This is super unique…read more When a city pays for an artist to drain a telecommunications tower you know they support the arts and desire to have a more then utilitarian view of their surroundings. It's truly a piece of artist performance and you just want to look at it continuously. As part of Parc Montjuïc, it's even more fascinating. Calatrava is present in this work.

Montjuïc Communications Tower! This thing was built by…read moreSantiago Calatravas to serve as a cellphone and television tower for the Olympics in '92. It also doubles as a sundial on Europa Square down below. They could have just built a big ol ugly tower, but instead, Santiago Calatravas came up with this elegant, curving, swan-like telecommunications tower that is double functional and looks like it's almost a living thing taking off or a bird on a single foot. It is said that it represents an athlete holding the Olympic flame. It is up on the Montjuïc Mountain, so it overlooks the whole city. The base of the tower is covered in broken tile, like what Gaudi does. Calatravas was trying to tie everything together with that move.

While not the most interesting plača to look at around Barcelona based off the square, the tower…read moreand surrounding buildings make it one of a kind. It is one that has some of the most interesting history. The Barcelona City History Museum inside has a bunch of interesting stuff but I would be prepared to have a coat or something warm as it is quite cold will all of the old stone. We noticed that a lot of weddings and special events have individuals come by and take photographs as there were several couples and individuals taking professional photographs of bride and grooms.

Known in English as King's Square, this plaza is located right in the middle of the city. It is in…read morethe old city section of Barcelona so the architecture is of course very aesthetically pleasing. As a place to visit, it is not that exciting actually. There are mainly just some restaurants with outdoor seating that surround it. For some real action, you have to go to a place like Las Ramblas. Because of its central location, there is no harm just to take a look around while you are in the area.

Banks' Lamps! These are some of the most ornate street…read morelights I've ever seen! Seriously, these lamps remind me not to walk down the street and text- you walk into one of these Barcelona lamp posts, you're gonna get wrecked. They're on the 'block of discord' where a lot of Gaudi's buildings are, and there's just so much to see and look at along Gracia street. It's a free thing to see in Barcelona, and since they light up at night, you can go any time, day or night to check these lights out. If I had my euros in the local bank and they were churning out fancy schmancy streetlights like these in front of their headquarters, I'd demand higher interest rates on my accounts instead of lavish spending like this. But it makes for a really neat feature along a great walk-able street. Eric B's review pretty well sums up the trivia. Read his review to find out the style and the architect.

The Bancs-Fanals (banks, lamps), are located along the Paseo de Gracia. They were made in 1906 by…read moremunicipal architect Pere Falqués i Urpí . It is one of his best known works, although sometimes modernist architect Antoni Gaudí erroneously gets the credit in this Block of Discord area. The Bancs-Fanals consist of thirty-two benches built with the classic "trencadís" of Catalan modernism and integrated as a single piece with the lamp posts. The cast-iron lamp posts are in a "coup de fouet" style, that was made in the foundry of Manuel Ballarin. The best ways to see these beauties are either to walk this section of the Passeig de Gràcia or watch them go by while you're on the top deck of the Bus Turistic.

Gràcia was established in 1626, by a novitiate of Carmelites who established a Convent there called…read more"Nostra Senyora de Gràcia (Our Lady of Grace)." Gràcia was an independent municipality until it was annexed to Barcelona in 1897 along with other villages in the plain of Barcelona. The expansion of the Eixample district in the 19th century eventually led to the northward expansion of Barcelona, connecting Gràcia to the growing metropolis. Passeig de Gràcia connects the central Plaça Catalunya to Gràcia and other wide avenues in the area include Carrer d'Aragó, Carrer de Balmes and Passeig de Sant Joan (of which Gayle and I enjoyed a nice evening walk). The most well-known attraction in Gràcia is the Gaudí-designed Parc Güell which is located on El Carmel mountain and was on our "must see" list. Casa Vicens, Gaudí's first important work and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also located in Gràcia. Gràcia was also the original home to Teatre Lliure, one of the most prestigious theaters in Spain (the theater has since relocated to Montjuic). There are several notable squares in Gràcia including Plaça del Sol, Plaça de Rius i Taulet and Plaça de la Virreina.

My home in Barcelona! Gotta love the bohemian energy, the…read morestreets full of people, the great restaurants and markets. One of the best places in BCN!

Skip the town. Go straight to the crypt. An incomplete, yet amazing church. The arches,…read morebuttresses, just the overall design and beauty of the building are worth the trip and will leave you wondering how one man could be so different than his and my contemporaries and so inspiring. A masterpiece.

Stun-ning. No other word for this hidden gem of an architectural site that was once a hospital when…read moredesigners cared about the aesthetics of a hospital and not solely function. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site for good reason. The campus alone is one example after another of exquisite brickwork, mosaics, color, and Catalan ingenuity. If you loved Casa Battlo and Parc Guell, and you didn't know about this heritage site, do yourself a favor and swing in for even half-an-hour to buzz through and photograph the exquisite buildings collected herein. 10 min walk from Sagrada Familia. Mamma mia. Jaw dropping inside and out. How wise of Spain to recognize -- and preserve, and share -- this breathtakingly artful site.

