Beautiful BARCELONA - Easy Travel GuideWritten by Travel Make.com
Beautiful city of Barcelona, capital of Catalonia (a Spain's province), is situated on on shore of Mediterranean sea and bordered at either end by 2 river deltas. Barcelona is second largest city in Spain after its capital city Madrid. Barcelona has a population of 1.5 million, over 4 million including suburbs. The varied, eventful history of city dates back 4,000 years to first settlements by ancient farmers. Later it became a Roman colony, Visigoth's capital city, then it came under Moorish rule. It went through sieges, destructions and occupations, finally to become an autonomous democracy 1975. The city has always played an important role in political and cultural life of Spain and it is well reflected in variety and quality of historical buildings, museums, many other tourist attractions. Today Barcelona is one of most diverse european cities with unique culture and rich traditions. You can find here a formidable balance of traditional things and avant-garde. A cosmopolitan metropolis, Barcelona affords visitors a warm and sincere welcome, being aknowledged worldwide as one of best tourist-friendly cities in Europe.Barcelona's organisation of 1992 Olympics provided regeneration of this dynamic city, gave a fresh start to its infrastructure development. WHAT TO SEE AND WHERE: POINTS OF INTEREST - La Rambla is a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard packed with buskers, living statues, mimes and itinerant salespeople selling everything from lottery tickets to jewellery. Pavement cafes and stands selling craftwork, street performers surrounded by curious onlookers, a noisy bird market, Palau de la Virreina, a grand 18th-century rococo mansion, Gran Teatre del Liceu, famous 19th-century opera house- these are all colourful parts of La Rambla's mosaic. La Rambla ends at lofty Monument a Colom (Monument to Columbus) and harbour. Barri Gotic - also known as Gothic Quarter, it is old part of city. Picasso lived and worked in Barri Gotic from 1895 to 1904 and Joan Miro was born and lived here during his youth. Gothic Quarter is situated on right hand side of La Rambla, it contains a concentration of medieval tall Gothic buildings (14-15th century) on narrow cobbled streets and now is home to much of city's nightlife. La Sagrada Familia - La Sagrada Familia is one of most famous and magnificent among Barcelona's landmarks. The life's work of Barcelona's famous architect, Antoni Gaudi, magnificent spires of unfinished cathedral imprint themselves boldly against sky with swelling outlines inspired by holy mountain Montserrat. Above each facade there are four towers, 12 in total, which are dedicated to Apostles. The tower in center, tallest of all at 170 m., is dedicated to Jesus Christ. Around these there are towers of four Evangelists, and tower over apse is dedicated to Virgin. They are encrusted with a tangle of sculptures that seem to breathe life into stone. Gaudi died in 1926 before his masterwork was completed, and since then, controversy has continually dogged building program. Nevertheless, southwestern (Passion) facade, is almost done, and nave, begun in 1978, is progressing. La Pedrera - Casa Mila (Mila House) is an apartment building, last example of Gaudi's civil architecture.It is one of his finest and most ambitious creations, extraordinarily innovative in its functional, constructive, and ornamental aspects. Visitors can tour building and go up to roof, where they can see spectacular views of Barcelona. One floor below roof is a modest museum dedicated to Gaudi's work. Montjuic - largest open space in city, its main attractions are Olympic installations, Spanish Village and hilltop fortress. Montjuic, hill overlooking city centre from southwest, is home to some fine art galleries, leisure attractions, soothing parks and main group of 1992 Olympic sites. Montjuic is covered in ornamental gardens with water features and is most popular destination in Barcelona on Sundays. Tibidabo - is highest hill in wooded range that forms backdrop to Barcelona. It has amazing views of whole of Barcelona, a stunning cathedral, and a family fun park Parc d'Atraccions with old-style rides offering breathtaking views. A glass lift at park goes 115m (383 ft) up to a visitors' observation area at Torre de Collserola telecommunications tower. Modernisme - spectacular modernista architectural creations dotted around