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Inside
Barcelona:
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MACBA
- Museum of Contemporary Art (El Raval). Designed by Richard Meier considered to
be ‘must see’ landmark! Mainly temporary exhibitions (photography, video
& graphic work).
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MNAC
- National Art Museum of Catalyuna (Palau Nacional, Montjuic). Renovated by Gae
Aulenti who did the Gare d’Orsay in Paris.
Medieval art & architecture, 11th & 12th
century apses, reconstructed precisely as if they were in their original
locations. Thought to be one of the best of it’s kind in the world!
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MUSEUM
OF MODERN ART - Has a great variety of collections of paintings and sculptures.
Of interest is the collection of the group of painters who go by the name of “Catalan
Nazarentists”. Also paintings by
a number of Catalan artists including Ramon Casas, Santiago Rusiñol,
Isidre Nonell.
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FUNDACÍO
JOAN MIRÓ - One of the most complete collections of Miró’s work in the
world. The building (on Montjuic) was designed by Miró’s friend Sert.
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MUSEU
MARÍTIM - Housed in preserved mediaeval shipyards. Includes model ships,
drawings, replicas etc.
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MUSEU
MONESTIR DE PEDRALBES - Monastery that is also a museum.
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PICASSO
MUSEUM - Housed in two beautifully preserved Gothic palaces of Berenguer
Aguilar and Baron de Castellet on Calle Montcada. The collection is strong on
his early period.
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FUNDACÍO
ANTONI TÀPIES - Housed in a striking Modernist building, off Paseo de
Gracia. A permanent collection of Barcelona’s most internationally renowned
contemporary artist.
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MUSEU
FREDERIC MARÉS - Mostly religious objects from the 12th to the
15th century.
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MUSEU
TEXTIL I DE LA INDUMENTÁRIA - In a palace
on the same street as the Picasso Museum. Limited collection of textile. Good
collection of period costumes.
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PALAU
DE LA MUSICA - One of the best
examples of Modernist architecture in Barcelona (1905-1908) architect Doménech
I Muntaner.
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CASA
MUSEU GAUDÍ (Parc Guell) - Gaudí lived in this house within the park from 1905
- 1925. The displays consist of furniture he designed as well as quite a few
drawings & projects.
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PARC
GÜELL Combine this museum with a visit to the park which was originally
intended to the an English style garden city. This enchanted park was projected
by Gaudí but most of it was carried out by his disciple Josep Maria Juol. The
undulating benched are covered with fragments of ceramic tile. Lots of animal
references.
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MODERNIST
BARCELONA - Walk along La Rambla & Passeig de Grácia which has the highest
concentration of different modernist buildings in the city.
Starting at Palau Güell (Nou de la Rambla), Antigas Casa Figueras (Rambla 83),
Farmacia Genové (Rambla 77), crossing Plaça Catalunya to
Passeig de Grácia - Casa Pascual i
Pons (no. 2), Cases Rocasmora (no. 6-14), Roca (jewellery shop). On the “Block
of Disagreement” because of the contrast between the major Modernist
buildings, Casa Lleó Morera (no. 35), including
this one and those by Gaudí - Casa
Amatller (41), right next door is the crowning piece of the “Block of
disagreement”
Casa Batlló.
The facade is covered with multi-coloured tiles and the roof uses glazed
ceramic “scales”, follows the theme of St. George & the dragon.
Casa Mila (no. 93) known as “La Pedrera” (The Quarry) built as an
apartment block between 1906 - 1912 was the last block to be built by Gaudí and
has been declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. It has a wonderful view
from the roof and one of the apartments has been restored and can be visited.
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SAGRADA
FAMILIA (Holy Family Temple) - Architect Gaudí began in 1882, still less than
half completed. There is a tiny lift which goes to the top or you can walk!
There is a museum and you can watch the sculptors at work.
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GOTHIC
AREA & THE RAMBLAS - Santa María del Mar and Santa María del Pí. Plaça
Reial and Plaça del Rei. Gran Teatre Liceu.
Outside
Barcelona:
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SALVADOR
DALI MUSEUM - Figueras - 2 hours north of Barcelona
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SITGES
- A beautiful coastal town with it’s church of Santa Thecla and Saint
Bartholomew. The museums of Maricel and Maricel de Mar. Cau Ferrat Museum,
founded by the Catalan writer & artist Santiago Rusiñol, who donated two
magnificent El Greco paintings, on
his return from Paris.
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MONTSERRAT
- About 40 km from Barcelona. Benedictine monastery and Basilica, which houses
“La Moreneta” - the statue of the
Virgin of Montserrat.
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GARROTXA
VOLCANIC NATURAL PARK - landscape painting. |