Barcelona, Spain 2015 “Gaudi, Sagrada Familia”
By. Meline Ngo
We arrived Barcelona, Spain late afternoon of December 23, 2015. It’s been a yearly tradition for our family to have a trip during this season, were all of us from our parents, us siblings and our children have time for a long vacation. We didn’t have time to do much today after long hours of travel from Manila, stop over in Dubai then flying to Barcelona, a total of almost 17 long hours trip.
The next day was full of enthusiasm and stamina for everyone! It’s Barcelona day tour for us and for our a little more than half a day tour, this is what I gathered and saw. Thanks to our tour guide, Ms. Sylvia.
This is a major landmark of old Barcelona, and the orange round building behind used to be a Bull Arena, but bull fighting was banned and totally prohibited in Barcelona, this building in now used as offices.
Christopher Columbus was born in Italy.
Their is no exact reason people knew of why he is pointing to the Mediterranean Sea.
Though one reason they believe is that he is pointing to Italy because he is an Italian.
Another reason is that he was supposed to go to India but discovered America instead.
Barcelona is divided into new and old extension. In 1854, engineer, architect and a politician Ildefons Cerdà started the construction of the new extension of Barcelona outside the wall, and made the roads bigger and wider and no 90 degree angle buildings and road was constructed.
DON JOSÉ BATLLÓ CASANOVAS
Mr. Batlló is an industrialist and invested on several textile factories which became a big industry in Barcelona, and people from other places came to work for the factories though these people were restricted to stay only in the “inner walls” of Barcelona.
People in Barcelona loves to show off what they have; what they spend most of all on are their houses and they do spend tons of money on it.
There are 3 famous Casas (houses) in Barcelona designed by their top 3 architects too.
The most beautiful is Casa Lleó Merera .
The second is the Casa Bagués
The third Casa is the Casa Batlló,
Mr. Batlló is the textile of owner.
Out of the 3 Casas, we were able to go inside the Casa Batlló.
This photo was taken right at the entrance of the Casa Batlló; and just like any other Casas, they are not all occupied by the owner, most of them rent out several parts of their houses and they only live on the lower part of the house. This staircase upon entering at the main door leads to the rented part of the Casa.
Arch. Gaudí grew in a farm and is always inspired by nature. He is known for his curve, mosaic designs and avoids straight lines as much as possible.
It is said that most of the Casas have their own chapel where the owner would have their mass at their house instead of going to church.
Owners don’t usually spend too much money on their indoor courtyard since nobody sees it, but Gaudí still made sure Casa Batlló have beautiful indoor courtyard.
The tale of the Casa Batlló. How they interpreted the design of Architect Gaudí. They say the the roof is shaped like the body of a dragon, the terrace are mask in masquerades, the posts are shaped like bones which at the time referred the Casa as “house of bones”, while the colorful jewels on the building are supposed to be confetti and the top center window is an angel. I’m sorry to miss the cross and the rose on the picture.
This was taken at the rooftop of the Casa Batlló, the designs as we can see are similar to harlequins hats.
The structure behind us represents the stomach of a dragon and this is where the water chamber is located. Please also take note of the “cross“. Most of Architect Gaudí’s work would have a turret and the cross which people reckons to be the sword of St. George who is the Patron saint of Catalonia which is the place of his origin.
Inside the dragons stomach is the Water Chamber which to me seems like a naval with its flowing water, it feels so alive and is what is giving life to the whole Casa Batllò. On the picture is my mother Elena.
– Mr. Josep Batlló i Casanovas and Mrs. Amàlia Godó Belaunzarán Batlló
– Owner of Casa Batlló
– Client of Architect Gaudí
– Owner of the textile factory
Antoni Gaudí i Cornet
Architect Antoni Gaudí Gaudí Died in 1926. He was hit by a tram, he is not fond of grooming himself so people didn’t even recognized it was him until he was already at the the hospital. He died at aged 73 because of that accident. He never married so all his wealth as to his will was to be given to “Sagrada Familia” his most important and last project and still incomplete. Most of his designs are said to be “Organic” and natural. He has Made Most heritage buildings. His famous works are the Casa Batllò, Casa Mila and most of all the Sagrada Familia which until now is still an ongoing project.
PARK GÜELL
Mr. Eusebi Güell is an industrialist, he went to England and saw the Garden city, adopted in Barcelona, Divided it in 2 areas, people may buy land choose their own architects and house they want. But it was a total failure. Thus, Mr. Güell asked Architect Gaudí to buy the model house which Gaudí did not design and Mr. Güell also moved in the park. Mr. Güell hired Gaudí to Developed the park.
Gaudí is respectful to nature and believes in recycling.
