Travel & Culture
BY SABA SHAHID (ECON/IV)
Bienvenidos a Barcelona!
Barcelona, the city of color and splendor! If you're considering Europe for your next vacation, then this Spanish city is a must see. Rich in cultural heritage yet strikingly modern, Barcelona is the perfect blend of old and new. Its early history dates back to around 37,000 years ago, when ancestors of the Iberian Laietani tribe first settled the region. However, much of the city's visible heritage is a result of more celebrated empires that conquered the Iberian Peninsula. The Romans engulfed the city in their western expansion during the first century BC, giving way to the Visigoths in the 400s AD. It was briefly taken over by the Islamic Empire in the eighth century AD, after which various European powers held sway until the region's own monarchy evolved. Barcelona is thus dotted with an assortment of the monuments each of its invaders left behind.
If you're into conventional historic sites such as Roman ruins, check out the Temple of Augustus, the Roman aqueducts or the Roman necropolis. But for me, it's the relatively modern architecture of Barcelona that's most captivating and that makes the city's topography unique. Above all, the work of architect Antoni Gaudí gives the city its true flavor. To some, it might be a taste you have to acquire, as his distinctive creativity often resulted in works very unlike any conventional structures or the works of other architects, and also unlike each other, so that it is difficult to pinpoint a particular style he followed. Visit the Church of the Sagrada Familia - under construction since the late 19th century - and you'll know what I mean. The dominating towers, geometric entrance and
overwhelming sculptures and statues, taken individually, make perfect sense, but when seen from afar as a whole, the different elements of the Sagrada Familia seem to have no harmony. Yet it is this very paradox of nonconformity and aesthetics, somehow put together, that makes the Sagrada Familia so fascinating.
Next on your list of places to visit in Barcelona should be the Park Güell. Also designed by Gaudí, the park, decorated in ceramic tile work, is a kaleidoscope of colors that at first glance reminds you of Hansel and Gretel's enchanted house. Perhaps not surprisingly, Park Güell has become a famous tourist spot, where a photograph next to the symbolic lizard is a must. Other celebrated works of Gaudí in Barcelona include La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, Palau Güell and Bellesguard.
A trip to Barcelona without a stop at La Rambla is impossible. This famous shopping street has everything to offer the typical tourist, from snack bars to restaurants, art galleries to portrait artists. Whether you visit it during the day or at night, La Rambla will always be welcoming. While you are there, try and find the mosaic work on the pavement by the great artist Joan Miró himself.
Meandering your way through the city, be sure to give your taste buds a treat. Try the local tapas, or little snacks, as something to munch on during a break from your sightseeing, and if you want a real taste of Spanish cuisine, then try the famous paella. Paella is a kind of curried rice dish that comes in different forms with meat and vegetables. If you have a liking for fish, I would definitely recommend the seafood paella.
Your trip to Spain would be incomplete without an experience of the performing arts. Try booking a ticket to a flamenco show and get ready to be mesmerized. Flamenco is a Spanish dance form in which dancers move to a rhythmic beat that is accompanied by the guitar and singing. The beautiful costumes worn by the performers complete the look and add to the mood of the dance. Women wear frilly gowns that are traditionally red in color, while the men sport conventional suits but with shirts that have puffed sleeves. The attitude and passion of the dancers will get you moving in your chairs in no time.
So, as the Spanish say, "barriga llena, corazon contento" - a full belly and a happy heart - and I totally agree. Good food and an enjoyable holiday will always make you smile Till next time, take care and happy traveling!