The warm sun in winter pulls "teeth" out (34) Barcelona: The Flower of Europe created by Gaudí (Part 1)

Barcelona, ??the second largest city in Spain, has a history of two thousand years. It not only has the stained glass of the Sagrada Familia, but also the glass mosaics of Casa Batlló, and the unique long park Guell. The rooftops, the passionate beaches, and contemporary art are more stunning than those of Dali and Picasso. Therefore, it has won the reputation of the stunning "Flower of Europe".

Cervantes said: Barcelona is the pride of Spain and the most beautiful city in the world. It is fortunate to have three of the world's top artists, Picasso, Miró and Gaudí, and has become dazzling and dazzling. Incomparable. Andersen called Barcelona "the Paris of Spain".

Mirador de Colón - Port Olímpic de Barcelona - La Rambla - Palau Güell - Gothic Quarter El Gòtic - Pla?a del Rey Rei - Catedral de Barcelona

Known as the "Pearl of Iberia", Barcelona is undoubtedly a palace of architectural treasures. The entire city is so beautiful that it is like an open-air architectural museum.

Only after looking at the navigation did we know that this building with an Arabic style is the last remaining bullring in Barcelona - La Monumental de Barcelona.

Catalonia, where Barcelona is located, was the first region in Spain to completely ban bullfighting. Therefore, the bullring has been converted into the largest mosque in Europe, which can accommodate 40,000 people.

Walking on the streets of Barcelona, ??the buildings with different styles are definitely a visual feast. The cultural heritage of medieval Europe and the fashionable charm of the new era are perfectly integrated here.

Passing by a place that looks a bit like Beijing’s 798, you can see all kinds of industrial sculptures and avant-garde graffiti everywhere.

I like this photo very much. It feels like seeing the future through history. I call it the Eye of Barcelona.

The blue sky, palm trees, enigmatic modern sculptures, and semicircular steel rings form an ever-changing world. This is a mysterious picture painted on the ground by steel rings.

While driving yesterday, I saw the tall and iconic Mirador de Colom monument in the rearview mirror.

Today we came to the foot of the towering cylindrical Columbus Monument. The monument is entirely built of ocher red marble, with two lines of characters "Glory Belongs to Columbus" and "Salute to Columbus" on it to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America.

In 1493, Columbus returned with great honors. Barcelona became the first place to hear Columbus announce the discovery of the New World and describe the strange new world. This also made the completion of the monument highly anticipated. From 1893, Columbus The monument has become one of the symbols of Barcelona.

The monument is 60 meters high. It is said that there is an elevator inside, so you can climb up and have a panoramic view of the Barcelona Port and Rambla Avenue. But the elevator can only accommodate 2 people, so be prepared for long lines.

The full-length statue of Columbus at the top of the Roman column is made of cast iron melted from the cannon in front of the Montjuic Castle. It is the largest statue of Columbus in the world.

Looking up, Columbus is standing under the blue sky. He has a globe under his feet and a determined expression. He holds a navigation chart in his left hand and points to the sea with his right hand.

The sculptures surrounding the middle of the Roman column are several goddesses of victory flying in the air.

The white marble sculpture on the base of the monument was under maintenance that day and was covered. The base is inlaid with eight exquisite bronze reliefs, which completely record the entire process of Columbus's voyage, seeking help, exploration and triumph.

The Columbus Monument stands in Columbus Square. On that day, white tents were set up at the foot of the monument, which was the weekend market that the Spaniards were very fond of.

When you step into Columbus Square, the first thing you see is a sculpture of three sailing ships. Columbus led three large sailing ships on his voyage.

There are several elegant old buildings around Plaza Columbus, the Customs House is the most eye-catching. The entire building is the mainstream style that emerged in Barcelona during the Renaissance, with exquisite carvings and beautiful details everywhere.

Opposite the Customs House is a yellow port building, Port de Barcelona, ??which is also classic and beautiful, but was under repair at the time.

