Spain Tourism » Barcelona Travel

The exuberance of Barcelona is evident in its imagination defying architecture that itself is a form of art.

Barcelona has always been a modern city. Even centuries ago it was at the forefront of new ideas and design. Creativity is everything in this buzzing metropolis and the people seem to breath elegance and style into life.

While ignoring convention and setting their own standards that others soon follow. Today Barcelona still stands proud and offers plenty of experiences for the adventurous art living travelers.
Completely by chance, in a quite unspoilt alleyway in the old Gothic quarter of Barcelona.

Architecture and fashion
Barcelona has come a long way since the dark days of the Franco dictatorship when the creativity of the people was suppressed and a drab grey veil seemed to hang over everything. Today, walking along the wide boulevard of the Pasig de Gracia, it is hard to imagine that this was ever possible. The transformation is complete. Chanel, Max Mara, Guggi and Ermenegildo Zegna nestle comfortably between Prada, Armani and Hermes.

The recent restoration of Gaudrs masterpiece, Casa Mila, commonly known as La Pedrera, crowns the tree-lined Pasig de Gracia. Decades of grime were recently cleaned off this extraordinary block of fiats made of undulating white stone. Gorgeously dressed attendants usher you through the entrance doors and into the lift which takes you up to the top floor and the immaculately preserved Gaudf Suites which include a fascinating display of all his works and creations. Gaudf hated straight lines and made curves his personal signature which is evident right from the spiral staircase that allows you to access the roof. Here, the chimneys are sculpted in humanoid forms, which, especially when lit up at night, take on the form of warriors. Across from La Pedrera is another Gaudf masterpiece, Casa Bat116, while the green Park Gbell which houses many Gaudf buildings and urban architecture is just a short taxi ride away from the centre.

Gaudi, who became increasingly religious towards the end of his life, made his last work his greatest. The church of the Sagrada Familia is still being built some 100 years after it was started. The soaring spires, which are topped with ceramic adornments in vivid colours, are best viewed from the small park which is to one side of the mammoth construction. Today it’s is Possible to visit the work in progress and climb to the top of the spires for an amazing view of Barcelona. The church’s crypt houses an excellent exhibition covering the life of Gaudi and the original models and sketches for the church. Part of the problem with the building’s completion has been trying to decipher the plans the master left. The mammoth task of completing the building, which is funded solely by private donations and the entrance ticket sales, is sure to continue for some years to come.

Building art
Today, Barcelona continues to surprise and excite. For the visitor there is a wonderful opportunity to actually stay in a work of art. The Hotel Arts is the city’s most sought-after contemporary styled accommodation. The glistening glass and steel tower soars 44 storeys above the city and marina and offers guests outstanding views of the Sagrada Familia church, the newly opened Agbar building and the sea. In a city where art reigns supreme, the Hotel Arts has one of the largest private art collections in Spain. The foyers, public rooms, suites and hallways are packed with fine paintings and sculptures including works by internationally renowned artists such as Manolo Valdes, Luis Feito and Jose Manuel Broto. In fact, the collection is of such interest that there is an organised tour of the most important works each weekend.

Elegant designer furniture makes a refined statement against the creamy walls of the reception area. The Hotel Arts attracts the kind of people who are interested in making a statement, and the foyer is usually full of famous faces. Outside, in the lush gardens, the swimming pool overlooks the giant metal fish sculpture by American artist and architect Frank Gehr, Creativity is the keystone in the award winning restaurant Enoteca headed by Michelin-starred chef Paco Perez. His fame comes from his passion for creating unique gourmet experiences where the texture, flavour and colours combine to present a work of art for the palate.

21st century masterpieces Just recently opened, the latest building to be turning heads in Barcelona is the ultra-modern Agbar Tower just off the main thoroughfare, El Diagonal. This 30-floor glass-clad tower by French architect Jean Nouvel has been heralded as a masterpiece. Built to house the offices of the Barcelona Water Company, Nouvel claims it’s not a skyscraper at all, but a giant water geyser. The blue structure rises up out of its own water pool complete with fountains. One of its greatest charms is its level of environmental friendliness. The 35-storey, reinforced-concrete structure has a multicoloured facade that recreates the prismatic effects of a film of water. The cladding is made up of aluminium panels in 25 colours behind glass louvres. Where there are windows, and there are 4,400 of them, the glass is transparent; otherwise it is etched to be merely translucent. Such details are part of the facade’s elaborate solar protection system. The louvres are tilted at 14 different angles calculated to deflect direct light as the sun moves across the sky. The glass panels, which cover it, move to catch the sun’s rays, which are then used to supply energy to the building. It’s hard to miss the Agbar Tower, which is fast becoming a 21st century icon in the city.

Creativity calling
The discrete charm of the area known as Born, just near Barcelona’s Gothic cathedral, has really blossomed again in the past few years. This is definitely old-town architecture but with a new-town attitude. Known historically as one of Barcelona’s most exotic areas, today it is still full of foreigners, but they are most likely to be running swanky clothes shops, chic bars and restaurants or trendy furniture boutiques. This is still a highly creative area where art happens right on the streets and the perfect place to stop at one of the many outdoor cafes for a drink while you watch the world go by.

Right in the middle of all this bohemian culture are the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Fashion and the Picasso Museum, and all are ‘must-sees’ in the city. The Born area is still at the top with cutting edge restaurants that show their style in both the stunning decor and cuisine. Oozing creative appeal is the Indian restaurant Kama Lounge run by the young Gujarati Ketan Trivedi. The interior is funky with pink and black designer furniture and a huge plasma screen showing Hindi movies on one wall. The menu is full of creatively inspired Indian dishes.

For Catalan inspired modern cuisine try the cosy and very Bohemian restaurant Re-Pla.

Amid candles and rosy warm colours the menu features some wonderful surprises including the carpaccio of Spanish Idialabac cheese with honey and spicy sausage infused oil, or the absolutely heavenly wild lime sorbet with Majorcan gin.

Like Woody Allen hunting for locations for his movie shoot you too can discover the creativity and style that Barcelona has to offer. The Gothic Quarter at night, with its towering stone buildings which have seen more than 500 years of history, palm filled squares and small alleys in the Born district contrast with the elegance and somewhat haughty sophistication of the Pasig de Graqia, the art-filled Hotel Arts or the ultramodern glass towers that herald the new age. However, if you are serious about discovering Barcelona you’ll be rewarded with more than you ever expected.