The Architectural Delights of Barcelona - Barcelona Spain Hubtrail

One hub is not going to be sufficient to even dent the surface of things to do in the Catalonian capital; a place which offers the tourist a wealth of cultural activities in addition to the standard Spanish trinity of sun, sand and sea. The eclectic mix of museums, art galleries, pristine beaches, and stunning architecture gives Barcelona a unique flavour which cannot be found elsewhere in Spain and its one not to be missed!

Consider this hub the first in a series which will cover the fun, the excitement and the culture in Catalonia which will wow the senses, challenge the perception and provide a different slant on life. I hope my hubs will do it justice. This hub forms part of the growing number of Hubtrail articles (hubs) and offers an alternative to the Rough Guide and Lonely Planet series of guidebooks.It offers a personal point of view from the places in which we have lived or travelled to. Mine is but the latest in a long string of articles which come from around the world, allowing anyone who visits the hubpages network to find out some of the best things to do and give some insider information from the man (and woman) on the ground.

Be sure to check out the links at the bottom of this page, which will lead you to a new world of wonder from the many hubbers who are contributing to this online travel encyclopaedia, with special thanks due to Ohma for starting it all off.

This first hub will cover one of the most visually striking elements of the city, namely the architecture. A wander through the streets of Barcelona offers the tourist a blend of ancient and traditional including some marvels of modernist architecture the likes of which you will not see elsewhere else in the world.

When one thinks of Barcelona, one of the first names which comes to mind is that of Antoni Gaudí, the revolutionary architect who was years ahead of his time and took an altogether different approach to architecture and design. Influenced by the natural world and the curves and organic forms in nature, he aimed to work the same flowing lines into his creations and constructed some of the most marvellous buildings which are dotted all over the city.

There was probably a good reason why no-one had really tried to incorporate such an organic flow into architecture to such a great extent before, with most preferring not to have to wait quite so long for somewhere to live – His artistic designs taking a fair few years to complete. La Sagrada Familia for instance was started in 1882 and it is still not complete 128 years later, and it is unlikely that the project will see completion before 2020 with some predictions that it may well have to wait until 2050. Most agree however that it is worth the wait. It is unlikely that the world will ever see a building which will match the complexity of Gaudís magnum opus.

Gaudi was well aware that the cathedral would never be completed in his own lifetime, and with that out of the way, it gave him the full scope to create an absolute monster. The cathedral has been designed to be completed in sections allowing each generation the chance to get its teeth stuck in and to complete a section of the building and enjoy it within their lifetime.

In addition to the 8 spires already constructed, the work is now starting on the sacristy and a further 6 towers which will see the completion of the project. This will give one bell tower and spire for each of the 12 apostles, one each for the four evangelists and one for Jesus and Mary.

Inside you can see more of his work, however since it is still under construction much of it is a building site. However there are good views to be had from the towers and the interior architecture is well worth the queue. The tree-like support pillars, ornate ceilings and geometric forms are simply stunning. The project’s completion is reliant upon donations; the money raised by the Gaudí foundation runs out from time to time requiring work to stop until further funds are secured, so feel free to donate a little to help see his work completed – every penny counts. For further information on this marvel of modernist architecture and how to donate, visit the Sagrada Familia Website - http://www.sagradafamilia.cat

When you visit Barcelona, the most important Gaudí works can be easy worked in to a walk around the city, with two of his most impressive buildings located opposite each other on Passeig de Gracia close to the centre of the city. Casa Milá and Casa Batlló are both open to the public for a small charge and are worth the price for his design work did not stop with the ornate flowing façade and the interior décor, masonry and rooftop are all well worth the small entrance fee – arrive early though, as the queues can build up and there are only so many people who can fit into a house.

A little way out of the city, requiring a short bus or Metro ride is Parc Güell. The park was created between 1883 and 1888, quite a short time frame by Gaudi’s standards, and is free to visit. It is a great place to spend a few hours taking the scentic route around the extensive park. It is a great opportunity to getting up close and personal with Gaudis work, and there are stunning views of the city to be taken in. The easy option to get there is to jump on the L3 Green tube line for a few stops from the Passeig de Gracia station up to Lesseps. A short walk will take you to one of the best places to enjoy a vista of the whole city, and to see more of his flowing lines, sculptures, enjoy the open air and escape from the heat of the city.

Of course Barcelona is not all about Gaudi and many other modernists have stamped their own mark on the city. Walk around the city and each street corner and block offers something new and exciting to see. Around the Gracia district there are great examples of modern design, many of which come to life at night when they are lit up for all to see.

When it comes to lighting up the night sky, one of the most impressive buildings has to be Torre Agbar. What it lacks in history it makes up for in modern design. Said to be inspired by the works of Gaudí, it is similar in style to the “Gherkin” in London and was constructed around the same time. The bullet shaped building offers something a little more spectacular than the Gherkin however, as the exterior of the whole building is covered with a LED display which turned on during the evening throughout the summer and for fiestas and festival days. Its brilliant blue, red and yellow lights can be seen from all over the city. It is a functioning office block, located opposite the Glories Shopping centre and the Metro station of the same name on the L1 Red Metro line.