|
Post by artisans on Apr 20, 2015 22:09:06 GMT 2
One of his tutors remarked that he didn’t know if Gaudi was insane, or a genius … but he went on to prove which, and his unique buildings in Barcelona are now synonymous with the city. He, alone, was the main reason for us making such a diversion on our way back to Roda.
If you suspend a chain between two points, you get a catenary. Do it with two crossing chains of equal length, place a mirror below them, and you get the shape of a structure with immense strength. Once the core building is sorted, the outer skin can take on any shape as it carries no load. These are common features of Gaudi’s work in Barcelona, as can be clearly seen in a visit to La Pedrera. If you have any interest in buildings, this one has to be near the top of the list. It is surpassed by one other, maybe, which can be seen from our last photo – Gaudi’s work-in-progress - La Sagrada Familia.
|
|
|
Post by artisans on Apr 27, 2015 23:23:27 GMT 2
The cathedral of La Sagrada Familia provides perhaps the most recognisable image of Barcelona to the world today. One art critic said “It is probably impossible to find a church building anything like it in the entire history of art." For us, it was a dream come true and a visit we had planned for two years.
Over decades, many people have watched the development of the building as the story of Christ is created before them in stone. The designs are breathtaking and the skills unquestionable. But nothing prepares you for what is inside and, if it is possible to cry over a building, then this is the one. We’ll look inside next time ...
|
|
|
Post by artisans on May 5, 2015 10:13:15 GMT 2
As I said before, nothing on the magnificently complex exterior of La Sagrada Familia prepares you for the light, airiness of the interior. The clever construction, providing strength from nature’s inspiration, is jaw-dropping. If ever a building could reduce you to tears, then this is it!
|
|
|
Post by artisans on May 5, 2015 21:41:02 GMT 2
Apart from the lightness of the structure, it is the very light itself that is quite mind-blowing. There is very little artificial light in La Sagrada Familia, almost all of the colours come from natural light and stained glass. The crypt is amazing also, as the massive pillars of the original design have been adapted to support Gaudi’s tree-like columns. Even the ongoing design & development can be viewed and all the concrete supporting the last phases of completion is made on site. This 100-year building project is planned to be completed in 2028, the centenary of Gaudi’s death.
|
|
kaz
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,961
|
Post by kaz on May 5, 2015 22:21:58 GMT 2
Awesome..what workmanship..............beautiful...something I have never seen or heard of before
|
|
|
Post by artisans on May 8, 2015 22:28:16 GMT 2
It was hard to leave Barcelona and get on with our journey back to Roda, but a quick visit to Park Guell was unavoidable! The lizard is very well known, but I think kaz would prefer stoats in her garden. Maybe Kelly could treat it for being ‘off-colour.'
|
|
|
Post by artisans on May 9, 2015 22:19:44 GMT 2
It was finally time to leave Barcelona and continue our journey to Roda. Heading north in the general direction of France, we came to Callella de la Costa.. quite a famous town on the Costa Brava. The road swung us left away from the sea and over the coastal railway line. It brought back so many memories for me as it was here, in the foreground of my photo, that I witnessed the most horrific train crash in September 1968. Just 200 m from where I was sitting, two trains collided head-on and a shock wave ran across the beach. Our brains slowed down so that everything happened in slow motion … something I will remember forever.
|
|
kaz
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,961
|
Post by kaz on May 9, 2015 23:42:05 GMT 2
What a fantastic journey you had on your way home....beautiful scenery and houses etc and even a lizard to boot!!..maybe one day they will carve a stoat!!!.thanks for the pics.......
|
|
|
Post by artisans on May 10, 2015 22:11:22 GMT 2
We were now heading north for the Costa Brava and the other Callella (de Palafrugell), which, after Roda, is Jan’s second spiritual home. I had never been before but she has many memories here. We stayed near Pals, in the middle of Dali country, and home of the Oz Blackstone books by Quintin Jardine. Always keen to follow the Greek connection, we went to the anchovy capital L’Escala, and Sant Marti, just 2km along the bay. In between was the enormous Greek town of Ampurias, possible the furthest west they ever went. It was a wet & windy day, so next time we’ll spend more time there.
|
|
kaz
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,961
|
Post by kaz on May 10, 2015 23:19:53 GMT 2
Thanks Steve, great pics again
|
|
|
Post by janiemou on May 11, 2015 14:35:23 GMT 2
I just came across this on the BBC website about making Gaudi a saint, but the description of the interior of the Sagrada is eloquent, far better than either Steve or myself could put it. Not to but it mildly, but I was so smitten by the interior I was lost for words and wandered around in a daze.
|
|
|
Post by Bill on May 16, 2015 18:17:53 GMT 2
Great shots Steve showing lots of the architectural detail colour and design, some of them really awesome. I very much enjoyed looking at them
Bill
|
|
|
Post by artisans on May 24, 2015 22:27:38 GMT 2
Passing Figueres, birthplace of Salvador Dali, we are finally heading into France through the old border town of La Jonquera, with its border post and prison on the hill. My first trip to Spain took me through here on a coach in 1967 - £25 for two weeks! Plane trees and Tromp l’oueil are the first signs that we’re in France, heading for Salses and its old fort, at one time the northern outpost of Spain. Cherry trees were very much in evidence as we walked to the fort, and what a place that is … a lot is being done to restore it, but it is probably the nearest to the real thing, as it was, that we have ever seen.
|
|