re a Gaud enthusiast now and want to see more of his work, visit Casa Mila and Casa Batll at the Passeig de Gracia in the city center. They might remind you of the houses of Hundertwasser. Paying the entrance fee allows you to learn far more about the details of the architecture. Gaud used no right angles in these buildings; he liked to use shapes from nature.
You will be wanting to buy a souvenir and see the sights, so explore the Passeig de Gracia, which is filled with Spanish shops and many shops of important designers like versace & gucci. Head south and visit Placa Catalunya, a huge square and the center of the city. Take a look around Barcelona’s most famous street, the Rambla, which will lead you to the 197-foot-tall Columbus Monument. You might also enjoy exploring the Maremagnum, a shopping center that is especially good for rainy days, and the neighboring Aquarium (one of Europe’s largest), which contains 8,000 fish and 11 sharks! Then when you’re ready to relax, enjoy Barcelona’s 4 km of downtown beaches!
You’ll be in good company when you fall in love with Barcelona, a city like no other. Progressive, innovative, and intriguing, this international jewel set by the Mediterranean Sea has earned its standing as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Whatever the experience you seek, you’re sure to find it in Barcelona!
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