October 9, 2016
After our bus tour, we decided to walk around the Old City, the Bari Gotíc and beyond. We had tickets for Opera and Flamenco at the Palau de la Musica Catalan that evening (9:30pm!) so we had the whole day to explore. I hadn't been there yet, so I was definitely up for it!
"Within Barcelona's Old Town, the political and geographic centre of the city is located. The Ciutat Vella (Catalan for “Old City”) tells stories from almost all eras of Barcelona's history: starting 133 before Christ with the Romans, and the dominion of the Visigoths, the Moors and the crown of Aragon through to the Spanish Civil War and the modern Barcelona." from the website
Barcelona.de
Ciutat Vella (Old City in Catalan) is made up of four districts: Raval, Barri Gòtic, “Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera” and Barceloneta. The Rambla separates Raval from the Gothic, where you find the original Roman City of Barcino (you can visit Roman ruins). Raval, from the Arabic "Rabad" meaning neighborhood, is west of the Rambla. There's the great market Santa Catarina in El Born, a zoo and a beautiful park. Barceloneta is between the old harbor and the beach. So you can imagine, there was a lot to explore and we had all day to do it. And explore we did! See photos and visit links I've provided, below.
We found a lively little place to have a bite to eat before the theater and relax and then thoroughly enjoyed the performance. I didn't understand a word, but in true operatic form, a melodrama complete with love triangle, betrayal and, of course flamenco dancing, I didn't need to know what the words meant, the meaning was clear! Photos were not permitted during the performance. But
click here to learn more. The Palau de la Musica Catalana was built in 1905 by one of the Moderisme masters
Lluís Domenech i Montaner and it is spectacular to say the least. I never was able to get a good photograph of it, so please visit the website http://www.palaumusica.cat/en/the-art-nouveau-building_23602 to see it in all its glory and read more about it, if you choose.
Here's a photo essay of our walking tour that day:
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| Palace of the Government of Catalonia |
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| Street Musicians draw a crowd in the Old City |
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| We never did find out why these people were parading the streets playing bagpipes! |
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| If you can clue me in as to what this event was, please comment here. |
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| Recreated Arch, connected to part of the old City Wall |
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| Art by Picasso on the building at center, Cathedral Square, in the heart of the Barí Gotíc |
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| Barcelona's Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia |
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| This and the next two, interiors of the Medieval Cathedral |
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| Wayfinding was so easy in Barcelona |
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| Markets everywhere! And narrower streets in this part of town |
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| More street musicians - this one with a horse's head, to get attention? |
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| Evening in the Old Town |
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| Where we stopped to eat before going to the theater |
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| Bar inside the Palau |
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| Architectural details in the theater |
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| The stage - sculptures of musicians emerge from tile images, incredibly! |
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| The Audience, with Helena, smiling at me, center of photo! |
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| Friends at the end of a very full and happy day |
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