The Nature Squre “Plaça De La Natura” of Park Guëll is an undulating park, this should have been the place to meet, designed with ergonomic back which is very comfortable for seating. And as we can notice it is made of broken tiles which Architect Gaudí is fond of, recycling and mosaic design
.The building on the left should have served as the guard house and on the right is the waiting area for the guest land owners. It may have not caught your attention yet but the right building has a turret and a cross which is Architect Gaudí’s favorite symbol.
This supposed farmers market is composed of 86 columns made from the site rubbles itself. Each column coincides with one of the intersections of the spherical domes that allow rain water to be collected from the upper square and carried inside the columns to the water reservoir under the whole market. This was a great design from Gaudí since Park Guëll is located on a stone quarry area.
My nephew Melvin and 2 nieces Mikee and Melissa with the “Dragon“.
They assume from Gaudí’s works, the dragon is located below the Farmers Market where the water is located in order to protect it.
Having a short break on our way out of Park Guëll. From left: My nephew Maverick, myself, my niece Meggie, my Dad Melecio, my nephew Melvin, my Mom Elena, and my daughter Jillian.
CASA MILÀ
Casa Milà is another so famous project of Archetect Gaudí. Gaudí is really not so famous in Barcelona, in fact people from Barcelona finds him weird, either too intelligent or crazy for his design. He is stubborn and just do what he believes is beauty in his eyes; until people from other places recognized the beauty of his works and for having clients like Mr. Batllón and Mr. Guëll made him so lucky and gave him lots of project. Casa Milà is said to be the ugliest design ever made by Gaudí.
Casa Milà is owned by Mr. Pere Milà i Camps. He was the very first one who owned a car in Barcelona. He is very known to be always out in an opera with lots of women. Mr. Milà married a widow, Mrs. Roser Segimon i Artells. Who is a very wealthy. Mrs. Milà’s ex husband was an “indiano” an investor in other county and became very rich, and she inherited all when he died.It was Mrs. Milà who paid for the Casa Milà and even for Mr. Milà’s luxurious lifestyle; that is also why people in Barcelona talks around asking if Mr. Milà married Mrs. Milà or Mrs. Milà’s piggy bank.
SAGRADA FAMILIA (Holy Family Church) By Architect Antoni Gaudí
When Architect Gaudí was asked to design the Sagrada Familia, he needed to sign a contract not to accept any more project in order for him to just focus and give his full time to work on this project only.
The Sagrada Familia The Sagrada Familia is not yet finish up to this date and is hopefully to be done by 2026 which marks the 100th death anniversary of Architect Antonio Gaudí.
We may notice that there are darker and lighter portion which determines the old and the newly built structures of the church.
The main facade of the church showing the Holy Family, which represents the name of the church “Sagrada Familia” This part of the church was the only portion that was finished when Architect Gaudí died due to accident at age 73.
Under these organ lays the body of Architect Antoni Gaudí;
yes correct he is buried here, right at the altar of the Sagrada Familia.
Picturing from the back of the church, we will see here that the colors of the light on the sides are colored and some are natural lights, but at the middle of the church is just pure white…they are light for Jesus to symbolize purity. It is just so amazing to see!
On top of the main door is St. George who is the Patron Saint of the Catalonia Region,
in which Barcelona is the capital.
The main door is a steel door where part of the “Lords Prayer” is written on different languages.
“Bigyan mo kami ngayon ng aming kakanin sa araw-araw”
(is Filipino for: “give us today our daily bread”) can be seen here.
The main handle of the gate emphasizes the letters A and G which stands for Antoni Gaudí.
The Sagrada Familia is solely relying on donations which is the main reason for the delay of its construction.
The full design of the church should have:
1 tower of 172.5 meter high dedicated to Jesus.
4 towers of 136 meter high dedicated to the 4 Evangelist
3 facades dedicated to the life and teachings of Jesus e.g. Nativity, Passion, and Glory.
1 tower is dedicated to the Very Mother Virgin Mary over the apse
12 bell towers to represent the 12 apostles which will be located 4 on each façade.
4 domes on the corners: 2 sacristies, The Baptistry and The Blessed Sacrament, and The Penitential Chapel.
The perspective of the church, the darkest portion of the model means the structure is already existing, the beige color means it’s under construction while the white and color are not yet existing.
Hopefully they will meet their target date to finish the construction completely as per design by the famous Architect Antoni Gaudí on his 100th death anniversary on year 2026.
CATHEDRAL OF HOLY CROSS DE ST. EULALIA
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross De St. Eulalia is the only Cathedral in Spain.
Just before leaving Barcelona!!! December 25, 2015. It’s Christmas Day!
