Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ildefons Cerdà
Ildefons Cerdà's design for the
new city, comprising a uniform
grid of square blocks, received
backing in 1859. Reflecting
Cerdà's utopian socialist ideals,
each block was to have a garden-
like courtyard, surrounded by
uniform flats. Real estate vultures
soon intervened and the court-
yards were converted into
warehouses and factories.
Today these green spaces are
gradually being reinstated.
Courtyard, Palau Macaya
& Fundació Francisco Godia
% Fundació Tàpies
Although Francisco Godia
(1921-90) was best known for
his prowess behind the wheel -
notably as an F1 racing driver -
his passions extended to the art
world. His once private collection
now forms this museum and en-
compasses a range of art from
medieval times to the 20th
century: from Jaume Huguet's
altarpiece St Mary Magdalene
(c. 1445) to a range of Spanish
ceramics and works by 17th-
century fresco-painter Luca
Giardano. d C/Disputacio 250 • Map
E3 • 93 272 31 00 • Open 10am-8pm
daily • Adm
Paintings and sculptures by
Antoni Tàpies (b. 1923), Catalonia's
foremost living artist, are housed
in this early Modernista building
(see p32) . For a glimpse of what
awaits inside, look up: crowning
the museum is the artist's eye-
catching wire sculpture Cloud &
Chair (1990). The collection of
over 300 pieces covers Tàpies'
whole range of work, including
impressive abstract pieces such
as Grey Ochre on Brown (1962).
Temporary exhibitions are also
held here, with past shows by
Mario Herz, Hans Hacke and
Craigie Horsfield. d C/Aragó 255
• Map E2 • 93 487 03 15 • Closed for
restoration; phone for details • Adm • DA
• Free under 16
^ Palau Macaya
Designed by Puig i Cadafalch
(1901), this palace is a fine exam-
ple of the Neo-Gothic style in
Modernista architecture. A mag-
ical, white façade is broken up by
engravings and two towers. Of
note are the decorative sculptures
by Modernista sculptor Eusebi
Arnau. The palace belongs to the
Centre Cultural de la Caixa and is
closed at the moment; it is worth
a visit to see the outside alone.
d Pg Sant Joan 108 • Map F2
Cloud & Chair sculpture, Fundació Tàpies
104
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