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Eixample, Barcelona

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Visit Eixample, Barcelona

Whilst the old town, the Barri Gotic is one of the best examples of a medieval city in Europe it is probably Eixample which gives Barcelona its current fame and makes it one of the most visited cities in Europe.

Eixample has the largest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe (the Art Nouveau movement was called the Modernista movement in Catalonia) and contains numerous faboulous examples of Gaudi's work.

Exploring Eixample, Second day in Barcelona

Set off up the Passeig de Gracia. A beautiful shopping street full of beautiful, but very expensive shops. Eldest daughter is very impressed by the number of people walking by with Dolce and Gabanna belts, Armani handbags etc.

Arrived at the famous Illa de la Discordia. So called because in one small block four of Barcelona's Modernita architects each designed a very individual building. Casa Lleo Morera, by Lluis Domenech i Montagner has an incredible Modernista interior which is open to the public. On the roof of the building is a very ornate tower.

Casa Amatler by Puig i Cadafalch has a very Moorish influence. Its has a stepped triangular roof. TheCasa Batllo by Anton Gaudi is largely covered in blue green mosaics and has balconies likened to malevelent eyes or bones. The nickname of the house is the house of bones.

Casa Batllo

After all this walking we needed some refreshment and popped into a nice looking café nearby. I ordered a cappuccino and the girls a hot chocolate. But it wasn't hot chocolate it was real melted chocolate! heaven! Day 2 became an instant success. I haven't tasted anything so good in a long time - obviously I all but discarded my cappuccino to help the girls out with their chocolate! Why on earth do they not sell these near us. The three of us would move into our local bar if they sold these delicious cups of melted chocolate.

cup of melted chocolate!

Next we walked past the Fundacio Antonie Tapies building. The building has one of Tapies' works mounted on the roof - an enormous wire cloud formation. The girls were very impressed by this.

Fundacio Antonie Tapies

After a delicious lunch back in the cafe where we had our melted chocolate, no we rather regretfully decided we couldn't just have another cup of chocolate for lunch but better have a healthier bowl of pasta, we went to the Casa Mila, known locally as La Pedrera (the stone quarry).

Casa Mila

I thought we would pop in here and then go and do some shopping as the girls were moaning to go back to the shopping mall on the waterfront, Port Vell. Unfortunately, as we have found at many of the sights here, the queue was long. Indeed there were even signs saying how long the wait would be at each point in the queue - like you find at Disneyland. The girls were not keen but we decided I would do the hour-long queue whilst they mooched around the shops nearby and then they would join me when I got to the front. It is of course worth the wait. The inside of the building is very nice but it is the rooftop with its fabulous chimneys which is the main attraction.

chimneys of Casa Mila

After the Casa Mila we set out to see Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece - the Sagrada Familia. This building is straight out of fairy tales and Gaudi devoted the latter part of his life to its construction. Indeed he spent his last 16 years living as a recluse on the site and is now buried in its crypt. The building is astounding and work continues today to finish it.

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

Around Montjuic: see next page Montjuic and the bus touristic

see previous page: Barcelona old town / Barri Gotic

see next page: Montjuic

the beautiful Monestir de Montserrat is an easy excursion from Barcelona