Monastery of Pedralbes, Barcelona
The Monastery of Pedralbes in Barcelona, now a museum, housing permanent exhibitions consisting of art collected by the monastery, and visiting exhibitions.
Rotate to landscape to view slideshow
The original design for Sagrada Família by diocesan architect Francisco de Paula del Villar included ogival windows, buttresses, flying buttresses and a pointed bell tower – nothing like you see now.
Gaudi took on the project in 1883, soon after the cornerstone was laid. He transformed the project.
Architect Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia Basilica is a magnificent achievement.
The building has a checkered history. Gaudi took over the project when he was 31, making major changes to the proposed design. His accidental death at age 64, in 1926, saw the construction pass on to one of his disciples Domènec Sugranyes. During the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the church was vandalised, Gaudi’s models were destroyed and plans were burnt. Building continued after plans and models were recontructed, and it still continues today with an expected completion date of 2026.
We spent a full day in and around this building. We arrived early to try and beat the crowds, but still they were there. The interior is beautiful, it’s almost like you are in a forest of trees, as the tops of the columns branch out to support the roof. The sun’s rays through the stained-glass windows tinted the stonework and gave everything a life.
While we were there, a visiting choir started to sing in the body of the church. The voices filled the space and gave another dimension to what the building is there for.
A visit to Sagrada Familia Basilica is an uplifting experience.
You can see some virtual tours at the Sagrada Familia Basilica official site – they are well worth exploring.
The Basilica has just been announced as the most visited tourist site in the world for 2023 by Tripadvisor.
The Monastery of Pedralbes in Barcelona, now a museum, housing permanent exhibitions consisting of art collected by the monastery, and visiting exhibitions.
Casa Mila is the last private residence designed by architect Antoni Gaudí and perhaps his most iconic.
The park was originally intended as a sub-division for the wealthy and architect Gaudi was hired to design the layout. Now it’s a park.
An easy 24 km drive from Hobart, Richmond is a town that is rich in history. Boasting Australia’s oldest remaining Catholic church, St. John’s, built in 1836, the oldest goal that’s still intact, and the oldest bridge that’s still in use.
If Saint-Malo is for pirates, Dinard is for elegance! Situated in a lovely position overlooking the Rance Estuary, the beautiful 19th century villas are just made for the aristocracy.
Most visitors to the picturesque Phillip Island are day-trippers who come especially to see the penguins as they surf ashore at dusk and waddle up to their burrows with full tummies to feed their young. We made our visit a four-day trip to have a decent break, enjoy the peaceful surrounds and experience some of the gastronomical highlights of the island.