Barcelona is actually a rather old city. Different opinions claim it to be founded either in the 3rd or 15th century. Whichever is correct, Barcelona is surely not just fancy modern metropolis. The old historical centre still has the charm of time frozen still…The Barri Gothic Quarter is a web of narrow cobbled passageways, tall old buildings, multiple churches and a city cathedral. We had a very nice walk around the quarter when decided to visit museum of Pablo Picasso, who, apparently, spent about 10 years of his life in this area. The museum was okay and has some rare works of an artist, lots of unknown works, early sketches, etc. Well, actually, although I didn’t feel the museum was waste of time, however, it didn’t influence me crazy and didn’t make me devoted fan of the artist either. But it was a pleasure to walk these old streets and to enjoy diving in atmosphere of past times…I let my imagination to run loose and for a brief moment it was me walking under the beautiful balcony…medieval dress, headpiece with veil…ahhhhh…where is that handsome senior to serenade me?!...
The city Cathedral was in construction, just like almost everything else in Barcelona. Honestly, sometimes it seemed that building things is the most popular activity of locals. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if once they finished with all protracted building works, they will demolish something new just so that they would have something to build again. Despite of scaffolding on the outside, the Cathedral turned out to be an inspiring and tranquil place...
There is an enclosed court with a lovely nativity scene planted among the flowerbeds, bushes and palm trees and some geese pastoralizing naturally the whole set.
There were, of course, many more little wonders everywhere in Barri Gothic. Like enclosed private patios and mandarin trees (which were in fruit bearing season!), poetically rigorous walls of the museum of Barcelona City History, occupying an old medieval building…well, I’m having difficulties to pick up a view to tell and show…Barri Gothic is not a huge area at all, but just a small piece of land that somehow preserved the past times like a grand-grand-grand-ma’s brooch inherited by the young and bright Barcelona…
More to come...
The city Cathedral was in construction, just like almost everything else in Barcelona. Honestly, sometimes it seemed that building things is the most popular activity of locals. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if once they finished with all protracted building works, they will demolish something new just so that they would have something to build again. Despite of scaffolding on the outside, the Cathedral turned out to be an inspiring and tranquil place...
There is an enclosed court with a lovely nativity scene planted among the flowerbeds, bushes and palm trees and some geese pastoralizing naturally the whole set.
There were, of course, many more little wonders everywhere in Barri Gothic. Like enclosed private patios and mandarin trees (which were in fruit bearing season!), poetically rigorous walls of the museum of Barcelona City History, occupying an old medieval building…well, I’m having difficulties to pick up a view to tell and show…Barri Gothic is not a huge area at all, but just a small piece of land that somehow preserved the past times like a grand-grand-grand-ma’s brooch inherited by the young and bright Barcelona…
More to come...