Exposing The World

Spain: Barcelona

Catalan Culture

Catalonia is one of the four distinct cultural regions of Spain, and historically the most contentious.

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Old plazas and an artistic spirit

Though weathered walls like this attest to the medieval heritage of the city, it has been transformed by experimental redevelopment in the 19th Century and the architecture of Antoni Gaudi in the early 20th.

The Gothic Quarter (Barrí Gotic) has been the historic center of Barcelona since medieval times
The city offers plenty of opportunity to sample the seafood-heavy Catalan cuisine
Port Vell may mean “Old Harbor” but it’s a totally refurbishment of the port for the 1992 Olympics. Besides a new marina, there is shopping to draw young people to the area.
There is art, from the most to the least formal, everywhere
Estació de França, the “French Station” in the northeast corner of Barcelona, connnects Spain with the French Riviera. AVE bullet trains are now starting to serve this station.

Sagrada Familia

This basilica, Antoni Gouda’s greatest work, was started in 1862 is is hoped for completion in 2026.

Sagrada Familia. This is the Nativity Facade, completed in 1926 at the time of Gaudi’s death.
The other side of Sagrada familia is the Passion Facade, depictingthe death of Christ
Gaudi used this upside-down model of the church as an analog computer to calculate strain on the arches

Park Güell

This Barcelona public park showcases Gaudi’s architecture and sculpture. This public deck rests on a set of 89 large Roman columns

On the hill below the columns, a Hans Christian Andersen toy viillage
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