{"id":2126,"date":"2016-05-12T23:18:46","date_gmt":"2016-05-13T03:18:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=2126"},"modified":"2018-01-28T14:37:39","modified_gmt":"2018-01-28T19:37:39","slug":"cloudy-and-gaudi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=2126","title":{"rendered":"Cloudy and Gaudi"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a9 2016 \u00a0Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you love both architecture and Barcelona, you can’t help but think of Antoni Gaudi the Spanish Catalan architect, whose work was influenced by the passions in his life, mainly\u00a0architecture, nature and religion. \u00a0When in Barcelona, it is an absolute must<\/em>\u00a0to see Gaudi’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia and interesting\u00a0to visit Unesco Heritage Sites Parque Guell, Casa Batl\u00f3 and Casa Mil\u00e0, all designed by Gaudi. \u00a0(Later this year, Casa Vicens will be open to the public as a museum, as well).<\/p>\n

Rain had been in the forecast for Barcelona all week and I had hoped that as the time\u00a0went on, that maybe the forecast would change for the better. \u00a0No dice…when we landed, there were raindrops all of over the airplane windows and it was dark and gloomy outside.<\/p>\n

Pondering the many things to do in Barcelona, I had originally thought of taking the bus to Parque Guell if the weather was nice. \u00a0Obviously, this wasn’t going to happen. \u00a0My second idea\u00a0was to re-visit Sagrada Familia; it had been three years since I had last toured the impressive church. \u00a0Definitely worth a second visit, I checked the website for available tickets, however, the only time slot available was 7:00 pm. \u00a0Not wanting the pressure of trying to squeeze in something before and having to make it there for the admission time, I decided it probably wasn’t the day to do it.<\/p>\n

Since Gaudi was on my mind and I had visited Casa Batl\u00f3\u00a0last year, Casa Mil\u00e0 caught my eye. \u00a0Just down the street from Casa Batl\u00f3 on Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia, it was an easy bus ride from my hotel. \u00a0And….I would be indoors in the event\u00a0that the weather was not optimum.<\/p>\n

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Casa Batl\u00f3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not raining any longer, but still quite cloudy and threatening, we took the number 7 bus down to Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia near the Diagonal Metro Station. Disembarking, we walked down the street\u00a0and proceeded to get in line with the hordes of people that were where we assumed was Casa Mil\u00e0. \u00a0Thankfully, I looked up at the building and realized that it looked very familiar. \u00a0We were\u00a0not at Casa Mil\u00e0, but Casa Batl\u00f3, as we had walked in the wrong direction! \u00a0Without having wasted much time, we headed in the opposite direction and soon came to the\u00a0correct destination, Casa Mil\u00e0. \u00a0Here, thankfully, there was a very short line and as we\u00a0stood in the queue, the sky began to clear and we\u00a0actually saw a bit of sunshine.<\/p>\n

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Casa Mil\u00e0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"image\"<\/a>\u00a0\"image\"<\/a>Built from 1906 to 1912 as two apartment blocks with separate entrances and linked by two large courtyards, Casa Mil\u00e0 was erected as a family home for Pere Mil\u00e0 i Camps and his wife Roser Segimon i Artells, but with apartments for rent. The building’s facade is compromised of undulating stone with twisting wrought iron balconies and windows. \u00a0\u00a0It resembles an open quarry, thus earning\u00a0the nickname, La Pedrera. \u00a0Casa Mil\u00e0\u00a0was Gaudi’s\u00a0fourth and final work that he did on Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia, which was the main avenue of Barcelona at the time.<\/p>\n

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Casa Mil\u00e0 Staircase<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As we began the long climb up to the top of the building, we passed some of\u00a0the apartments that share the space. \u00a0We exited the stairwell onto the Roof Terrace, and were in awe of the sight before us. \u00a0Many architectural sculptures stood before us\u00a0which serve\u00a0the building artistically as well as practically as stairwells, ventilation towers and chimneys. \u00a0There were many a picture here on the terrace and from the building as the Sagrada Familia and multiple\u00a0parts of the city could be viewed from here. \u00a0I learned later that the Roof Terrace closes when it is raining, so we were extremely fortunate that the weather was cooperating at that time…a little cloudy, but overall dry.<\/p>\n

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The next space to visit, was the Espai Gaudi. \u00a0This spectacular attic space, with its arched ceiling devotes itself to Gaudi’s work. \u00a0The 270 catenary arches of various heights support the Roof Terrace and is an amazing display of architectural genius.<\/p>\n

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Attic, Espai Gaudi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Pedrera Apartment<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Pedrera Apartment recreates the life of a bourgeois family in Barcelona during the early twentieth century. \u00a0Located on the fourth floor, the apartment is decorated with period furniture, works of art, ornaments, fabrics and household accessories. \u00a0Displayed here, not only the way of life during the time period, but the eloquent architecture.<\/p>\n

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Finally, on the lower level of the building is the Courtyard. \u00a0Looking up to the open air above where the Roof Terrace is located, this space aids with light and ventilation. \u00a0Colorful murals adorn the ceilings and walls of the lobbies and main staircase. \u00a0At the top of the staircase, the Exhibition Hall\u00a0is located. \u00a0This main floor was the former residence of the Mil\u00e0’s and displays the open-floor plan used by Gaudi.<\/p>\n

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View upward from the courtyard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Exhibition Hall Stairway<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Courtyard decor and Premium entrance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Courtyard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As our visit to La Pedrera was complete, we were shocked to see how much time had passed. \u00a0So absorbed in the building and all that it offered, we had spent almost three hours taking in this astonishing architecture! \u00a0An interesting way to spend an afternoon, we learned that we could return at another time to experience Casa Mil\u00e0 by Night which offers multiple projections in the stairwells and Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia Courtyard as well as an extraordinary audiovisual show on the Roof Terrace. Truly a remarkable, well-rounded experience!<\/p>\n

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For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe, and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.<\/p>\n

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Casa Mil\u00e0 “La Pedrera”<\/strong><\/p>\n