In front of the port building is a strange-looking sculpture of a figure shitted by a seagull. Romul Boschi Alsina was a senator and mayor of Catalonia, and the owner of this pier in the early 20th century. President, the old pier is named after him.

The ancient Renaissance buildings around Columbus Square are bathed in the sea breeze. Their strong bodies have withstood many winds and waves, and they still retain the imprint of history and exude classical beauty.

Passing through Columbus Square and following the direction of Columbus’s finger is Port Vell, the old port of Barcelona. This once abandoned port has now been rejuvenated. All this is thanks to the Olympic Games, so it is also called Port Olímpic.

The clear blue sky, blue water, towering lighthouse, and distant buildings... constitute the moving skyline of the Old Port.

The harbor cable car towers high on the shore. Luxury yachts and antique sailing boats are moored in the pier. The rolling clouds and water, with seagulls passing by from time to time, form a beautiful and poetic picture.

In winter, the sun is shining brightly in the Olympic Port, the cold wind is blowing, and the sea and sky are the same color. The simple modern curves exude a passionate and unrestrained youthful vitality. The wavy curves outline the most romantic scene in Barcelona like a picture frame.

The rhythmic trestle stretches in the water waves, and the high-altitude cable car tower seems to be her guardian angel. The sparkling light plays a charming tune.

The wavy wooden boardwalk stretches all the way to the motorboat dock. Because it is not far from La Rambla, this trestle is called "Rambla del Mar" and is a symbol of the Old Port area.

The bridge body of this wavy wooden plank road is double-layered, with the upper level connected, and the bridge deck is covered with wooden floors; the top of the bridge is shaped like an "S" curve, like a strip of The fish swim through the undulating sea, which is very vivid.

Walking along the wavy wooden plank road, you can see boats of all sizes docked on the seaside. The blue sea and sky are lined with masts, which is quite spectacular.

There are hundreds of yachts of all kinds moored in the harbor. The white ships are large and small, with tall masts densely packed.

Such a piece of white floats in the blue sea, undulating slightly with the slowly rippling waves, and the sun shines on the sea surface.

In the bay, the masts stirred up the white clouds, reflecting the waves like golden satin.

Seagulls fly in groups in the sky, occasionally stopping on the high railings to relax and relax. The sea water is clear and transparent, and you can clearly see small fish playing in the water.

Here, there are little white people floating on the water, classical sailing boats passing by, large cruise ships docked on the shore, and the cable car leading to the top of the Olympic Mountain glides overhead... Barcelona's three-dimensional transportation is clear at a glance .

Under the blue sky and on the blue sea, a little white man floats on the sea. He looks up at the sky and the stars with his hands behind his back, looking very happy with himself.

The harbor shore is covered with palm trees and modern three-dimensional sculptures. We sat on the beach chatting, admiring the caress of the sea, listening to the sound of the waves, and basking in the sun. It seemed as if time had slowed down.

Walking along the seaside, seagulls fly freely, sailboats with masts and tourists quietly enjoying the beautiful scenery form a tranquil and beautiful picture.

We enjoyed the beautiful winter afternoon and let our thoughts run freely.

Port Olympic is located at the end of La Rambla. Las Ramblas, also known as "Vagabond Street", is the busiest and busiest pedestrian street in Barcelona and is known as one of the most beautiful boulevards in Europe.

La Rambla is home to the history of Barcelona. It not only retains the traditional living habits of the Spanish people, but also retains the Spanish enthusiasm and unrestrainedness. It is prosperous and lively without losing the style and elegance; she is both It's both commercial and artistic.

Spaniards are passionate and passionate about art. They are good at arranging their lives in a colorful way. Paint stalls, newsstands, flower shops, and food kiosks line both sides of La Rambla. The most eye-catching one is the "living sculpture" of human body art. Pedestrians are immersed in the atmosphere full of artistic life, lingering and enjoying it.

