Sarah Jacksson
Visiting Barcelona will give you the opportunity to explore the cosmopolitan city’s architecture and art. The Sagrada Famlia church is a notable modernist landmark. You can also visit the Fundació Joan Miró, a museum of modern art by Joan Miró. This city also has Roman archaeological sites and Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona pavilion. Here are some highlights of visiting Barcelona. Enjoy your stay!
Cerda’s plan for Barcelona
The idea behind Cerda’s plan for Barcelona was to make the city as resilient as possible and to achieve this, he used data-driven planning techniques. These plans incorporated the analysis of social amenities, such as hospitals and schools, and the location of different buildings. Cerda’s plan included topographical maps that track expansions of the city and determine the size of the blocks and the number of houses per square meter.
The design was inspired by a variety of urban typologies. Cerda’s plan for Barcelona was the basis for the ensanche de poblaciones law, which regulated urban development throughout Spain. Cerda’s plan for Barcelona also took into account the advantages of grid pattern, which was largely used at the time to create cities. The result is a modular structure of 113m square with a chamfer of 20m. Cerda’s plan for Barcelona marks an important milestone in the history of urbanism and has become a main element of urban composition.
As the city grew in size and population, the debate over how to change Barcelona intensified. The debate became known as la batalla por el ensanche. Local government officials were reluctant to support Cerda’s plan. Eventually, the local government decided to hold a public contest. The winner would be chosen by the City Council. But this did not resolve the debate and Cerda continued to develop his plan for Barcelona.
Gaudi’s architecture
In 1885, Gaudi began construction of his Palau Guell, a mansion in the Raval district. Designed to be an elegant home for the wealthy, it was initially rejected by authorities. Nevertheless, the park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was eventually completed and is one of Barcelona’s most fascinating cultural treasures. This stunning masterpiece was the brainchild of Count Eusebi Guell, who was inspired by the British garden city movement.
While visiting Gaudi’s work, you should be aware that it isn’t for the faint of heart. The building’s height is disproportionate to its size. The façade of the building is a symmetrical composition of red bricks and green-and-white tiles laid in a checkerboard pattern. Inside, the design reflected the neo-Mudejar style, with blue-plaster ceilings and a floor covered in plaster tile and ceramic tiles.
The Casa Batllo is another outstanding example of Gaudi’s architecture. Catalans call this building “The Dragon House” due to its dragon-like appearance and unusual interior decoration. The staircases are especially elaborate, and the building is open to the public almost every day. You’ll be able to see Gaudi’s work in all its glory and admire the stunning mosaic tiles. You’ll want to explore every detail of Casa Batllo when you visit Barcelona.
Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona pavilion
Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich collaborated on the design of the Barcelona Pavilion, the German Pavilion at the 1929 International Exposition in Spain. The building served as the official opening of the German section of the exhibition. The Barcelona Pavilion features a variety of modernist elements, such as sweeping ellipses, glass walls, and stainless steel. The architecture of the Barcelona Pavilion is particularly impressive, and is worth exploring in greater detail.
Mies’s architecture has always been highly symbolic, and the Barcelona Pavilion is no exception. The architect created a space with interwoven spaces, characterized by a flat roof and a low, flat roof. The pavilion’s composition also incorporated the Barcelona Chair, a bronze reproduction of Georg Kolbe’s sculpture Morning, and other works by modernists. This architectural masterpiece has influenced many modernist designs, and has a rich history of design.
Although the Barcelona pavilion doesn’t have much in the way of exhibition space, it serves as an ideal zone of tranquility. The low roof of the Barcelona pavilion projects over the surrounding outdoor court, and the offset wall places – as well as the low-lying facade – work in tandem with the low roof to create a sense of space and direct the visitor’s movements. It’s impossible to imagine a better way to experience Mies’ Barcelona pavilion.
