S/V Aphrodite

What follows is a bit of Barcelona’s history.  We found the city to be so interesting that we stayed several days longer than planned.  Unfortunately we were unable to get into the “Old City” marina which would have put us within walking distance to everything. But, we bought multiple day tickets for the tourist bus system and were able to cover every part of the city, hopping on and off where ever we wanted.

Although the “Old City” is beautiful and interesting to explore, with its characteristic narrow streets and alleys, what we found really fascinating was the vast, varied and completely mind boggling architecture outside the original walled city.  I have never seen anything like it.  Antoni Gaudi, native to Barcelona, has multiple works of art in varying parts of the city.  His style is so colorful, imaginative and unique that it is impossible not to see and recognize his buildings immediately.  Even 100 years later the colors of the tiles, broken ceramic pieces and chips of bottles are still brilliant and reflective that it looks like something out of your imagination.  Gaudi has been referred to a man who was either a genius or a madman.  I can certainly see why.  His works remind me of The Hobbit or Disneyland because they are so animated and imaginative.

 If you have visited Barcelona, which is of course pronounced with the Spanish lipse, then these pictures will probably trigger memories of this most memorable place.  If this is your first exposure to this marvelous city then please enjoy!  Unfortunately the impressively brilliant colors did not come through that well in our pictures.Barcelona’s origins go back more than 2,500 years when Phoenicians and Carthaginians first established port cities in the area.  The Carthaginians were replaced by the Romans in the 1st century B.C. who named the city Barcino.  Several surviving monuments from this period can be seen concentrated around the Plaça Sant Jaume and the Gothic Quarter. 

Following the disintegration of the Roman Empire the Visigoths invaded Barcino in 415 A.D. and renamed the city Barcinona. At the beginning of the 8th century the Moors conquered Barcelona staying about 100 years before armies from what is now France pushed back the Muslims in 801 AD.  This is the period when the history of the modern city is said to have began.

The Spanish revolution of 1868 removed the Bourbons from power in Spain, the resulting prosperity of the age was reflected in the 1888 World Exhibition and Barcelona became a city of cafes and terraces with a flamboyant bourgeoisie. Barcelona is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination with a rich cultural heritage. Particularly renowned are architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner that have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

 Antoni Gaudi was the visionary architect who designed the temple Sagrada Familia which is still under construction.  His many architectural structures sparkle in the Barcelona cityscape like diamonds and emeralds.  Picasso lived most of his life in Barcelona where there is a permanent museum dedicated to his works.  

The 1992 Olympic Games produced the most extensive changes to the city in all its history. Today Barcelona is one of Europe’s most happening cities. It boasts the largest football stadium, the most motoscooters per capita and one of the best year-round climates.