Gaudi's Barcelona

A mythological fairytale

Barcelona is well known for football, food and of course Gaudi.  I was in awe when I came across Gaudi’s works as the features in his architecture are just so surreal and out of the ordinary, resembling those out of a fairy tale.  I especially love the details of animals and plants that are interwoven into the building features and the use of colourful tiles, ceramic pieces and stained glass.  Those who like modernistic architecture will be fascinated with the buildings in Barcelona.  The most famous of Gaudi’s works is the Sagrada Familia.  Still under construction, this work was one that Gaudi devoted his entire life to.  Completion of the church is slated for 2026, which marks the centenary of Gaudi’s death.  The church was first created as neo-Gothic church before Gaudi took over as the lead architect in 1883.  Only a small portion was complete when Gaudi died in 1926.  When finished the church will have 18 towers and able to accommodate 13,000 people.  The twelve apostles are represented by four towers on each of the three facades while another four represent the four evangelists.  Another two are dedicated to Jesus Christ while the final one is to the Virgin Mary.  Before his death, Gaudi finished the Nativity Façade which has amazing details of various animals and plants.  The Passion Façade was done after his death and depicts the crucified Jesus Christ.  The final Façade’s construction started in 2002 and pictures life and death.  Inside the church, my favorite feature is the tree-inspired nave, which resembles branches growing from a tree to stretch up to the roof. With light shining through the coloured windows, it was like walking inside a forest at different times of the day.  I can’t wait to revisit Barcelona to see the completed Sagrada Familia in a decade’s time!

Another piece of Gaudi’s work that is well worth a visit is the Casa Mila.  This apartment block was Gaudi’s last piece of work before he focused solely on Sagrada Familia.  The use of pillars, arches and plenty of steel makes this unconventional building a feast to the eyes and imagination.  What’s really neat about the structure of Casa Mila is that its stone façade is entirely self supporting rather than connecting to a load bearing wall and these facades are connected by iron beams.  Walls inside the structure can be changed without affecting the entire structure.  The colourful and irregularly shaped chimneys of Casa Mila make it extraordinary.  It would be awesome to live in this apartment block but I can imagine that privacy would be an issue with loads and loads of tourists taking pictures of the building throughout the year!

Palace in Eden

The Alhambra

A must-visit in Spain is the Calat Alhamra palace in Granada.  Originally built as a small fortress in 889 and converted into a royal palace in 1333 by the Sultan Yusuf I, before portions were added on in 1527 by Charles V.  For centuries, the structure was occupied by squatters after falling into ruins.  Literally meaning the red female, Alhambra’s name comes from the colour of the red clay used in the surroundings of the palace.  The combination of Islamic Moorish architecture and Christian gardens and architectural features has made it an inspiration for movies and songs.  Numerous fountains can be found, with the sound of water flowing through the spaces, supplied via a 8 km conduit, which is also essential for the irrigation system in the vegetated courtyards.  Being the “paradise on earth”, the palace feature rooms that open to spacious central courts, reflecting pools that sit at the centre of courtyards, grand marble columns and plenty of sunlight flowing into the rooms.  Attention to detail is magnificent in the ceilings and windows, with calligraphy and arabesque decorations.  One of my favorite parts of the palace is the Court of the Lions which has in its centre, a basin held by twelve white marble lions.  Engraved at the edge of the fountain describing the sheer beauty and power of the palace and the ingenious water technologies used.  Taking a walk in the palace and its surroundings brings about a sense of calm, especially with light flowing inside the spaces, reflective ponds and cooling sounds of water flowing through the edifice.  The striking beauty of this place is truly paradise on earth.

Spanish gastronomy

Iberico ham, suckling pigs and more!

It’s hard to resist when it comes to eating pork in Spain and with stores dedicated to selling hams found everywhere in Barcelona and Madrid, I was down with pork overload by the end of my trip in Spain!  But one of the must-haves is the roasted suckling pig that has made the town of Segovia so famous.  The narrow stonepaths in Segovia are dotted with restaurant menus showcasing the famous roasted suckling pig, or Chochinillo Asado, but the most well known of the restaurants is the Meson De Candido in the centre of the town square.  The owner proudly wears his medallion and shows off his famous dish by cutting the pig with a plate before shattering it onto the floor.  Not surprisingly, lineups are continuous from morning to night, especially during lunch hour, for a taste of the simple, crispy goodness.  I was tempted to buy a whole leg of Iberico ham to bring home with me but my suitcases were overweight already.  The famed Iberico ham originates from acorn fed black pigs that eat up to 10 kilos of acorns each day.  The fat is evenly layered in the ham, with an intense flavour, especially those cured for over two years which have a golden hue glistening from the fat.  A taste of the nutty and salty flavour of the ham is the ultimate gastronomic experience.  For those with a sweet tooth like me, walking into a traditional nougat shop in Spain packed with assorted colours of nougat is heaven.  The simple mix of honey, egg whites and sugar with pistachios, almonds, hazelnuts and dried fruits in this confection makes it a long time tradition.  While nougat is great, of course, nothing beats a side of fresh fried churros dipped in warm chocolate on a rainy day in Spain.

Cordoba

Great Mosque/Cathedral of Cordoba

Populated with Catholics, churches can be found everywhere in Spain but one of my favorites lie in Cordoba.  The city was under Islamic rule in the 8th century and was one of the most populated cities in the world in the 10th century before it fell into decline like many great cities did.  One of the most interesting architectural landmarks in the city is The Great Mosque/Cathedral of Cordoba.  Built as an Islamic mosque, it was later converted into a Catholic church in the 13th century.  Incorporating ivory, gold, silver and countless dazzling ornaments into the mosque decorations with majestic Roman marble columns, the architectural details of the structure are breathtaking.  A spot of marvelous detail is the prayer mihrab which has geometric designs inspired by plants and dotted with colourful mosaics.  Christian features were gradually added to the mosque until the 18th century along with alterations such as turning the minaret into a bell tower. The red and white horseshoe arches in the main prayer hall are especially well-known. Coloured glass windows that allow sunlight to shine in add a sense of awakening to the cool and dark interiors.