12 days in Spain & 4 days in Paris- 9/12/14- 9/9/28/14

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

 

Barcelona- Day 2 - Barri Gòtic (Gothic quarter)

Despite several changes in The Gothic Quarter starting in the 19th and early 20th century, many of the buildings date from Medieval times, some from as far back as the Roman settlement of Barcelona.

Facade of the General Archive of the Crown of Aragon.  It was originally Royal Archives of Barcelona containing the background documents of the institutions of the former Crown of Aragon and currently also contains other historical resources. 

 

As you walk in you see a court yard with heavy stone arches.

The ivy must been here for a long time as their trunk are pretty big.

Intricate coffered wooden ceiling  

The building is listed as an European Heritage.

 

History Museum of Barcelona.  We did not get in but we were able to see the Casa Clariana Padellàs (1st picture on the left).

 

Casa Clariana Padellàs is Gothic palace built in the 16th century belonging to a rich merchant and was moved brick by brick to the Plaza del Rei in 1930.  It currently houses some of the rooms of the Museum of the History.  The courtyard is a typical Catalan Gothic architecture and it offering a glimpse into what Roman and Visigoth city was like.

 

When you walk in the courtyard you definitely have the feeling that you are going back in time.

 

During the excavation work necessary to build the new foundation for the palace, remains of the old Roman city were uncovered. From 1930 until 1960 a large area, stretching under the Plaça del Rei, was excavated. To better preserve these remains, it was decided to move Barcelona's city museum to this site, and the museum opened in 1973.

 

 

The second floor is the Palau Reial Major, a royal complex built in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

Typical gothic arch.

Beautiful stone work.

 

A well fed dog resting on the street.

I could not resist taking a picture!  There are a lot of people walking around and it does not bother the dog.  He is resting comfortable without a care in the world!

 

We are still in the Gothic quarter area and we stumbled on Antoni Llena's towering monument on Plaça de Sant Miquel.

 

The stainless steel tube sculpture spirals are 30 meters high. Its lightness and openness encourage visitors to walk through and around the artwork.

 

A restaurant selling oysters...

Next.. Day 2-Joan Miro/Las Arenas

Home

Travel

Our house

Birthdays

Photo Gallery

 Mon  petit coin