Gary M. Letchinger

Spain 2024

Barcelona

We took a high-speed train from Lyon to Barcelona. Much of the journey was along the coast of the Mediterranean but the coastline is less dramatic than the cliffs and mountains along the Pacific Coast in California and Oregon.

Our visit to Barcelona started with a tour of the old city in the neighborhood called the Gothic Quarter. This is a corner of the plaza where we met our tour guide Lisa. This square has buildings from different eras.

There is graffiti in almost every neighborhood in Barcelona. Some call it “graffiti art” but I think it is just ugly.
Another side of the plaza. This building is somewhat newer than the buildings in the previous photos.
An old church at the beginning of our tour.

The Spanish typically plant a tree in the church’s courtyard.
Church Entrance.
A typical narrow street in the Gothic Quarter. We had to squeeze close to the buildings to let cars and truck pass.
A medieval building with more recent construction attached. The spire of the 19th Century cathedral is visible in the background.
This is part of a Roman gate and the oldest structure in the Gothic Quarter.
Another view of the gate – note that it is attached to structures from different eras.
The 19th Century cathedral.
19th Century cathedral detail.
This building is close to the Jewish Quarter. You can see damage from aerial bombing during the Spanish Civil War.
Detail of damage.
Gothic Quarter apartment.
This is a former temple in the Jewish Quarter. It is now used as a Jewish visitor center. The population of about 4,000 Jews were murdered by the city authorities during the Spanish Inquisition. A small Jewish population has returned to the City and there are now two temples in Barcelona. Note the low entrance: the entrance to a temple must be lower than the entrance of any Christian church in the city.
Another church
Church detail.
This is an early example from Belle Epoch architect Antoni Gaudi. The outside of the house is covered with with painted porcelain tiles and other attached decorations. It looks like something from Disneyland. I beckoned Rapunzel to let down her hair so we could climb up but there was no reply.
Another view
Detail of house
A typical example of the Belle Epoch architecture in an upscale 19th Century neighborhood. There are many buildings like this in Barcelona.
This is a later example of a Gaudi building in the same 19th Century neighborhood. It looks like nothing else in the neighborhood (except for the Gaudi house across the street). Note the curved facade and the decorative iron railings and the pattern that was carried over when the city installed this street light.
Here is the Gaudi house across the street also with a fanciful curved facade. This is the most popular Gaudi house tour and it has the gift shop. It is a mob scene from the first tour in the morning until the evening tours after dark.
This is Guell Park designed by Gaudi which includes Gaudi’s personal residence and various park buildings including a museum. Gaudi originally intended to build a residential subdivision in the park. There are views of the city and the Mediterranean from the park.
Park Guell support pillars for the walkway above. The park is built on the side of a hill.
The main plaza in Park Guell. I’m sure it is packed in the summer.
The view from higher up the hill.
Amy relaxing on the mosaic bench designed by Gaudi.
Park Guell fence.
Retaining wall.
A view of the city: the building with the crane is the Sagrada Familia (shown below).
Exterior of Sagrada Familia
Roof detail. So why are there giant pieces of fake fruit on the tops of the spires?? I don’t know.
Sagrada Familia roof detail. Gaudi died when this building was in the early stages of construction and the original plans are lost. Other architects have directed the construction since then and there is no end in sight. Note the worker in the red shirt on the exterior in the middle.
The umbrella-shaped structure contain a statue of Jesus on the cross between the organ pipes.
Close-up from side.

Note the dark figure in the balcony. It is a statue facing the Jesus figure. Is it supposed to be Satan?
Interior of the church.
Confessional in alcove with stained glass windows.
This is a second confessional in a nearby alcove.
Detail of organ pipes. We heard the organ played while we were there. The music was J.S. Bach and it sounded quite good!
Original church buildings on the property. The current construction occupies a full city block.

Sitges

We took the regional train from Barcelona south along the coast for a day trip to the Mediterranean beach town of Sitges. It is a bit like the La Jolla neighborhood in San Diego or Hoboken, New Jersey. This is the descent from the town down to the beach.
This church is right on the shore.
Yes there is a traditional beach scene. I’m sure there are large crowds in the summer.