It is reported that the "living sculptures" here will never be repeated, and each performer must report to the city government. The place and theme of the performance must be approved. The most important thing in approval is the originality of the performance. Sex and aesthetics of clothing. Pedestrians can come up and take photos with them in various poses by just inserting coins.

The historic Church of Our Lady is a rare Baroque-style religious building in Barcelona, ??which adds a touch of elegance and luxury to this street.

La Rambla is the most prosperous street in the center of Barcelona. Walking in it, you will naturally blend into it, giving rise to a sense of intertwined time and space, history and today, classical and modern, Asia, Africa and Europe and the United States. , dreams and reality... everything is mixed and kneaded together.

The various palaces and monuments, squares, markets, theaters and museums that stand on both sides of La Rambla are so numerous that it is difficult to see them. You can wander among them and completely forget the passage of time.

Spanish operas and dances are very famous. Various repertoires with the theme of matador are unrestrained and heroic, and have become a unique and important branch in the European art treasure house.

The Liceu Theater is an opera house built during the Renaissance. It has a symmetrical structure, delicate divisions, and refined decoration. It was built with funds raised by civil society groups. Therefore, there are no royal boxes in the theater, and it is still a One of the largest opera houses in Europe.

A circular colorful mosaic is paved on the Rambla promenade. Due to being trampled by pedestrians all year round, the stones and colors have been damaged to a certain extent.

It is said that this was designed by Miro. The circle represents the universe, and the three primary colors of red, yellow and blue symbolize the original simplicity.

We were surprised to find Miró’s signature on a white tile. This is far beyond our imagination: the master's works are stepped on by people every day? !

Looking up suddenly, I almost shouted: Wow——, dragon, Chinese dragon! There are also palace lanterns! Why is there still an umbrella?

This is a very eye-catching building. The exterior wall is decorated with a large number of oriental elements: umbrellas and fans. A carved dragon pokes out from the corner, holding a traditional palace lantern in its mouth, slightly lower. A black old-fashioned umbrella hangs somewhere. This is Casa Bruno Cuadros.

This building built in 1858 was originally a Japanese shop selling umbrellas and fans. Later, when it was renovated in 1883, the walls were decorated with oriental features, and stained glass and Japanese figure paintings were specially used below. It is now a bank branch.

The Spaniards say: If you don’t go to Las Ramblas, you can’t feel the charm of Barcelona. Indeed, La Rambla is a very popular street in Barcelona. The street is dotted with theaters, churches, museums and other buildings with various sentiments, exuding a different style. I like street photography. The street scenes are real, come from life, and come from corners. They are very thought-provoking.

When walking on the streets of Barcelona, ??what attracts me most are the wonderful terraces and window designs of different shapes. The Spanish people who love life carefully give them a god-like charm, and the charming and gorgeous mosaic wall tiles , door and window frames with graceful lines, flowered wrought iron railings of yesterday's style, mysterious and attractive narrow shutter doors and windows... The Spanish have written their national emotions on the facades of the buildings.

Walking from one block to another, I watched and enjoyed it all the way. I really felt like I was drunk.

While walking, what caught my eye the most were the balconies on the buildings in the streets and alleys. In addition to ordinary rectangular shapes, most of these terraces are in various arc shapes. The winding lines, the beautiful patterns carefully made on the iron railings and the flowers of various colors placed on them are just like beautiful paintings. They are really beautiful. .

Looking at these balconies, the scene of young girls leaning on the railings and looking up at each other suddenly appeared in my mind. I couldn't help but sigh: No wonder stories that happen on the balconies always appear in many European literary masterpieces.

When I looked up, I saw a charming "Monroe" waving to passers-by, twisting constantly and lifting up her skirt from time to time. I opened my eyes in surprise and sighed. Only then It dawned on me when I saw a sign above "Monroe" that said EROTIC MUSEUM.