In a city more known for Gaudi as the modicum of architecture, it was quite a pleasant surprise to…read morevisit this hospital as it represents the modernist style of Lluis Domenech. It's also a UNESCO site now. For a while, this used to be a fully functioning hospital. Now, people can come and visit several (I think 8) of the pavillions connected by underground galleries. I don't think everything is open but you can see a lot of the history in what is. I enjoyed the courtyard where you can see all the buildings and their architecture from the outside. It's quite mesmerizing to see. You can learn a lot about the history behind the hospital. At 17 EUR, it wasn't cheap, but it's worth the price. It's also about a 10 min walk away from La Sagrada Familia so it can be planned accordingly.

Took a free architectural walking tour with Barkeno Tours in Barcelona. Love how the group was…read moregiven headphones for one euro to be able to hear the information. Casa Lleó Morera is one of the three most important modern buildings in Barcelona's famous Illa de la Discòrdia, the Block of Discord on the Passeig de Gràcia. Along with Casa Batlló and Casa Amatller, the trio are known for their unique, contrasting styles. The Casa Lleó Morera was designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. In 1902, Francesca Morera commissioned Lluís Domènech i Montaner to remodel Casa Rocamora which was built in 1864. It was fashionable at the time to reimagine the "ancient" apartments that were out of fashion. Each family seemed to try to outshine their neighbors. The Casa Lleó Morera was a collaborative project. The inspiration? Natural and organic motifs that are infused in the mosaics, sculptures, and decoration. Since the Morera's family name means mulberry tree, that was used extensively in the decor. So, what is the meaning behind Barcelona's Manzana de la Discordia, or the Block of Discord. The city block's nickname originates from the Judgment of Paris, a famous Greek mythological tale. The Greek gods held a wedding but didn't invite Eris, the goddess of discord, as she spread misery wherever she went. Outraged, Eris arrived anyway. Her gift? A poisoned golden apple inscribed with the words "for the fairest." As Eris anticipated, the goddesses each fought to claim the apple for being the most beautiful. Ultimately, Paris, the Prince of Troy, chose Aphrodite (who promised him Helen of Sparta) over Hera and Athena. When Paris took Helen to Troy, the Greeks invaded Troy to bring her back. This huge conflict or discord was known as the Trojan War. In Spanish, the word "manzana" can be interpreted as either a city block or an apple. On the Manzana block, there was a fierce architectural rivalry, akin to the golden apple as the three Modernist buildings on the Passeig de Gràcia competed for the title of the fairest building. In fact our guide had us vote for our favorite. As a fan of Antoni Gaudí, Casa Batlló earned my vote and captured the majority of votes on our tour. If you appreciate art and architecture, add this beautiful city block to your list of places to explore in Barcelona.

This building on the Block of Discord is a perfect example of the beautiful modernista style…read morebuildings in Barcelona. The decadent decorations left me breathless in every room I went into. They just opened this building to the public a few months ago, and when I went they were limiting tours to about twenty people and only once or twice a day. This makes the experience much more enjoyable than some of the Gaudi buildings because you can ask any questions of the guide and really take your time looking around without distractions. A must-see!

An interesting way to leisurely spend several hours in Barcelona discovering the architecture and…read moresome culture of Spain. The venue was constructed for the 1929 Barcelona Universal Exposition. Pick up a map when you pay your entrance fee, and wander a traditional Andalusian neighborhood, a Catalan Romanesque monastery, and the traditional architecture of Galicia. The buildings are divided into North, South, Central, Mediterranean areas of Spain. Discover recreation of buildings from the 14th century to the early twentieth century. You will feel transported in time as you wander the stunning architecture and discover so many local artisan shops. You can watch many work their craft- from making a guitar, metal working, print making, and stunning intricate jewelry. Other shops carried local clothing, wines, chocolates, toys, blown glass and pottery. I dare you to leave here empty handed. There are several restaurants on the property to enjoy morning coffee and pastries, lunch, late after tapas or great dinners. My visit was the week before Christmas and I found the decorations so much fun. Elves hidden in orange trees, fully decorated trees and a spot for photos with Santa. I arrived right as it opened not knowing how long it would take me to see everything. The disadvantage was not all artisans opened their shops on time and I backed track a little as some open ed later. I scored some beautiful gifts.

We came on a Monday. There were few visitors so it was easy getting in. We got the audio tour…read morewhich was very helpful. I think a must for this museum. Not much was happening. Mostly self guided. The art exhibitions were interesting and included. We ate lunch there and the food was quite good and priced well. The service was excellent. The digital shows were very good. If there is more programming, I think it would be a bit more engaging.