A weekend walk in Barcelona2

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Allegorical statue of Barcelona from Frederic Mares, Plaça de Catalunya

Metropola coastei estice a Peninsulei Iberice este al doilea oraş important al Spaniei şi capitală a Catalaniei

Barcelona is the capital and the most populous city of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, after Madrid.

Plaça de Catalunya

The Plaça de Catalunya, a large plaza surrounded by monumental buildings, is Barcelona's busiest square. It is located between the old city (Ciutat Vella) and the nineteenth century Eixample district. Two of Barcelona's most famous streets, the Rambla (a wide promenade in the old city) and the Passeig de Gràcia (a grand showcase of modernist architecture in Eixample) start at the Plaça de Catalunya

To the east the Plaça de Catalunya is bordered by an imposing white building home to El Corte Inglés, a famous department store with branches all over Spain. The store has a wide assortment of articles ranging from food to gardening tools and electronics. The cafeteria on the ninth floor offers amazing views over the square.

Allegorical statue of Barcelona by Frederic Mares

Barcelona, represented as a woman on top of a strong horse, with a ship as a symbol of exploration and trade.

Allegorical statue of Barcelona by Frederic Mares

The statue of men leading the horse could be (according to its "winged cap") Mercury - god of trade and travel.

Until the middle of the nineteenth century the Plaça de Catalunya was a rural area just outside the city walls. In 1858 the central government in Madrid finally allowed the defensive walls to be demolished. It also approved construction outside the walls so a public competition was organized for the design of a new district.

Plaça Catalunya was conceived as part of pla Rovira in 1859, but no official permission from the government was given until the 1888 Universal Exposition. It was urbanised for the first time in 1902 and was further modified in 1929, on the occasion of the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, which also included the construction of a metro station. Architect Francisco Nebot designed the changes made in 1929.

Statue of an Ox, bearing harvest produce, and accompanied by four people as an allegory of the provinces of Catalonia – “Girona”, placed on Plaza Catalunya in 1928.

Girona by Antoni Parera

In 1928-29, on the occasion of the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, the square was greatly urbanized and lot of changes happened in these times. Most of the statues located on the square were installed here just in 1928. One of them is statue called "Girona". Girona is a province of north-eastern Spain, in the northern part of the autonomous community of Catalonia. Girona by Antoni Parera

Sculptor Antoni Parera created in 1928 for the above mentioned Barcelona International Exposition allegorical stutue of the Girona province. The Region of Catalunya called Girona has always been traditionally associated with agriculture and cattle-breeding. The Ox, bearing harvest produce, and accompanied by four people is the depiction of a scene that was typical of the Girona region. It constitutes a tribute to farm work.

Girona by Antoni Parera

Girona by Antoni Parera Statue in Plaça Catalunya

Statue in front of El Corte Inglés

The plaza occupies an

area of about 50,000 square

meters. It is especially

known for its fountains and

statues, its proximity to

some of Barcelona's

most popular attractions, and for the

flocks of pigeons that gather in the

centre.

Designed by brothers Bonaventura (1862-1940) & Joaquim Basegoda (1854-1938), the Casa Rocamora looks to renaissance gothic for its inspiration. The building stands out for arcaded corner tower and projecting windows on the upper levels.

With their towers and neo-Gothic architecture, the Cases Antoni Rocamora buildings stand like a medieval castle guarding the beginning of the Passeig de Gràcia. The structure is made up of several separate residential buildings, built by the Bassegoda brothers in 1917, in a flamboyant modernista style drawing on Gothic and Renaissance elements

The Pascual i Pons House, or Mestres House, built by Sagnier i Villavecchia in 1891 with medieval architectonics elements is just near the enormous Rocamora Houses

Banco Español de Crédito is a low-rise building

Financial institutions in Plaça de Catalunya:

•Banco Español de Crédito (Banesto)

•Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA)

•Banco de España

•Caja Madrid

The square is also one of Barcelona's most important transport hubs, both above and under ground.

Monument al Trabajo (work) by Luciano Osle El Forjador by Josep Llimona i Bruguera

Monument al Sabiduria (wisdom) by Miguel Osle

Monument al Trabajo (work) by Luciano Osle Monument al Sabiduria (wisdom) by Miguel Osle

Monument al Trabajo (work) by Luciano Osle

Monument al Trabajo (work) by Luciano Osle

Pablo Emilio Gargallo (1881 –1934) was an Aragonese sculptor and painter.Statue in front of El Corte Inglés

Pablo GargalloPastor del flabiol (Detail)

Pablo GargalloPastor de l'àliga (Shepherd of the eagle)

Pablo GargalloPastor del flabiol(Shepherd flute)

Pablo GargalloPastor del flabiol(Detail)

Francesc Macià monument at Placa de Catalunya

A large number of sculptures are planted around the central paved area, seemingly at random. The most prominent of these is the Monument a Francesc Macià, honoring the former president of the Generalitat (the Catalan government). The sculpture was created in 1991 by Josep Subirachs, the architect in charge of the construction of the Sagrada Família.

Francesc Macià monument by Josep Subirachs

Joventut,(Youth) by Josep Clarà

Joventut,(Youth) by Josep Clarà

Another notable sculpture is an iconic statue of a female figure by Josep Clarà.The statue, entitled "La Deessa o l'Enigma" (The Goddess or the Enigma) is set at the center of a pool. The white marble sculpture is a 1982 replica (Ricard Sala).

Josep Clarà i Ayats

(1878–1958) was a Spanish Catalan sculptor

Text: InternetPictures: Internet & Daniela IacobCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Luz Casal - Piensa en Mi