Poble Espanol all of Spain in the heart of Barcelona
Right in the centre of Barcelona, extraordinarily close to Plaza Espanya and on the hill of Montjuic, you may find Poble Espanyol, an exciting attraction which will transport you instantly out of the city, into the area of traditional Spanish towns.
A little history
Poble Espanyol was made at the time of the world Fair of 1929 by creators of great renown : the designer Puig I Cadafalch, initiator of the project ; 2 famous architects, Ramon Reventos and Francesc Folguera ; and the two artists Xavier Nogus and Miquel Utrillo. To carry out this project, they travelled thru common villages on the peninsula and got info about the architectural traits of each area to create a harmonious synthesis in one single village, Poble Espanyol Barcelona, right in the heart of the city of Barcelona. Their goal was to present to the world Spanish design in all of its variety, as well as the convivial ambiance of Iberian towns.
The village consists of elements reconstructed directly on the model of authentic Spanish buildings, whilst others are in original form, extrapolated and transported right to the middle of Barcelona. Carried out with great precision and a very harmonious aesthetic, this hamlet, which was to get destroyed after the Exposition, is still standing today, much to the delight of visitors. Aragon, Castilla, Andalusia, Asturias, Murcia, Catalunya.. You will be able to discover the standard architecture of all of these areas without leaving the centre of Barcelona, so be certain not to miss Poble Espanyol.
My experience in Poble Espanyol
After having entered the enclosure of Poble Espanyol, you’ve got the impression of having left the city and transported into the centre of a lively and agreeable hamlet. You are then able to ask for audio guides, which are available in Spanish, Catalan, English, French and Italian, giving you reasons about the regions of Spain, their design, their history, which is ideal in order to obtain an overall image of the country. Walking around gives you a full tour of Iberian design, whilst at the same time benefitting from the convivial ambiance of a Spanish hamlet, breathing in the delicate perfume of the orange trees.
Your visit starts in plaza Mayor, which abounds in small cafes offering top quality menus and whose patios will enable you to absorb the sun, whilst admiring the architectural landscape of the village. Upon continuing your visit, you may discover Galicia, Asturias and Aragon, and will make a stop-off in Andalusia with its white-washed towns. Then you’ll be ready to go to visit the Fran Fraudel foundation, a collection of contemporary art which gathers startling works from the up to date Catalan artistic world : Picasso, Mir, Dal, Tpies, Pon, Momp and many others.
After, you can take a look around the peaceful priory of San Miguel, as well as a big number of buildings reflecting all areas of Spain.
While walking through the little lanes of Poble Espanyol, you will discover all types of shops, plenty of which are essentially craft and artists’ workshops. Leather, jewels, guitar manufacturers, glass-blowers, fans, masks, hand-made embroidery, paintings, ceramics you will be ready to discover the trade methods of all these objects and see online how to blow glass thanks to one of the most famous glass-blowers in Spain. You may certainly be ready to dig out a few beautiful objects to take back home.
To entertain the children, there are also some workshops offering such stuff as puppets, storytelling, and even an enjoyable game which lets you discover the town all while having a great time. Many festivities are also arranged to entertain small ones and grown ups alike.
If you come later in the evening, you can eat in one of many restaurants in Poble Espanyol, after having a drink in one of the pubs and then enjoying the well-known clubs of the hamlet, to keep the party banging into the wee-small hours.
For those that wish to truly get into the Spanish vibe, an authentic flamenco show with dancing, songs and music is also on offer in the Andalusian lanes of the hamlet.
Poble Espanyol is a lively town, perfect for walking, and where you will have the facility to discover the areas of Spain through architecture and the standard craft industry. Likewise, Poble Esanyol regularly houses many events and festivities which liven up the life of the town and make your visit full of surprises. Check the Barcelona blog.
July 16, 2009
A living legend
Van der Rohe: Barcelona Chair
Since 1929 it has attracted a lot of attention: the Barcelona Chair. It has been named after the city which made it famous and was designed by the well-known architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe on occasion of the World Exhibition in Spain in 1929. This amazing chair soon established itself as a cult object – until today it has developed into a popular piece of seating furniture in the foyers of the most renowned companies and a status symbol in private living rooms in all contintents. Following the motto of van der Rohe “less is more” the Barcelona Chair will be proof of your excellent taste which is subdued but cannot be overlooked. Not many other pieces of furniture have reached such a high awareness level or comparable worldwide sales figures over such a long period of time.
The designer built the original with a slightly curved frame made of hand-welded steel band which has been chromed afterwards. But twenty years later the architect has revised his design, when new technologies made the production of the frames in one piece possible. Even nowadays companies like BestofBauhaus.com are still producing the basic frames of the Barcelona Chair, made of chrome polished stainless steelwhich is resistant to oxidation in accordance with these guidelines. The production of the sophisticated button upholstery, consisting of individual squares of genuine aniline calfskin also corresponds with the original design of the master.
Although many decades have gone by since its first big presentation, this exquisite piece of art still is a statement for contemporary design, without neglecting its original purpose of use: to be your comfortable chair.
Having become a real classic, which is still trendy, it can now also become a home, as the Barcelona Chair still belongs to the most exquisite pieces of modern chair design.
July 8, 2009
Connexion between Barcelona airport and the city centre
Millions of tourist visit the Catalan capital every year, there is so much to admire from Gaudi’s work to the modern architecture. But before any of them can enjoy this great city they have to sort out how to make it from the airport to the city centre.
The infrastructure of Barcelona is great and the connection between the airport is not the exception. If you are looking for confortness after a long trip a Taxi will do the trick if you are looking for the best price then the train RENFE is your best option. But the most common option because of its combination of price and easy use is the bus aeropuerto barcelona, the one you should take every time you visit Barcelona.
So now you now that when you arrive to the city there are various number of transports waiting to take you to your hotel, apartment, or hostel in Barcelona. Depending on your budget and how adventurous are you. You will have to choose the one that suits you best.
Now you have a thing less to figure it out once you arrive to this magnificent city, so have a great trip to Barcelona and enjoy the city as much as you can.