Waiting for train at Liceu metro station (a station at Las Rambla)
We
first visited Casa Mila. Casa Mila was located at Passeig de
Gràcia, one of the major avenues in Barcelona and one of its most
important shopping and business areas. Casa Mila is the most avant-garde
of all the works of Antoni Gaudi. This large apartment building was
known as "La Pedrera," or "the stone quarry," because of its cliff-like walls. Casa Mila is Gaudi's greatest contribution to Barcelona's civil architecture, and his last work before he devoted himself entirely to the Sagrada Familia. Today it is the headquarters of Fundació Catalunya-La Pedrera and
houses a cultural centre that is a reference point in Barcelona. In
1984, it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Next, we walked a few blocks away to visit Casa Batllo - another awesomely unique building designed by Antoni Gaudi.
Between 1898 and 1906 three adjacent houses in one block on the
fashionable boulevard 'Passeig de Gràcia' were built by some of the
most important modernist architects: Casa Amatller (designed by Puig i
Cadafalch), Casa Lléo Morera (designed by Domènech i Montaner) and
Gaudí's Casa Batlló. All three houses were designed in a different interpretation of the
modernist style in what seems like a competition between the architects. Of the three houses, Casa Batlló is the most expressive.
Its facade has heavily tiled walls and curving iron balconies pierced with holes to look like masks or skulls.
Done at Passeig de Gràcia, we later we took the metro train, funicular and cable car to go to top of Montjuïc (Mount of Jews).
The hill of Montjuïc is Barcelona's biggest recreation area. Its museum, art galleries, gardens and even nightclubs make it a popular place for locals and tourists in Barcelona.
Inside the cable car on the way to the top of Montjuïc
View from top of Montjuïc
On top of the hill, there's Castell de Montjuïc (castle of Montjuïc).
You can see the panorama view of Barcelona from the top of the hill...
the view is breathtakingly beautiful!
Izzat enjoying the harbour panorama view.
More panorama view from top of Montjuïc
Eating ice-cream while enjoying the view
After visiting the castle, we wanted to go down the hill using the funicular again. Unfortunately, we don't have small change :( So instead, we walked. It was tiring... but worth every steps! Montjuïc is so beautiful! There are so many things to see in Montjuïc.
There's Olympic Stadium (which the kids and I did not go.... but Mr Hubby did. He dropped by at the souvenir shop to buy a souvenir
plate... well, more like to get small change so that we can buy train
tickets later... haha!).
Sempat jugak dia snap this photo :)
*moral of the story : please make sure we have small change when we travel using public transport -_- *
The most beautiful of all is the Palau Nacional and its surrounding area. Palau Nacional is a palace constructed between the years 1926 and 1929 for the 1929 International Exhibition in Barcelona. Since 1934 it has been home to the National Art Museum of Catalonia.
The Palau Nacional, where Europe's greatest Romanesque art collection is housed.
Taking a break after while enjoying the breathtakingly beautiful view...
Izzaty ajak vain lagi.... layannzzz... :))
This place is so beauuuuutifulll!! We went down the hill of Montjuïc steps by steps (there are stairs, escalator along the way down). And at each level, we really enjoyed the scenery of the waterfalls...
We finally reached the bottom of Montjuïc
Bottom of Montjuïc
Once we reached the bottom of Montjuïc, we walked to the nearest Metro Station (and yay, we have small change now to buy train tickets!). On our way back to our rented apartment, we decided to explore the old town of Barcelona - Barri Gotic.
Found this vegetarian restaurant and decided to check it out...
Yeap.... all veges!!
And I tried this...
Not bad laaa.... better than nothing eh? :D
After our stomach has been fueled, off we went exploring Barri Gotic again...
Palau de al Generalitat - The seat of Catalonia's governor has superb Gothic featues, which include the chapel and a stone staircase rising to an open-air, arcaded gallery.
The cathedral @ Barri Gotic.
Placa Reial - Barcelona's most lively square.
This man is making soap-bubble at Placa Reial :) What a huge bubble!!
Lots and lots of souvenirs shop around here..
Since X'mas is around the corner, they also have a Christmast Market here - it's like Pasar Ramadhan back in Malaysia... but of course our Pasar Ramadhan is MORE happening... hehe :D
Shopping for X'mas tree anyone?
Bicycles for rent.. I saw lots of tourist cycling at this area!
Day 3 : Today is our last day in Barcelona. Woke up early in the morning to explore Las Rambla for the last time.
Someone managed to 'paw' her dad to buy this nice sweatshirt early in the morning :P
HRC Barcelona... located @ Las Rambla - last place we visited before leaving for the airport...
At Barcelona's Airport
Time for boarding...
