Spain - Our Top 10

Over our four weeks in Spain we were able to cover a lot of ground, visiting Madrid, Barcelona, and a number of cities in Andalusia with a short stopover in Lisbon part way through. Here are our favorite sites, most memorable meals, and must see attractions from our time in beautiful Spain!

Mezquita 

If you've had a chance to read up on our visit to the Mezquita in Cordoba, it's probably not a surprise that it took the top spot. From our first steps inside we were captivated by the forest of red and white arches, while the detail of the Mihrab and the stunning Renaissance chapel and alter rendered us speechless for the duration of our visit. 

Segovia

A popular day trip from Madrid, Segovia grabbed out attention with it's stunning aqueducts and held it throughout the afternoon with a display of breathtaking viewpoints, a fairytale like alcazar, and an incredible gothic cathedral.  

 
 

Markets Galore 

Travis may go for the food and Calli for anything kitschy, but in the end cheap prices and people watching is the great equalizer. We've found wonderful markets throughout Spain, from La Boqueria in Barcelona to San Miquel Market in Madrid, and wonderful small flea markets throughout Andalucia, we definitely got our fill of window shopping.

 

 

Alhambra 

The last and greatest palace complex of the Moorish civilization in Spain is not only Granada's crowning jewel but a definite must see as well. The lines may be long, the admission process a bit convoluted, and the site expansive, but any confusion and sore feet are immediately forgotten upon entering the Nasrid Palace. 

 

Seville's Alcazar 

Like much of Andalucia, the beauty within this building lies in the seamless melding of Islam and Christianity. Rennaisance ceilings in some rooms, intricate tile work in others, and a central garden and reflecting pond made famous by Ridley Scott.

 

Gaudi 

Gaudi devoted over forty years to shaping Barcelona's architectural landscape and today, the city, and millions of tourists each year, pay homage to his creative genius. With seven of his buildings categorized as protected UNESCO World Heritage sites there are plenty of chances to contemplate his unique style. 

 
Prado Museum 

Although the French Impressionists at the Thyssen topped our list of Top 10 Art - Spain and Portugal, the Prado museum won us over in the end. With a seemingly endless collection of paintings and sculpture it's possible to spend a week here and still not see everything.

 
Madrid's Architecture 

From the Cathedral to the Royal Palace to the Piazza Mayor to the Gran Via, no city thus far (except maybe Zagreb) has put on such a display of architecture. Wandering through the city we didn't know where to look next, or where to focus the camera.

 

 

Plaza de Espana 

Hearing it was a worth a look, we decided to wander towards Parque de Maria Luisa one morning during our time in Seville. We ended up spending half the morning exploring and photographing the amazing Plaza de Espana. In a city boasting one of the largest cathedrals in the world and the only alcazar still in use in Europe, the Plaza has some heavy competition and it definitely holds its own.

 

 

Atletico Madrid Match 

We had a blast walking around the stadium, watching old people scream at the players, and laughing as a young guy paced up and down the aisles "coaching" the players and yelling instructions to the (actual) coach across the stadium. Oh and seeing a 30 yard volley to win the game in the 94th minute wasn't too bad either.

 

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The Magic of Gaudi

One of the main attractions in visiting Barcelona, other than the markets, beaches, and weather of course, is the chance to see the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí up close. Revered by many and hated by some, he is undoubtedly one of the most influential and innovative architects ever. His role as one of the leaders of the Modernisme cultural movement contributed greatly to the quest for Catalan national identity, and left a lasting impact on the world of architecture.

A native Catalan himself, much of his work is concentrated in Barcelona and the surrounding areas, giving us the perfect opportunity to explore a number of them. In all, seven of his works are classified as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site entitled the Works of Antoni Gaudí, and we were able to see all but two of them. 

Our pictures were not that great, and we had very few of them due to the fact that it rained nearly all day. So, we have supplemented our pictures with some great ones off the internets for your enhanced viewing pleasure.

We began our day at the most famous of Gaudi's works (and perhaps the most controversial, as you will see), the Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, known in English as the Basilica and Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family, and known more commonly as the Sagrada Familia. This was the last of his works and was still three-quarters unfinished at the time of his tragic death in 1926. 

A view of the continuing work on the Sagrada Familia

Some of the amazing details on the facade

It is also the most controversial of his works, with many, including the two of us, feeling that the continued work on the basilica is only continuing to extract dollars from tourists and not to honor the original design and purpose of the structure itself. As Gaudi did not use traditional blueprints, but rather made small models and added details as he went along, it is impossible to fulfill his ideal vision for the structure, and some components seem to clash with his personal style. An example of this is the Passion facade designed by Josep Subirachs, which although a striking piece of sculpture, is very different from Gaudi's traditional style.  

