Karl WP Beyer In April 2019 the New Mein Schiff 2 in the port of Barcelona. The capital of the Spanish region fulfills two essential functions for the shipping company and its passengers. It is an attractive cruise destination and it is ideally suited for logistical purposes. Truck fleets regularly bring supplies from Germany to Barcelona. According to the shipping company, an estimated 3.000 guests on board the cruise ship would like to be supplied with familiar goods and food. An example: Even baking mixes for bread are delivered from Germany.
Barcelona's local mountain, Tibidabo
In the past few years we have visited Barcelona repeatedly on cruise ships. We got to know many of the sights of Barcelona in this way. The local mountain Tibidabo is still missing from our list. The first thing we will visit today.
Local mountain Tibidabo with church and amusement park
With a height of 520 meters, the Tibidabo is remarkable. The attractions of the summit are the church Templo Expiatori del Sagrado Corazón, the adjacent Tibidabo amusement park and the fantastic view that the height offers us onlookers.
Basilica Sacrat Cor
View of the Tibidabo amusement park
The Sacrat Cor church is a must-see in Barcelona
We're not coming for the amusement park; we come for the church. The Catalans call them “Sagrat Cor” for the sake of simplicity. The "Sacre Coeur" church in Paris provided the model for the church building.
It was built in several stages between 1902 and 1961. The house of God, built in neo-Gothic style, is crowned by a bronze statue of Christ. It reminds us of “Cristo Redentor” in Rio de Janeiro, high up on the Corcovado mountain. Barcelona's statue of Christ does not reach the dimensions of the original by far; it is still admirable. The church was elevated to a basilica in the year of completion.
We enter Sagrat Cor from the level of the crypt. Their stained glass windows are remarkable. An elevator goes up from the crypt to the first viewing platform. The trip costs two euros. It's money well invested. From this platform it goes up stairs to a second viewing terrace. There is the more than seven meter high statue of Jesus.
The Christ statue in the Sagrat Cor basilica
How to get there?
We leave Barcelona's cruise terminal with the port bus. The bus stops at Estació Marítima. Past the Museu Marítim de Barcelona and the Columbus Column, we walk a few hundred meters to the Drassanes Metro. With line 3 we go to Plaça Catalunya; there we change to line 7. We leave the train at Avinguda del Tibidabo station and take the bus to the valley station of the Funicular de Vallvidrera.
Funicular del Tibidabo
If the train is not running, a replacement bus service is offered.
The Hospital de Sant Pau
Barcelona has the Catalan banker Pau Gil to thank for the former clinic complex, which was built in the modernist style. In his will, the financier ordered the construction of a clinic complex consisting of 48 pavilions. It was to be built in a spacious garden area. The construction work cost more money than expected. In 1911 the foundation funds were exhausted. Only a quarter of the planned buildings were completed. The city of Barcelona continued the construction project. However, the number of buildings was reduced to 27, and in 1930 the work was completed. The clinic was then called Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau.
Since 1997 the hospital is under the protection of the UNESCO world cultural heritage. It is no longer used as a clinic; today international organizations use the beautiful buildings.
Lavish decors adorn the facades: Sculptures, mosaics and floral elements in particular catch the eye. In addition to the main building, only a few pavilions are accessible.
Current ticket prices: 16 euros; Discounts are granted. Admission is free on the first Sunday of every month.
The Sagrada Familia in passing
A kilometer walk separates the Hospital de Sant Pau from the spectacular new church of the Sagrada Familia. The straight Avinguda de Gaudí is the shortest connection between the two sights. The pedestrian street is lined with cafés, restaurants and many shops. Terraces in front of the cafés invite you to linger.
The Avinguda de Gaudí
In our post from August 2017 In the footsteps of Antoni Gaudí we described the fantastic church under construction. Now, two years later, the gigantic structure is nearing completion. The towers are taller than ever before. Much remains to be done by 2026, when the task of the century is planned to be completed.
The construction of the Sagrada Familia is proceeding
The Passeig de Sant Joan
The Passeig de Sant Joan runs between the Arc de Triomf and the Travessera de Gràcia. In the northern area, the street looks like a park. There is the small Mercat de l'Abaceria.
Starting at Monument to Mossèn Jacint Verdaguer The street, which was previously clogged with through traffic, has been converted into a boulevard for strollers and cyclists since 2012. Bars, cafes and restaurants have been lining the promenade ever since. Similar to the Rambla, it is not completely exempt from through traffic. The media cheered the street up to the “area of trendsetters” and the “best location in Barcelona”. We feel that is more than an exaggeration.
Passeig de Sant Joan
The Arc de Triomf
On the north-eastern edge of Barcelona's old town stands one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. It's the Arc de Triomf. This triumphal arch was built as the main entrance gate to the 1888 Barcelona Universal Exhibition. It stands at the beginning of the Passeig de Lluis Companys promenade leading to the Parc de la Ciutadella. The brick archway is over 30 meters high. Built in the Neo-Mudéjar style, the facade invites you to look and marvel.
Arc de Triomphe
Address Passeig de Sant Joan, north of Parc de la Ciutadella.
The Parc de la Ciutadella
A few hundred meters separate the triumphal arch from the Parc de la Ciutadella. The park area, which extends over more than 17 hectares, originally occupied the star-shaped citadel of the city of Barcelona. In 1866 the facility was razed. Only a few buildings remained. One of these objects that has been saved over time is the former arsenal. Today the Catalan Parliament meets in the rooms.
Ciutadella park
Barcelona's city fathers copied the gardens from the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. Large green areas, trees, a lake and the fairytale Cascada Fontserè i Mestre make the park an attraction for young and old. The lake in the center of the park, interspersed with islands, is suitable for rowing boats. The world exhibition of 1888 took place in the park area.
The Parc de la Ciutadella
The Cascade Monumental
The archaeological site of El Born
An entire district fell victim to the construction of Barcelona's citadel in the early 18th century. Thousands of people lost their homes. Barcelona's citadel was used militarily for almost 150 years. Then came the demolition. The market hall El Born was built on the huge fortress area, today's district of La Ribera. It was opened in 1876.
Passatge Mercantil - in the background the El Born market hall
A few years ago, during restoration work on the market hall, remains of the old Ciutat Vella district came to light below the hall floor. El Born has been designated an archaeological site and the excavation site has been classified as an Asset of National Interest. The excavations show a total of 42 houses and some house fragments. They represent three percent of the area of the demolished district.
El Born - Center Cultural
El Born - Center Cultural
Address El Born: Plaça Comercial 12
Back to the port
The way back to the port leads via the Passeig de Born past the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar. Other streets follow. The path runs almost in a straight line to the Rambla. There is the concise Column of Columbus near the port. We're almost there. The Maremagnum shopping center is separated by a harbor basin. There is no time for that. It's a few meters to the shuttle bus that takes us back to the cruise terminal.
December 2022
