The second half of our bus tour took us uptown by Park Guell and into Tibidabo a very upscale part of town. First we drove by the Bascillica de Sangria Familia, still in construction after 140 years. Our drive took us by many "Modernist" buildings. Most notable was the Recinte Modernists de Sant-Pau which served as a hospital for many decades, It is a 27 building complex taking up 9 city blocks and is the largest Modernistic, or Art Nouveau, site in the world. It took over 30 years to build the entire complex. Each building was dedicated to a specific medical specialty and all the buildings were interconnected via underground tunnels. After Gaudi was struck by a train, he was taken to this hospital where he later died from his injuries. We also enjoyed seeing the Torre Andrue or La Rotunda, a magnificent home built for Salvador Andrue the wealthy businessman who started the settlement of the Tibidabo neighborhood. It was much colder up buy the base of the mountains and we were happy to turn back downhill to warm up. This drive took us through the area that was created once the city walls were dismantled and the grid pattern was laid down. I was able to keep my hat on for most of the trip. I was able to retrieve it when it flew off. A man in front of will never het his hat back as it flew right out of the bus.
So tall my neck hurt later from staring up for so long
We have a more in depth tour planned for next week
As we looked closer, we saw more and more things
Like this guy sitting on a ledge
Many are identified, here is Bartholomeu
And Jacob
Others are ornamental
Some are fresh off the river from a canoe trip
These may have identification but I did not see it
These guards look like they are from star wars
I found the different color stones to be a very nice touch
Look too close and you will get lost in the details
Fruit loops and rice crispeas
Sandus?
So fanciful
Below the cross is a skull
Each spire is topped with something different
Off we go again
The Sant Pao Recinte entrance
The grand entrance
Religious iconography
Stained glass windows
Even at the street level
So many extra additions
Of course the roof is also decorated
9 city blocks
Is a very large area!
Back to the residential areas
A new building!
These are our kind of balconies!
This is La Rotunda
Every square inch, from the railings to the window treatments to the dome
Tile work extraordinaire
A dragon on the exterior of the dome
Extraordinary tiles on the inside
Wowzers!
Simple but elegant
Red and gold
Great gate
A church in the Tibidabo neighborhood
Balconies and Bay Windows
Finials and palm trees
Windows, balconies and trees, what more does a building need?
The black dome
Dome #2
Obelisk, exclamation point
Casa Mila by Gaudi
Multiple chimney toppers are on the top
Are these planters or light fixtures?
A man sculpture on the pole
Off we go!
Going overboard on the iron streetlights
A long house
A temple on top of the building
We could spend some time out on this balcony
Love the stripes
Definately the nicer side of town
We tried to figure out if this is a light above the window, still not sure
The fancy on display
This pedestrian mall is huge
Back to Catalunya Station
Time to dance on the domes!