Camp Nou
You may have heard about the Camp Nou in Barcelona, but did you know that it is also the home of FC Barcelona? The Camp Nou opened in 1957 and has since been the home of the Catalan club. The interior of the Camp Nou is stunning, with beautiful curved arches and a pristine pitch. Here, you can watch your favorite team play their best games. You can even catch a game here if you’re in town!
Getting to the Camp Nou is easy! From the city centre, take the green metro line towards the Zona Universataria. Stops along the way include Les Corts, Palau Reial, and Collblanc. The whole journey will take around 25 minutes. You can also catch the metro line 5 in the direction of the Cornella Centre and get off at Badal. From here, it will take you about eight to ten minutes to get to the stadium.
The Eixample
Central Eixample is bustling with bars, restaurants, and stylish boutiques. Around Plaça de Catalunya, you can find antiques at the flea market Mercat Els Encants. There’s also the art nouveau basilica Sagrada Famila, designed by master architect Antoni Gaud, and the rippled-stone mansion Casa Milà, which hosts jazz concerts on the roof.
The Eixample’s charm is derived from the architectural detail and layout of the entire district. The streets are wide and well-lit, and a variety of architectural styles are present. Most eixample buildings have a front façade facing the street, while others feature a secondary façade facing the lung of the block. The resulting architecture has a very distinctive charm. It’s worth noting that a house with a simple, straightforward facade can still be decorated with ornate details.
The original Cerda plan for the Eixample included many changes. The modern architecture of the Eixample has become an internationally recognized urban form. Its distinctive intersections have become the city’s most iconic image, while its 45-degree chamfers respond to different traffic situations. The Eixample district is also home to several notable museums, including the Picasso Museum. A visit to the Eixample will give you a taste of the rich and famous aspects of Barcelona’s past.
La Rambla
A tree-lined pedestrian street in the center of Barcelona, La Rambla stretches for 1.2 kilometers. This lively street serves as a boundary between neighbourhoods and is a popular place for people to stroll and people-watch. Here are some tips for getting around La Rambla. First, you’ll need to know the history of the area. After all, the streets and squares in Barcelona have a lot of history.
Secondly, if you’re a fan of culture, then La Rambla is the place for you. The Liceu Theatre and Miro’s mosaic can be found in this historic area. There are a few great places to eat here as well, including some of the world-famous fast-food chains. But if you’re just looking for a casual place for a drink and a snack, you’ll find a plethora of choices.
If you’re looking for a cultural highlight, La Rambla is home to the Joan Miro art gallery, which was designed by renowned architects Posada and Cuenca in 1972. This striking post-modern building houses a massive collection of Miro’s work, including paintings, sculptures, installations, and drawings. You can also join a guided tour in English every Monday at 5 pm, which is the perfect opportunity to learn more about Miro’s personal life and work.
La Ciutadella
The Park de la Ciutadella is a large city park with a lake, zoo, and the Parliament of Catalonia. The park is also home to the Museum of Natural Sciences. This museum houses many exhibits about the area, including a zoo and an art museum. There are also many sculptures in the park. One sculpture stands out, the Nude Figure of a Young Man, which was constructed in 1918 and commemorates Catalan volunteers who were killed fighting under the allied flags during World War II.
The Park is also home to the zoo, which was inaugurated on La Merce day in 1892. Snowflake, a famous albino gorilla originally from Equatorial Guinea, lived here. A trip to the zoo would not be complete without a visit to the park. There are many interesting exhibits to see, including the sculptures of lions, monkeys, tigers, and birds.
Montjuic Castle
One of the oldest military fortresses in the world still stands on the Montjuc hill in Barcelona. Originally built in 1640, the castle is now a municipal facility. Explore this former military fortress and explore its intriguing history. You may be surprised to learn that it was a place of religious and political significance as well as a military training center. Today, you can explore this fascinating building to see its original design, architecture, and interiors.
You may also be able to visit Montjuic Castle from the city’s central train station. The station is near the entrance of the castle. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Spain Square to Montjuic, which goes through the Olympic Park. A cable car can also bring you to Montjuic. Once you reach the castle, you can get back on the bus and continue exploring the rest of the city.
