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Tuesday, April 25, 2023

3-Barcelona, Spain-La Sagrada Familia (Interior)

After waiting outside for what felt like an eternity, I finally got the chance to enter La Sagrada Familia. And let me tell you, the basilica is even taller on the inside! It's a challenge to keep your head up and chin high just so you can appreciate the ceiling.

The interior of the basilica is absolutely overwhelming and there's so much detail to admire. For instance, the "Great Forest": Gaudí envisioned the inside of the basilica as a vast forest, with the columns serving as tree trunks branching out from the capitals into the vaults, allowing sunlight to filter through, mimicking foliage (according to information provided by the Gaudi Museum).

2-Barcelona, Spain-La Sagrada Familia (Exterior)

La Sagrada Familia is a world-famous Catholic Basilica located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The church was designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, and it's considered to be one of his most famous works.

Construction of the church began in 1882 and has continued for over a century, with no fixed completion date. Gaudí worked on the project for over 40 years until his death in 1926, after which several architects continued his work, each adding their own interpretation to his original design.

The church is known for its stunning and intricate design, which combines Gothic and Art Nouveau elements. It features numerous towers, spires, and intricate facades adorned with sculptures, carvings, and mosaics. The interior of the basilica is equally impressive, with soaring columns, colorful stained glass windows, and intricate details throughout.

One of the most notable features of La Sagrada Familia is its towering central spire, which is expected to reach a height of 172 meters (564 feet) when completed. The church also features several smaller spires and towers, each with its own unique design and symbolism.

La Sagrada Familia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Barcelona. The ongoing construction of the basilica and its intricate design have made it a symbol of the city and a testament to the creativity and vision of Antoni Gaudí.

While waiting for my time of enter inside, I spent lots of time taking photo of its exterior. Here are some photos I took of this most beautiful basilica. Enjoy!

-------Notes----------

The exterior of La Sagrada Familia is adorned with numerous figures and sculptures, each with its own significance and symbolism. These figures are intricately carved into the facades of the basilica and depict a range of religious scenes and figures.

One of the most prominent features of the exterior is the Nativity Facade, which was the first to be completed and features sculptures depicting scenes from the birth of Jesus Christ. The facade is adorned with images of animals, angels, and other religious figures, all of which are intricately detailed and serve to convey a sense of wonder and awe.

Another prominent feature of the exterior is the Passion Facade, which depicts scenes from the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. This facade is characterized by its stark, angular forms and was designed to convey a sense of solemnity and seriousness.

The Glory Facade, which is still under construction, will depict scenes from the Last Judgment and the end of the world. This facade will be the largest and most complex of the three, and it will feature numerous figures and sculptures.

Overall, the figures outside of La Sagrada Familia are a testament to the creativity and vision of Antoni Gaudí, and they serve to make the basilica one of the most unique and awe-inspiring religious structures in the world.

The Glory Facade


Monday, April 24, 2023

1-Barcelona, Spain-Park Güell

Getting around Barcelona: Barcelona has impressive public transport system that includes Metro, Train and Bus.  I bought a T-10 ticket which give you 10 rides for less than 12 Euros that allows you to ride all above-mentioned public transportations.

Park Güell is a public park in Barcelona, Spain. It was designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi and built between 1900 and 1914. The park is known for its unique architecture. 

This park is now an UNESCO World Heritage Site and very popular tourist attraction. Be sure to purchase the ticket online ahead of your visit.

To get to the Park Güell, I took the metro and arrived at Vallcarca station after two transfers from my hotel near the airport. From the station, I walked for a bit before starting the ascent up a hill of narrow stairs, which were under construction. After climbing to the top, I entered the park and began walking down towards the main park area, where most people were congregated. Finally, I exited the park from there.

Here are some of the photos I took from my visit.  Enjoy!

                                      The path from the metro to the entrance of the park:

9 days, 4 Western Mediterranean countries

This 9-day Western Mediterranean trip covers 6 stunning locations across 4 different countries, utilizing air, train, metro, bus, and sea transportation:

The itinerary includes visits to Barcelona, Spain; Marseille (Provence), France; Genoa (Portofino), Italy; Naples (Pompeii), Italy; Messina (Taormina), Italy, and Valletta, Malta.

Prior to departing on the sea portion of the trip, I spent 2 days exploring the famous tourist attractions of Barcelona. During the stops at the other locations, the ship allowed us to spend between 4 to 7 hours at each place.