The controversial Subirachs sculpture

In any case, the building is unlike any other you will ever see, and will undoubtedly be amazing if and when it is completed (the target date is 2026, but some of the most challenging parts are still to come). 
 

A projection of the completed church (via)

Our next stop was the Parc Güell. Built between 1900 and 1914 on the hill of El Carmel in Gràcia, the park is a beautiful place to explore and eat a picnic lunch. That is, of course, if its not absolutely pouring when you get there. The park was initially supposed to be a housing development for people wanting to get away from the smoke and pollution of the industrial factories in Barcelona at the time; however, only two houses were ever built, neither of which were designed by Gaudi. He did, however, live in one of the houses, and it now serves as the Gaudi House Museum. 

The striking entrance to the Parc Guell

Despite its economic failure, the park is undoubtedly a success in terms of architectural design. It is full of intricacies of design that could entertain your imagination for days. Perhaps the most striking piece in the park however, is the Main Terrace. A large staircase leads up to a covered open space filled with immense columns and typical Gaudi mosaics. On the terrace itself, a large, undulating, mosaic-covered bench in the likeness of a sea serpent provides visitors with a relaxing break from the heat and one of the best views in the entire city.

Hundreds of columns create a maze under the terrace.

The typical intricate tile mosaics of Gaudi are all over the park.

The serpentine bench is the most striking feature of the park

Local stone and natural elements only serve to blend the park even more into the surrounding nature.

The third stop on our walk led us to one of the most innovative apartment buldings in the world, Casa Milà, better known as La pedrera ("the quarry"). Built in 1914 for couple Roser Segimon and Pere Milà, the building featured an undulating curtain-wall facade that is completely self-supportive. It also had underground parking, separate lifts for servants and residents (only stopping on every second floor to encourage the making of new friends with fellow residents), a breathtaking atrium, and a rooftop terrace now made famous as the home image for StumbleUpon. 

The self-supporting facade of La Pedrera (via)

A closeup of the facade.

The atrium (via)

The now world famous rooftop thanks to StumbleUpon (via)

Characteristic crazy mosaic work on the terrace (via)

Our fourth stop on our tour is perhaps the most extreme example of Gaudi's architectural vision - Casa Battlo. I will just let the pictures do the talking...

Casa Battlo (right) is one of 4 buildings on the "street of discourse"

The chimneys on the roof of the building (via)

The roof is a supposed reference to St. George slaying the dragon (via)

A closeup of the building at night (via)

Even though the style might not be for everyone (I'm looking at you Calli), no one can deny the special talent and vision that Gaudi possessed when it cam to innovative architecture. He began a movement, both architectural and cultural, that still lives on today, and has inspired a generation of architects to look for new ways to be innovative.
 

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Barcelona in Pictures

With all that there is to see and do in Barcelona, having just 4 days was never going to be enough. Couple this with the fact that we got poured on one of those days, and we ended up having to jam-pack our days full to accommodate as much of Barcelona as possible.

Perhaps the best way to start your day is at one of Barcelona's many markets...

The entrance to Santa Caterina Market

Just a small sample of what's for sale at La Boqueria

Fresh fruit juices and popsicles are all over the place

Fresh fish of all kinds

The Spanish love their candy!

The flea markets are a antiquer's dream

Stand after stand of spanish comics and books fill Sant Antoni Market

After your wallets are a little empty and your stomachs a little too full, it's time to wander off into Barcelona's varied neighbourhoods and marvel at the architectural styles.

The Port Authority Building

Entrance to Mercat Sant Antoni

The Navy's Building

The boardwalk was redesigned for the Barcelona Olympics

After marveling at the architecture, pull out a map and go on a hunt for some of the hundreds of churches and landmarks throughout the labyrinth of streets in Barri Gothic or el Born.

The monument to Christopher Columbus

The interior of the Church of Saint Eulalia

The gothic exterior of the church

Graffiti, some intentional, some not, is extremely common.

And finally, spend some time following the pathway past the buildings designed by one of the most innovative architects ever, Antoni Gaudi.

The Guell Palace

The still-unfinished Sagrada Familia

Parc Guell

Casa Battlo

Barcelona is a treasure-trove of amazing sites, both known and unknown, and has one of the best climates in all of Europe. It is definitely a city worthy of anyone's itinerary.

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