There are many sculptures on European streets. There is one not far away, and it is very rich in content. This is a seated stone statue of Frédéric Soller, the famous Spanish playwright and poet in the 19th century. In Spain, the people of Catalonia respect him as an outstanding writer and national hero, and build a monument and statue in his honor.

In a square, we saw the first work of Gaudí who had just qualified as an architect - a helmet-shaped street lamp.

There are open-air restaurants and cafes scattered around the square. I admire Europeans very much. Even in the cold spring and winter, they would rather watch a stove than sit calmly on the street and slowly taste delicious food and drink coffee.

Public drinking fountains with unique shapes can be seen everywhere on the streets of Barcelona. While quenching the thirst of passers-by, these beautifully designed public drinking fountains are also unique works of art, which are amazing. Incessantly.

On La Rambla, we also saw the Fuente de Canaletas Fountain, known as Barcelona’s most famous date spot, which is actually a beautiful and practical drinking water place. Whenever Barcelona wins the championship, thousands of fans will gather here, blocking the famous Wanderers Street with water.

Turning into a narrow alley from the lively Las Ramblas, a door with a unique architectural shape is particularly eye-catching. This is the Palau Güell built by Gaudí in 1888. This is also the work that established Gaudí as a great creator of atmospheric space.

The eagle-carved gate made of wrought iron silently tells the extraordinary background of the Palais Güell. We walked up and discovered that today is Sunday and it is free, but reservations are required. The free quota is currently full. You can buy a ticket on site to visit, 10 euros per ticket, stick out your tongue, it is too expensive, just take a look at the appearance and leave.

Between the arches, there is a cast-iron door decoration, with an eagle above, and lively iron lilies blooming on the window grille below. This is the coat of arms of the Güell family, which is extraordinary.

There are two huge parabolic arches at the entrance, with the letter "E" on the upper left and the subtitle "G" on the right, which is the capital letter of Guell's name.

Due to the narrow streets, it is difficult to get a full view of it. Only when I stood at the intersection could I barely see the roof decorated with a row of colorful chimneys, which made me exclaim again and again.

The broken porcelain collage method that Gaudí loved was used on a large scale for the first time here. Looking up at the rooftop, you can see chimneys of various designs made of mosaic colored tiles, shining like thousands of flowers under the warm winter sun.

Turning into an alley from La Rambla, a beautiful Gothic covered bridge that resembles the Bridge of Sighs in Venice suddenly appears in front of us, instantly taking us back to medieval Europe.

From here, we entered El Gòtic, the Gothic Quarter, the central area of ??Barcelona’s old city and the birthplace of Barcelona. The streets here are very narrow, but the crowds are bustling. We were mixed in with all kinds of people, and we never imagined that we were walking on the main street of the Roman period.

When you are in the maze-like Gothic Quarter, time seems to have stood still. The deep and narrow alleys and exquisite walls are full of medieval classics and vicissitudes of life. When we get lost in it, we can always find surprises inadvertently. It is said that such wall decorations can only be found in ancient houses.

Ancient buildings sit quietly next to buildings built in the 1990s. It is this blend of old and new that attracts tourists from all over the world.

Walking in the Gothic Quarter, you will see two thousand years of ancient Roman city beneath your feet. Every tile, brick, and stone tells history.

There are still stone-paved paths in the old city. When the heels hit the ground and make a crisp sound, it is like pleasant percussion music, blending with the scene in front of you, like a beautiful song. The nostalgic song suddenly pulled my thoughts away, and I seemed to see the life scenes of Barcelona people in the past.

To this day, the Gothic Quarter still retains its intricate street plan, and walking there feels like traveling back to the Middle Ages.

Walking in the narrow streets and alleys like old Beijing hutongs gives you a feeling of traveling through time and space. Compared with the hutongs of old Beijing, these streets and alleys are narrower and deeper.

