One of the really interesting, unique things to see in Barcelona is the Sagrada Familia Church. It was designed by Gaudi (a modernist artist from Barcelona), who worked on it from 1883 until 1926...when he died. And they're still working on it. It's about half done.
It's difficult (for me) to show what this cathedral really looks like with pictures because 1. it's huge, 2. there is scaffolding everywhere, and 3. it has a very unique look.
I spent a lot of time looking at this church. Sometimes I would think, "melting wax," and other times I would think, "Dr. Seuss." Inside the church, the pillars are tree-shaped; there are flowers on the ceiling.
I guess I can see how the design of the church might not appeal to everybody (especially in 1883), but I like it. Pretty isn't really a word I would use to describe it, but beautiful is definitely applicable.
Trees in the nave
The east side of the cathedral, the dark brown facade and spires are the oldest part of the church
Classical statues among the Seussiness
5 comments:
once again your blog sent me digging out my art history texts (behind the rocking chair, paper recycle bin & cat bed) ... one of them described the Sagrada Familia as possibly the most important religious edifice of the 19th cen. ... I like your description better! did you also contemplate his Casa Mila apartment block?
:)
Mom
mon, that church is amazing! i've always wanted to go to barcelona (along with greece, moscow, india, norway and. . and )
anyway, now i have extra incentive to visit!
woops. hi from your fellow dancing queen, currently representing in tucson az.
The church is amazing (you would definitely like barcelona, em). I can see why it would be called the most important religious edifice of the 19th century. There really isn't anything like it. Yep, I went to Casa Mila, too. Forgot to stick that picture in for comparison. I'll work on that.
Over the course of his career, Gaudi developed a sensuous, curving, almost surreal design style which established him as the innovative leader of the Spanish Art Nouveau movement. With little regard for formal order, he juxtaposed unrelated systems and altered established visual order. Gaudi's characteristically warped form of Gothic architecture drew admiration from other avant-garde artists. The works of Antoni Gaudi dominate the city of Barcelona. While you are traveling and staying in hotels in Barcelona, you should dedicate plenty time to seeing Gaudi’s works and not just the Sagrada Familia which is his most famous attraction. The most visited of his works after the unfinished Gaudi cathedral include Park Guell, Casa Mila, and Casa Batllo.
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