Barcelona, Spain Photo Gallery
A view of Barcelona from the ship in port.
We made it to the Sagrada Famila, which architect, Antoni Gaudí, wanted to represent as "the Bible made of stone," for the many illiterate people back in that time. It does tell the story of Jesus!
The top of the evangelist tower with a sculpture of a lion (approximately 5 stories tall) representing Mark and Alleluia coming down the side.
Tower of the Virgin Mary-Only the Tower of Jesus will be taller at the cathedral.
The Nativity side of the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. All the sculptures tell the story of Jesus' birth.
Top to bottom-The Annunciation, the Bethlehem Star, the Nativity with angels celebrating around them, and the Magi in the bottom left corner.
At the bottom of this area are the shepherds who came to worship the baby Jesus. Jesus, Mary and Joseph are to the left and above the shepherds.
This area shows the slaughter of the innocent children on the order of King Herod.
This is where Jesus was brought to the temple for presentation and circumcision.
High above the doorway is a green ceramic cypress studded with white, marble doves for peace. The cypress represents eternal life because the tree has resistant wood and evergreen leaves.
At the Nativity facade of the basilica.
Gaudi liked nature and included this chameleon as a symbol of how we change once we meet Jesus Christ.
The turtle is a symbol of time as something set in stone and unchangeable.
We walked in and were amazed at all the color! The yellow, green and blue on the Nativity portal symbolize poverty, light and the birth of Christ.
The red, yellow and orange stained glass windows on the Passion portal allude to blood, water, resurrection and light.
The light coming in the windows was so amazing! We've never seen anything like it before.
The baldachin: representation of the Holy Spirit-7 sides represent 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit, shafts of wheat sticking up and grapes hanging down are symbols of the Eucharist, and 50 lamps for the 50 days of Eastertide (from Easter to Pentecost) .
Double twist columns-helix shapes gave them a feeling of upward movement. This dynamism draws the observer’s eye upwards, connecting the earth and the heavens.
One of the 4 Evangelists lamp.
The Passion Facade represents the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. According to Gaudi, this facade was to be “hard, bare and as if made of bones.”
At the Passion facade.
The Last Supper of Jesus and the Apostles-Notice Judas with a clinched hand holding money.
Next to the Kiss of Judas is the Magic Square. Add up the rows and columns and you get 33 – Jesus’ age when he died. Also, notice the serpent near Judas' feet.
The Shame of Peter, who disowned Jesus 3 times before the rooster crowed.
In front is a column representing the scourging of Jesus Christ, then the bronze doors that contain gospel texts that narrate the last days of Jesus and a sign of alpha and omega united.
The soldier Longinus who wounded the right side of Jesus Christ with a spear. Blood and water flowed from this wound, which represent two basic sacraments of Christianity: baptism and the Eucharist.
The figure of Veronica is depicted holding a cloth with which she wiped the sweat of Jesus Christ. On the canvas you can see the face of Christ marked in negative.
Soldiers throwing dice for Jesus’ robes: the Romans were very fond of dice games.
The crucifixion: Jesus can be seen hanging on an iron cross and next to it are the three Marys and John. The split bronze sculpture above Jesus' head is the temple veil which had split down the middle.
This area shows 3 scenes-The crowning of Jesus with thorns by two soldiers in the presence of Pontius Pilate: the Three Marys and Simon of Cyrene: and Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus place the body of Jesus wrapped in a tomb.
The resurrected Jesus is meeting the women at the empty tomb.
Looking down at Barcelona from a tower on the side of the Passion facade.
Looking at details on the tower up close.
A view of Barcelona and Torre Glories, a high-tech skyscraper known for its unique bullet shape.
Up in the tower on level with the grapes and wheat.
The bread rises up above a sheaf of wheat and the chalice of wine is on top of a bunch of grapes to symbolize the eucharist.
One more view of Barcelona towards Montjuic, meaning "Jewish Mountain" in medieval Latin.
I noticed in this close-up view the tops and bottoms of wine bottles sticking out of the side here.
The pinnacle of the basilica's tower of Matthew.
Up close to the bronze sculpture of the resurrected Jesus.
Up by the sculpture of the resurrected Jesus.
Looking towards the port area of Barcelona.
Up close to the cross and angel sculptures.
Other fruit representing fruit of good deeds, maybe pears, apples and figs or almonds.
A close up of the oranges.
A close up of more fruit.
We took the elevator up into the tower, but you have to take the steps down.
Here are models of the tops of the 4 evangelists towers-Matthew's perfection, it looks like an angel; Mark's strength of the lion; Luke's humility, the bull, the most recognized beast of burden; John's superior vision like an eagle.
The towers hold a set of tubular bells like this that cover 7 full octaves, which is every note on the piano.
When we looked back from a distance we could easily see the huge Jesus tower being constructed in the middle.
Gaudi influence on the lamps in this area of Barcelona.
La Monumental is the last bullfighting arena in commercial operation in Catalonia. The last bullfight was in 2011.
We should have ping pong tables in our parks in the US like here in Barcelona.
Golden Statue of Aurora in Ciutadella Park, site of the 1888 World Fair.
The Monumental Waterfall: The Parc de la Ciutadella’s most eye-catching feature, opened in 1881, and was the work of Fontseré, assisted by a young Antoni Gaudí.
At the Waterfall Monument in the Ciutadella Park.
Row boats at the Parc de la Ciutadella.
The Castle of the Three Dragons: built for the 1888 Universal Expo. I just happened to have included in this shot 3 musicians from the ship, Daniel, Pablo, and Tom.
This rather impressive monument, dedicated Francesc de Paula Rius i Taulet who was the Mayor, during the international Exhibition.
The Arc de Triomf is a memorial arch and the main access gate for the 1888 Barcelona World Fair.
Statue of Mercury at a Ciutadella Park gate.
Coming into the Gothic Quarter.
Chapel of Santa Ágata was built in 1302.
Barcelona Cathedral-The cathedral was constructed from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries.
The Gothic Quarter is the oldest part of Barcelona, made up of narrow streets and squares that reflect Barcelona's medieval past.
One of the very narrow lanes of the Gothic Quarter.
Sant Josep Market, otherwise popularly known as ‘La Boqueria’ is located in the heart of Barcelona city at La Rambla.
I watched them peeling the fruit and juicing them right there. The juice was also delicious and cold! The flavor I had was strawberry-mango.
Some yummy looking fried potatoes.
Gyropita-chicken or pork.
A very nice meat market.