Week 2: Understanding Montjuic & Gaudi’s Architecture

 

This week I took a deep dive into the history and architecture of contemporary Spain. After Spain’s transformation into a democracy, there was a shift in culture in the 90s. Spain attempted to recreate its identity and rebuild its city. We turn to the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona to understand this history. Bringing Barcelona to the international stage and the team winning the World Cup for soccer (another huge part of the culture here), Barcelona began to attain international attention and we see its impressive architecture arise around the same time. The picture above is the view from Montjuic, the mountain where the Olympic stadium is located. 

The following day, we visited La Sagrada Familia! This was most likely the climax of the trip as we visited one of the most iconic sites of Barcelona. We learned about Gaudí and the inspiration from nature which he incorporates into his work through organic forms. The Basilica has been in construction for 140+ years so it was amazing to learn its history!

Later in the day, we visited Park Guell which is another famous piece by Gaudí and an icon in Barcelona. It was originally supposed to be a family neighborhood but eventually turned into a park. It is said that Gaudí took inspiration from Hansel & Gretel when designing the park which is evident in its architecture. Taking a walk in the park in the evening was very peaceful with an amazing view! 

Besides going on class excursions, I went to Madrid over the weekend to explore another part of Spain. In Madrid, I was able to explore the royal palace and cathedral. During the week in Barcelona, I took the time to visit Barceloneta Beach and Hospital de Sant Pau. Hospital de Sant Pau has been one of my favorite places as I learned about the history of medicine in Catalonia and how they were about to create a sustainable hospital beginning in 1401 which was fully functional until 2009. Each spot in Barcelona is unique and contributes to the beauty of the city. I look forward to continuing my experience in Barcelona and visiting Valencia next week!