But then I decided I would consider this a quick little BONUS blog post on the architecture of the city, outside of Gaudi....
Parts of the original Roman walls still stand in what is now
the Gothic Quarter.
For centuries, Barcelona lived inside those walls.
The streets were narrow and irregular, built for defense and shade rather than beauty.
His name is most associated with being the architect of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
Gaudí was influenced by his observations of nature since a child. He studied plants, animals,
rock formations, shells, etc.
Instead of straight lines, he preferred curves. Instead of
classical symmetry, he used organic forms.
He was deeply religious and very proud of his Catalan
identity.
He combined all of these elements in his designs.
Barcelona's main Christmas Market is the Fira de Santa Llúcia in the
square in front of Barcelona’s Cathedral.
It goes back almost 250 years when the Christmas Market was first documented in 1786.
It is one of Spain’s
oldest Christmas markets and one of the oldest continuously held markets in Europe.
But it is different than the other European Christmas Markets.
I’m a story teller so I had to learn the story behind it.
All good stories have some fact, fiction, chivalry, strife, evil and then invariably end with good prevailing.
So here is the history, the legend and the legacy.
It was a good thing we had a heads up to look for it,
because it is sort of hidden. But, not really. If that makes sense.
It is more to say it is not in a prominent location, but instead the flamboyant building is squeezed into a tiny space.
You have to know to go look for it. But when you find it – WOW!