Many of the buildings in the Gothic Quarter were built in the Middle Ages, and some of them even date back to the Roman period. Today, these buildings still stand, and even the sculptures at the corners of the buildings are meticulous and exquisite.

As soon as I walked out of a narrow alley, my eyes suddenly dimmed and I accidentally came to the ancient Placa de Sant Jaume Square. The Government Palace of Catalonia Autonomous Region on one side of the square is a Renaissance-style classical palace and one of the few medieval government buildings still in use in Europe.

Above the gate of the Catalan Autonomous Region Government Palace is a sculpture of Saint George on horseback in full armor. Saint George is the patron saint of Catalonia.

Directly opposite the Palace of Government of Catalonia is the Barcelona City Hall, which was built in 1369 AD. Over the centuries, it has been repaired and decorated many times, and now the facade is in neoclassical style.

This was the central forum for ancient Roman gatherings and the administrative center of the medieval city. To this day, this is still the place where Barcelona holds various political and civil rallies and processions, and people can express their dissatisfaction in a civilized manner here.

Leaving San Jaume Square, we once again walked into the ancient streets and alleys. The Gothic Quarter is simply a big maze, full of various medieval buildings and narrow alleys, and the historical atmosphere is very rich.

The Gothic Quarter was once a Roman village, so the atmosphere of the glorious past is everywhere here.

The Picasso Museum is hidden in a quiet corner of the old city.

This was Picasso's residence in Barcelona. Built in the 15th century, it is a typical Gothic building, more quaint than the Picasso Museum in Malaga.

It has a quiet courtyard, ornate walls and window lattice.

Walking in this medieval neighborhood, we can see wherever we go. We don’t need a map. We just need to follow our intuition and appreciate the historical relics left by that golden age.

At this time, I came across a quiet garden. The sunlight quietly shone through the gaps in the leaves in the courtyard, as if telling a medieval story.

Walking slowly into this courtyard built in the Middle Ages, a closed bronze carved door is particularly eye-catching, especially the downward golden handprint. It is said that this is a palace gate with Columbus's handprint on it.

This is a fourteenth-century palace, the Old Royal Palace of Barcelona. Although it is called the Royal Palace, it is not as tall, majestic and resplendent as imagined. It can even be said to be a bit shabby. The vines growing wantonly cover the white courtyard pillars.

After time, the old palace has been reduced to an old courtyard. To this day, only the exquisite stone carvings on the handrails of the stairs still silently tell the story of the past.

Standing at the corridor on the second floor, leaning on the railing and looking out, a beautiful octagonal tower comes into view.

Walking out of the courtyard, wandering in the narrow, deep and winding alleys, you can see the ancient buildings on the left and right, within reach of your hand. At that moment, time seems to have frozen and stopped, as if Travel through the long and ancient time tunnel.

I saw again, under the blue sky, the tall octagonal and crown-shaped tower.

This is King Martin's Watchtower built in the 16th century.

This area is truly the birthplace of Barcelona. As early as the ancient Roman period, the prototype of today's Barcelona city was established here; to this day, the remains of the ancient Roman city walls still exist, and numerous Gothic buildings built between the 13th and 15th centuries stand among them. If you want to understand the development history of Barcelona, ??the best way to start is from here.

This rectangular empty space is Pla?a del Rei, which was once the residence of the Count of Barcelona and later the King of Aragon. A place where various ceremonial activities are held. The square is surrounded by Gothic buildings on three sides and is full of noble medieval atmosphere.

King's Square is small in area. There is a 14-level arc-shaped staircase in one corner. After Columbus discovered the New World, he came back from here and walked up to the palace with gifts to meet Queen Isabel.

In the square stands a bronze equestrian statue of Ramon Berenguer III. During his reign, the Earl of Barcelona expanded his territory and made immortal contributions to the establishment of the Barcelona dynasty.

