| With the industrialization of Catalonia
in the 19th century, Barcelona was quick to assess its urban needs. City walls
were torn down and the city itself widened, resulting in an urban landscape still
in evidence today. By means of exhibits and direct communication with Europe,
the most recent artistic tendencies were applied. Around 1900 three great Catalan
creators, Gaudi, Domenech, and Puig, expanded "modernism" far beyond a mere import
of an artistic style or translation of an artistic term. Their style extended
to other city centers of Catalonia.
Arrival in Barcelona and overnight
Our point of entry to Barcelona is the vast historical
district. We will see one of the most beautiful examples of the Catalan Gothic
style with the imposing Santa Maria del Mar church. From there we will head towards
the Gothic quarter where we will see the Cathedral, the Palau de la Generalitat,
the Town Hall, the small streets that lead to the Plaza Real. La Rambla, an area
joining the statue of Columbus with the Plaza Catalunya, passing through the Boqueria
Market. Afterwards we will head to the portside area, the Barceloneta, and the
Olympic Village. Our ascent towards Montjuich will provide beautiful views of
the city and sea. Next to the old castle, we will find the rest of the Olympic
facilities. A panoramic view wraps up this portion of our visit as we now turn
towards the Eixample, the mid 19th century extension of Barcelona, its structure
quite exemplary for its time. Overnight in Barcelona Possibility of organizing
a tapas-lunch in Barcelona
We will approach Catalan Modernism through what is considered its birthplace,
the location of the 1888 Universal Expo in Barcelona. There we will see the Castle
of the Three Dragons, the cafeteria-restaurant built by the first Catalan modernist
Domenech i Montaner. Passing through the Triumphal Arch, which presided over the
entrance to the Expo, we will arrive at the Palace of Catalan Music, a supreme
example of Catalan Modernism. Another commissioned work, more practical but no
less artistic, is the building of the Santa Creu y Sant Pau Hospital located on
the outskirts of the Eixample district. From here we will stroll down a large
diagonal avenue that traverses four blocks of the Ensanche district. The Avenida
Diagonal will take us to the great Modernist artist Antonio Gaudi's masterful,
albeit unfinished work, the Sagrada Familia. Overnight in Barcelona
Today we will concentrate on the most famous son of Figueres, the great, controversial
surrealist painter Salvador Dali. The Theater-Museum was created and designed
by the artist to accommodate a large part of his works, and to serve as his burial
site. A stroll through the small city will take us to some of Figuere's modernist
works such as the Casa Cusi y Salleras or the former slaughterhouse which today
serves as a cultural center. Possibility of organizing lunch in Figueres The origins
of Girona trace back to the Roman age: we will discover its history while visiting
the wonderful Romanesque and Gothic Cathedral with its famous tapestry of the
Creation as well as the well preserved Jewish quarter, the Call of Girona. The
Modernist expression is most notable in the work of architect and poet Rafael
Maso, the Casa y Fabrica Harinera Teixidor. On our return we will stop in Canet
de Mar, a population with family ties to Domenech, where his Home-Museum is located.
Return to Barcelona for overnight
We resume our visit to Barcelona's Modernist expression on its most
emblematic street, the Paseo de Gracia. This and other adjacent and parallel streets
comprise numerous private residences designed by Domenech and Gaudi, as well as
by other architects from Catalonia's most powerful bourgeois period. One prominent
block is the Manzana de la Discordia where Gaudi's Casa Batllo, Domenech's Casa
Lleo Morera and Puig i Cadafalch's Casa Amatller stand in rivalry with each other.
These artists also created the masterpiece La Pedrera, the Montaner i Simon Publishing
House, and the Casa de les Punxes on Diagonal street, respectively. The industrial
Guell family commissioned many works from Gaudi, of which we will see the Guell
Palace, the Pavilions and Guell Park with Gaudi's Home-Museum. We will finish
up the day at the Museum of Modern Art where the rich collection of Catalan art
from the 19th and 20th centuries focuses on the Modernist works of Casas, Rusinol
and Homar among others. Overnight in Barcelona
Terrasa is one
of the most important Spanish centers of the ancient Christian and Visigoth age.
It resumed its importance as an industrial center toward the end of the 19th century
with its Modernist expression notable not only with private homes and public buildings,
but includes perhaps the best accumulation of Modernist industrial architecture
with Vapor Aymerich and Vapor Amat among others. Towards the end of the 19th century,
the old Montserrat Sanctuary enjoyed a revival as the symbol of the Catalonians,
which explains why a large part of the construction was designed by the great
architects of the time such as Gaudi and Puig. Extending along the base of the
rock-solid Montserrat structure is the Penedes district, known predominantly for
its sparkling wines. The capital city Villafranca del Penedes provides a nice
selection of modernist homes. Finally we will arrive at the coastal town of Sitges
where notable sites include Cau Ferrat, private residence of artist Santiago Rusinol,
and the Maricel Palace which houses an interesting collection of contemporary
art. Overnight in Barcelona Possibility of organizing a winery visit with cava
tasting
Transfer
to the Barcelona Airport
|