city by famous Antoni Gaudi and his contemporaries. Camp Nou - home of F.C. Barcelona, one of Europe's leading soccer teams, with capacity of almost 100,000 spectators. The Seu Cathedral - Built in medieval times on site of a Roman temple, La Seu is one of great Gothic buildings in Spain. Parc de la Ciutadella - Barcelona's favourite park and a Sunday afternoon rendezvous for families, friends and ducks The Sardana - traditional Catalan dance, performed outside cathedral and at national festivals, with everyone encouraged to join in.MUSEUMS - The Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art -the only museum in Europe devoted exclusively to Pre-Columbian cultures. Housed in a gothic palace, its collection is one of finest of its kind and gives visitors an insight into rich world of earliest cultures on American continent. This tiny museum contains one hundred pieces, including wood and stone sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, jade, often found in international exhibitions and prestige publications. The exhibits represented Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Chavin, Mochica and Inca civilisations. Palau de la Musica Catalana - one of world's most extraordinary music halls, it is a Barcelona landmark. From its polychrome ceramic ticket windows on Carrer de Sant Pere Mes Alt side to its overhead busts of Palestrina, Bach, Beethoven, and Wagner, Palau is flagship of Barcelona's Moderniste architecture. Museu Picasso - is Barcelona's most visited museum. 3,500 exhibits make up permanent collection. Picasso spent several years (1901-06) in Barcelona, and this collection, is particularly strong on his early work. Displays include childhood sketches, pictures from beautiful Rose and Blue periods, and famous 1950s Cubist variations on Velazquez's Las Meninas (Ladies-in-Waiting). Gaudi Casa-Museu - Gaudi lived in this pink, Alice-in-Wonderland house from 1906 to 1926, which now houses a museum of Gaudi-designed furniture, decorations, drawings, and portraits and busts of architect. Fundacio Miro - it was a gift from famous artist Joan Miro to his native city. The museum opened in 1975, and now it is one of Barcelona's most exciting showcases of contemporary art.
| | SanAntonio is for Everyone!Written by Lisa
When I take a family vacation I want a little bit of everything – some fun, some thrills, some culture, some good food, a learning experience. San Antonio has it all! If this will be your first San Antonio vacation, you almost definitely need to plan it downtown. The downtown area is key part of San Antonio's tourist draw, with excitement through day and well into night. A walk along San Antonio's famous Paseo del Rio is enough to send any tourist into a state of relaxation. This river walk winds through some of downtown's most exciting areas.The Alamo It’s home of Alamo … and so much more. One of most interesting things to know is that The Alamo is in middle of downtown San Antonio. The 18th-century mission church where Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and 188 others waged their last stand against Mexican army for Texas independence has become a state symbol. The most famous historical site in Texas, mission has been restored to its original condition and offers tours, relics of past, and a gift shop with memorabilia for history enthusiasts. Before you tour Alamo, take in IMAX movie, “The Price of Freedom” it is a 45-minute docudrama about 13-day siege and fall of Alamo. Watch battle unfold, where 189 defenders who fought and died for cause of Texas liberty. The immense screen and magnetic stereo sound system places viewer in middle of action. It will tell tale to your children, and stir your soul. After you’ve seen Alamo and visited souvenir shop (pick up some bluebonnet seeds) check out Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum and Plaza Wax Museum. Then take a horse-drawn carriage ride. River Walk San Antonio’s River Walk is just down way from Alamo. You descend, via stairs, to find yourself in another world – 3 beautiful miles of shops, restaurants, clubs and artists. Along horseshoe shaped riverbend, river is shaded by towering cypresses, oaks and willows and bordered by gardens of flowering ornamental plants. Take a boat ride and get historical tour of City as you look up at buildings you pass. Come at Christmas time and it’s all lit with Christmas-tree lights. So relaxing and beautiful and very romantic.
|
