Monuments and sculptures
sculpture by the architect Frank Gehry, who won the Pritzker Prize in 1989, has become one of the symbols of post-Olympic Barcelona and looks as if it is bobbing along on the waters of the Mediterranean. The sunlight is reflected in the scales of this sculpture that presides over the waterfront of the Olympic Marina and Barcelona"s beaches.
In Barcelona, the ground can be as artistic as the sky. And Joan Miró transforms walking, the act of stepping on a surface, into an unforgettable experience. Thousands of people walk over Joan Miró"s pavement mosaic in the centre of
Barcelona"s Rambla. It goes unnoticed by some, others stop to look at the characteristic colours used by the Barcelona-born artist. However, few people know that an important Rambla landmark once stood opposite this site: the famous Boqueria gate.
The Roman wall which adjoins Barcelona"s Plaça Nova has a secret in store. On the other side, stands the entrance to the Casa de l"Ardiaca, or Archdeacon"s House, which contains interesting archaeological remains. As you enter the Casa de l"Ardiaca"s courtyard, you"ll find a building which is a fusion of all eras and styles.
The Fossar de les Moreres is a place of great symbolic significance where the weight of history takes centre stage. Here, right in the centre of the Born neighbourhood, was the site of the graveyard for the fallen during the 1714 Siege of Barcelona. A monument stands on the site as a reminder. The place sometimes goes unnoticed by visitors. For the Catalans, the fossar is more than a memory. It is a homage.
The lady with the umbrella is a symbol of the
Parc de la Ciutadella and
Barcelona Zoo. For many, it also represents a childhood memory of the most beautiful Barcelona lady of them all. Few people can fail to be captivated when they look at this enigmatic, anonymous figure in her period costume who delicately puts out her hand?.
