One of the main reasons for wanting to go to this city was to see some of the history, and some of the Gaudi. I knew very little about Gaudi but knew that Barcelona was the place to see his work. So, Saturday was a Gaudi sightseeing day. We start off with the most famous of Gaudi's work - the Sagrada Familia (left)Wow, I guess this goes with something that has to be seen to be believed. It is totally packed with symbolism inspired by nature and the Gospels. Amazingly this place is still not finished, despite Gaudi living on site for 14 years. He now rests buried in the crypt. Work started in 1883, and stopped during the Civil War. Only in the 1950's did work reconvene, and it now funded by the public. There is so much detail and contrast in this building. We enter on the passion facade (below left) which is fairly clean lined and modernistic, pass through the centre (below centre) which is still under construction (and looks like it) and depart through the nativity facade (below right), which is smothered in Gaudi style imagery. We didn't take the lift up the tower - a bit of a tourist con we felt, an additional 15 Euros once you are in, and a 90 minute wait. We were, however, totally taken with the church and a visit I would say is essential to any visit to this city, although stag parties would probably disagree.
Having started with the great Sagrada Familia, we had less energy to tour in as much detail some of his other great works. We enjoyed however stopping and taking them in - they are nestled amongst other buildings in this Eixample area of the city. Having got the gist of his work - no straight lines, inspired by nature, and completely different to anything I have seen elsewhere, they are amazing, even to the architecturally un
trained eye like mine. Casa Batllo below left and Casa Terrades below right.
trained eye like mine. Casa Batllo below left and Casa Terrades below right.
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