Mies & More

In 1929 the celebrated architect Mies van der Rohe was commissioned to design the German Pavilion for the International Exposition held in Barcelona that year. This small building and the "Barcelona Chair" that was designed specifically for this space have become iconic symbols of elegance and simplicity in modern architecture. We made the pilgrimage.

Taking in the panoramic view of Barcelona from atop Montjuic and then riding the funicular down to the beach.

Las Ramblas as it begins at the waterfront.  Montserrat can be seen at the mountain top.

The beach, in all its glory.

Off to lunch at the very groovy, beachfront W Hotel:

   

Gazpacho served in a glass and tomato bread are staples in Catalan cuisine.

The sausage and asparagus paella at Pez Vela did not disappoint!  And yes, that is a lot of paella for 3 girls.

Wine, paella, beach means 3 happy art girls!

Howdy, Gaudí!

Toward the end of the 19th century, a new style of architecture, Modernisme, was born in Barcelona. Antoni Gaudí is the most well-known architect of this highly-original style.  Modernisme championed light, ventilation, curves, and nature.  Two of Gaudí's residential projects, Casa Milà (aka La Pedrera, meaning "the Stone Quarry") and Casa Batlló are open to the public.

Casa Milà is an eight-floor apartment block designed around two open courtyards.  There are no straight walls anywhere in the building.  Visitors are able to walk on the roof deck and admire the whimsical sculpted ducts and chimneys.

One of the light and airy open courtyards.

Some of the chimneys and ducts are known as "witch scarers" because of their threatening appearance.

Up on the roof.

Casa Batlló, considered Gaudí's masterpiece, recently opened to the public for the first time in history despite the upper floors being occupied.

Ornamentation of the central interior air and light shaft.

Shades of blue tile are darker at the top and lighter at the bottom to create the effect of more even light distribution.

Living room ceiling and front window.

View from the front window onto Passeig de Gracia.

Decoration on one of the rear balconies.

Up on the roof.

Many architects hide chimneys; Gaudi celebrated them!

Gaudi bids visitors a fond farewell.

Palau de la Musica Catalana

This concert hall (built by Domenech i Montaner, 1905-1908) is a high point of Barcelona's Modernista architecture.

This is the only concert hall in Europe lit with natural light.

Detail of the "muses" adorning the stage; each holds a different instrument.

Detail of the stained glass skylight.  Natural light was a major tenet of the Modernista movement.

The beautiful lobby.

The theater holds over 2,100 people, but we Art Girls had it to ourselves.

Sonja & Linda sport their new shades in front of the ticket window.

Passeig de Gracia & Other Barcelona Stories

While waiting for our 3rd Art Girl to arrive in Barcelona and since we promised to not do anything too cool before she got here, these 2 Art Girls spent the day shopping, winding our way down the chic and upscale Passeig de Gracia, stopping for a photo op at the Plaza de Cataluyna, joining the throngs of tourists on Las Ramblas.

     

Fantastic lunch in El Raval at Bar Lobo where their motto is "Shared Food Tastes Better."

     

Got to get Espadrilles from La Manual Alpargatera, the originators of THE shoe of Barcelona (although similar shoes have been made throughout the ages using rope).

Finishing our day at Mercat de la Boqueria, known as one of Europe's finest food fairs.

Loved the market so much, we circled back to show it to our 3rd Art Girl when she arrived.