There is also a Barcelona City History Museum near Plaza del Rey. The paintings on the windows of the museum are the best annotation of the old city of Barcelona: modern people walk through or stop in these ancient streets and alleys, admiring the past glory of the ancients, and those historical relics also look at modern people with the same eyes. life, day after day, year after year.

Walking around the Gothic Quarter is like walking through a scroll, and you can circle the frames at will, which is a natural picture.

Next to Plaza de la Rey is the back of Catedral de Barcelona. The Barcelona Cathedral, which stands on this ancient Roman ruins, was based on the original Romanesque cathedral and took 150 years to complete. When we walked slowly under its outer wall and looked up at the monsters that flashed from time to time on the walls and roofs, we suddenly felt a strong sense of history.

Living in the shadow of the Sagrada Familia, the light of Barcelona Cathedral has dimmed a lot. However, it is less noisy and more peaceful, allowing people to immerse themselves in the tranquil atmosphere and examine history.

Under the blue sky, the towering spire is hidden in the deep streets and alleys, guiding us to get closer to it.

In the narrow streets, we saw some porcelain plate paintings on the dado, as well as some introductory text: During the rule of the ancient Roman Empire, a town was built here. Since then, with this place as the center and slowly spreading out to the surrounding areas, the town has gradually developed.

A drinking pool with a strong Arabic style quietly stands in the corner of the street, silently indicating the past of this place.

On the way to the main entrance of the cathedral, you can see the exquisite reliefs and the lifelike bronze sculptures. Unfortunately, I can’t read Spanish, so I walked in a fog all the way. .

The square in front of Barcelona Cathedral is the best place to appreciate the cathedral. Barcelona Cathedral is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Barcelona. It was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. Due to insufficient funds, the magnificent Gothic facade on the front of the church was not completed until the end of the 19th century with the sponsorship of a banker.

As an example of a Gothic-style church, the cathedral has a very compact and gorgeous neo-Gothic facade, with its slender lines being its most distinctive feature.

The spire looks like a Nordic Gothic flame, jumping and dancing straight into the sky. Standing at the foot of it, looking up at the blue sky, the cross on the top of the tower is breathtaking and makes us marvel.

This gorgeous and solemn gate is very Gothic, grand, majestic and majestic. There is a statue of Jesus standing in the middle of the door; the twelve disciples are on both sides; the exquisite carvings on the lintel are breathtaking.

The cathedral is open all day, but it is divided into paid periods (donation of 7 euros) and free periods. Free admission periods are available before 12:45 in the morning and after 17:15 in the afternoon.

Driving on the Iberian Peninsula, I saw so many churches along the way that I was already a little tired of aesthetics. I felt that the churches were basically the same, just bigger and smaller, more luxurious and more simple. That’s all. Therefore, we only visited the exterior and did not queue to enter.

At this time, we were attracted by the music coming from the square. Following the beat of the music, several young people had already opened up their posture and were eager to try.

Compared with the strictness of the church, the square is very lively. There are not only performances by various artists, but also vendors selling small commodities. On weekends, it is a gathering place for young people.

Barcelona has a beauty that makes it impossible to take your eyes away. This is a city that is very attractive in terms of architecture, culture, art, food, streets, etc. People who have never been there always want to go, and people who have been will never forget it.

Here, time seems to be going back. The old and simple Roman period and medieval buildings can be seen everywhere. The accumulation of history in Barcelona is beyond the reach of the capital Madrid.

For travelers, you don’t have to know that the capital of Spain is Madrid, but you have to know Barcelona; you don’t have to go to Madrid, but you have to go to Barcelona. Because there is a rich history and culture, a large number of world heritage sites, magical and mysterious Gaudí buildings, passionate football, colorful Mediterranean style and Sunshine Coast, and warm and hospitable Barcelona people. .

The warm sun in winter pulls out the "teeth" (33) Barcelona: Gaudí's masterpiece of light and shadow

The warm sun in winter pulls out the "teeth" (32) Barcelona ：The masterpiece created by Gaudí