Specialty Travel Guide Spain
Spain is a country filled with history, and is a key country in the development of Europe. The country is full of buildings that tell of its occupation by French, Muslim, and Christian rulers. Spain is a center for fine arts and architecture, and has many displays of the two in its unique cities.
Barcelona is a city packed with things to do for visitors. One place to go is the Park Guell, located in Barcelona's northern suburbs. The hilly terrain in the park provides for a little unsteady footing, so be prepared. The top of the park offers a terrace where you can see the entire city of Barcelona below. The park also has brightly colored mosaic terraces to stop for food. The Casa Mila in Barcelona is another attraction that is highly praised by visitors. Designed by the same architect (Antoni Gaudi) as the Park Guell, Casa Mila is another example of Gaudi's eccentric design. The front of the building is said to contain no straight lines, and is dotted with balconies draped with plants. The courtyard is rather impressive, and the shape is designed to draw the eye up to the sky. The building contains two restored apartments and a musem. The apartments have been reconstructed and are very modern in style. Visitors are allowed on the roof, but the roof space that was designed for drying laundry is a must-see. The space, once used to dry laundry, is an exhibition of Gaudi's works.
Another example of Gaudi's style is the Museu Temple de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Work started on the building in 1882, and Gaudi was appointed to project director a year later. The museum is accessed through the Atonement Temple, which is underneath the main construction. Examples of Gaudi's church furniture sit waiting for a home in the temple that is yet to be finished. The museum contains descriptions of how work on the temple has changed over the years, including an account of how much of the work was damaged during the Spanish Civil War. Another attraction in Barcelona is La Rambla. La Rambla is a street in Barcelona where all kinds of entertainment can be found. Anything from human statues to dancers can be found on this pedestrian street, and many people take time to sit at one of the cafes and people watch.
La Mezquita in Cordoba is considered by some to be the jewel of Spanish art. The mosque was built in four stages, and each stage has a distinct style with it. Each individual style is easy to see when compared to each other. The highlight of the mosque is the Mihrab. The Mihrab is composed of three chapels with multicolored marble columns and wonderful Byzantine mosaics. The Mihrab is a wonderful example of Arabian style and influence in Spain.
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