SPAIN - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1412

• Take the left fork, passing by the Royal Art Circle Museum (temporary exhibits). Enter the
large square called the...
Plaça Nova: Twobold Romantowers flank the main street. These once guarded the
entrance gate of the ancient Roman city of Barcino. The big stones that make up the base of
the (reconstructed) towers are actually Roman. At the base, find the modern bronze letters
spelling out “BARCINO.” The city's name may have come from Barca, one of Hannibal's
generals,whoissaidtohavepassedthroughduringHannibal'sroundaboutinvasionofItaly.
At Barcino's peak, the Roman wall (see the section stretching to the left of the towers) was
25 feet high and a mile around, with 74 towers. It enclosed an area of 30 acres—population
4,000.
One of the towers has a section of Roman aqueduct (a modern reconstruction). These
bridges of stone carried fresh water from the distant hillsides into the walled city. Here the
water supply split into two channels, one to feed Roman industry, the other for the general
populace.TheRomanaqueductswouldbethebestwatersystemBarcelonawouldhaveuntil
the 20th century.
Opposite the towers is the modern Catalan College of Architects building with a frieze
designed by Picasso (1960). In Picasso's distinctive childlike style, it shows branch-waving
kingsandchildrencelebratingalocalfestival.Picassospenthisformativeyears(1895-1904,
ages 14-23) in the Barri Gòtic. He had a studio a block east of here (where the big
Caixa Catalunya building stands today). He drank with fellow bohemians at Els Quatre
Gats (which we just passed) and frequented brothels a few blocks south of here on Carrer
d'Avinyo (“Avignon”), which inspired his seminal Cubist painting Les Demoiselles
d'Avignon . Picasso's Barri Gòtic was a hotbed of trend-setting art, propelling Picasso for-
ward just before he moved to Paris and remade modern art.
• Now head to the left and take in the mighty facade of the...
CathedralofBarcelona(CatedraldeBarcelona): Thislocationhasbeenthecenter
ofChristianworshipsincethefourthcentury,andthisparticularbuildingdates(mainly)from
the 14th century. The facade is a virtual catalog of Gothic motifs: a pointed arch over the
entrance, robed statues, tracery in windows, gargoyles, and bell towers with winged angels.
The style is French Flamboyant (meaning “flame-like”), and the roofline sports the prickly
spires meant to give the impressions of a church flickering with spiritual fires. The facade is
typically Gothic...but not medieval. It's a Neo-Gothic work from the 19th century. The area
in front of the cathedral is where they dance the sardana . Standing in front of the Barcelona
cathedral,ifyoulookleft,youcanseethecolorfulswoopingroofoftheSantaCaterinaMar-
ket (described on here ) .
The cathedral's interior—with its vast size, peaceful cloister, and many ornate
chapels—is worth a visit. For specifics, see the listing on here .