Antonio Gaudi (1852 - 1926) is one of Spain's most renown architects. Two of his most important projects include Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell. Sagrada Familia was completely worth the EUR 20 to get into the cathedral, have an English audio tour, and an elevator ride to the top of the Nativity Facade. Arriving at 10am, we barely beat the crowds. Instead of following the prescribed order on the audio guide, I knew to book over to the elevator which takes you to the highest point in the cathedral as sometimes the wait can be two hours! My stomach was doing somersaults the location was so high and tight. We saw Barcelona in total as well as up close viewings of the spires. Peek holes in the 2' wide staircase going down provided views to the construction work all along the route. For someone interested in construction (as I am) it was fascinating. There was a person behind me who started to lose it (either from the heights or claustrophobia) and she had to slime by us to get down faster. I held the handrail, as disgusting as public handrails can be, as I, too, am afraid of heights and each step felt like you were going to fall.
The cathedral, which has been under construction since 1893, is beautiful even now. The value of the interior tour was seeing models, drawings and what will be a wonder--prior to completion (imagine seeing the pyramids under construction?). Unlike the other cathedrals we've seen with their barrel and groin vaulting, Gaudi decided to rely on the form of the parabola to structure his buildings. Columns lean to gain further structural strength as there are no buttresses to hold up the spires. The stained glass is also atypical and does not have religious imagery but flows in color from yellow to orange to blues as the windows rise in height. Because construction workers in the 19th century doubted Gaudi's theories of un-buttressed spires, he did these fascinating string models, hanging small sand bags to test the weights of each area of the cathedral. There is also an important interpretive display which describes the influence of nature on all of Gaudi's forms. For example, he looked to leaves which did not follow a straight line, but gently curved. Snails, flowers and other natural materials that use the Fibanaci math ideal can be seen in their spiral form on the interior. Deeply religious, Gaudi filled this building with symbolism and meaning.
Parc Guell is named after Gaudi's patron, Mr. Guell. The original intent of the site was to develop it into a garden city community of 60 high end homes. However, the only two homes ever built were for Mr. Guell and Mr. Gaudi. When the development flopped (because it was too far out of town at the time), the site was turned into park. Gaudi's famous mosaic fountains, walls and benches add color and charm. Other locations on the site are vistas made out of mosaic stone, supports again in parabola, blending into the colors of the landscape.
Tonight we went to the Barcelona vs. Deportivo futbol game. Barca (as the team is called) is currently in first place in the league. Lionel Messi, the world's best soccer player who plays for Barca, I personally thought was taking it kind of easy. Score 3 - 0, Barca. Game started at 10pm! which those who know me, know this is close to my bedtime. Who plays soccer at 10pm? By the time we got home, it was almost 2am. And it's a school night....and the game was nearly sold out....
The cathedral, which has been under construction since 1893, is beautiful even now. The value of the interior tour was seeing models, drawings and what will be a wonder--prior to completion (imagine seeing the pyramids under construction?). Unlike the other cathedrals we've seen with their barrel and groin vaulting, Gaudi decided to rely on the form of the parabola to structure his buildings. Columns lean to gain further structural strength as there are no buttresses to hold up the spires. The stained glass is also atypical and does not have religious imagery but flows in color from yellow to orange to blues as the windows rise in height. Because construction workers in the 19th century doubted Gaudi's theories of un-buttressed spires, he did these fascinating string models, hanging small sand bags to test the weights of each area of the cathedral. There is also an important interpretive display which describes the influence of nature on all of Gaudi's forms. For example, he looked to leaves which did not follow a straight line, but gently curved. Snails, flowers and other natural materials that use the Fibanaci math ideal can be seen in their spiral form on the interior. Deeply religious, Gaudi filled this building with symbolism and meaning.
Parc Guell is named after Gaudi's patron, Mr. Guell. The original intent of the site was to develop it into a garden city community of 60 high end homes. However, the only two homes ever built were for Mr. Guell and Mr. Gaudi. When the development flopped (because it was too far out of town at the time), the site was turned into park. Gaudi's famous mosaic fountains, walls and benches add color and charm. Other locations on the site are vistas made out of mosaic stone, supports again in parabola, blending into the colors of the landscape.
Tonight we went to the Barcelona vs. Deportivo futbol game. Barca (as the team is called) is currently in first place in the league. Lionel Messi, the world's best soccer player who plays for Barca, I personally thought was taking it kind of easy. Score 3 - 0, Barca. Game started at 10pm! which those who know me, know this is close to my bedtime. Who plays soccer at 10pm? By the time we got home, it was almost 2am. And it's a school night....and the game was nearly sold out....
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