In my last post I raved so much about Gaudi’s exuberant
architecture that it seems only fair to give the Old City it’s due this week. I
was really surprised by the older quarters of the city (Ciutat Vella in Catalan) primarily because I hadn’t
expected so much to remain. What I hadn't realized was that the entire city of Barcelona had been confined within high stone walls until 1859. This undoubtedly accounts for the cohesiveness of the Old City where there are blocks and blocks of narrow, twisty
streets lined with three and four story, balconied buildings. Some have lavishly painted facades, others are decorated with Gothic details, and all are nearly impossible to
photograph. This contrast between the old quarter and the (relatively) new areas makes
Barcelona a fascinating study in architectural styles.
