Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
%
Estadi Olímpic
&
Palau Sant Jordi
The Olympic Stadium was
first built for the 1936 Workers'
Olympics, which were cancelled
with the outbreak of the Spanish
Civil War
(see p31)
. Today, the ori-
ginal Neo-Classical façade is still
in place, though the stadium was
entirely rebuilt for the 1992 Olym-
pic Games
(see p31)
. It is home
to Espanyol football team
(see
p61).
The nearby Museu Olímpic i
de l'Esport is a modern interactive
museum dedicated to all aspects
of sport.
d
Av de l'Estadi
•
Map B5
•
Open 10am-6pm (to 8pm Apr-Sep)
Tue-Sat, 10am-2pm Sun
•
Adm
•
DA
The star of all the Olympic
installations is this steel-and-
glass indoor stadium
(see p66)
designed by Japanese architect
Arata Isozaki. Holding around
17,000 people, the stadium is
the home of the city's basketball
team
(see p61)
. The esplanade -
a surreal forest of concrete and
metal pillars - was designed by
Aiko Isozaki, Arata's wife. Further
down the hill are the indoor and
outdoor Bernat Picornell Olympic
pools
(see p60)
; both open to
the public.
d
Av de l'Estadi
•
Map A4
•
Open 10am-6pm (to 8pm May-Sep) Sat
& Sun
•
Free
•
DA
^
Teatre Grec
This beautiful, open-air
amphitheatre
(see p60)
was
inspired by the Classical ideas of
what was known as
Noucentisme.
This late 19th-century architec-
tural movement was a reaction
to the overly-decorative nature
of
Modernisme
. With its leafy,
green backdrop and beautiful
gardens, there are few places
more enchanting than this to
watch
Swan Lake
or listen to
some jazz. The theatre is used
for shows during the summer-
time Festival del Grec
(see p66)
,
when it also becomes home to
a luxurious outdoor restaurant.
d
Pg Santa Madrona
•
Map C4
•
10am-
dusk
•
Free (when there are no shows)
Palau Sant Jordi
*
Pavelló Mies van der Rohe
You might wonder exactly
what this box-like pavilion of
stone, marble, onyx and glass
is doing bang in the middle of
Montjuïc's monumental architec-
ture. Years ahead of its time, this
surprisingly rationalist
gem represents
Germany's contribu-
tion to the 1929
Exhibition. Built by
Ludwig Mies van der
Rohe (1886-1969),
the elegant pavilion
was soon demolished,
only to be recon-
structed in 1986.
Inside, the elegant
sculpture
Morning
by Georg Kolbe
Barcelona Chairs, Pavelló Mies van der Rohe
90
You can board the Montjuïc Bus Turístic
(see p133),
which ferries
visitors up the hill from Plaça d'Espanya and back (April to October).
