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Hi all:

Everything going well I’ll be on my way back to the UK when you read this post, and I thought I’d share a few pics from my recent visit to Barcelona. As you know I visit quite often for family reasons, but this time, I was there for La Mercè, that’s a festival in honour of the Virgin of la Mercè, patron of the city. You can check a bit more about it here.

As you’ll see if you check the link, plenty of things go on, but I decided to take a chance and go and explore a couple of places that I hadn’t had a chance to visit before, at least in detail. During the festival many of the museums are free, and, better still, some of the buildings that usually aren’t open to the public are.

First I went (with my mother), to visit l’Hospital de Sant Pau (St Paul’s Hospital) the largest art-nouveau (or Modernista, as we call it here) complex in the world, designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner (who also famously designed el Palau de la Música Catalana, and absolute wonder) between 1905 and 1930. Now it’s open for visits and has not been used as a hospital for a while, but it’s well worth a visit and is  a Unesco World Heritage Site.

The buildings are pretty special and the wrought iron features, stained glass windows and gorgeous tiles are to die for. My pictures don’t make it justice, but…

It was cloudy in the morning but it improved
It was cloudy in the morning but it improved

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One of the feature up close
One of the feature up close

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One of the stained glass domes
One of the stained glass domes
Gorgeous tiles
Gorgeous tiles

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In the afternoon we went to visit el Palauet Albéniz (Albéniz Palace, the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family when they visit Barcelona. It’s a small place and if there are big banquets or receptions they use another bigger Palace in Pedralbes, that houses a museum most of the time. To tell you the truth they don’t visit very often). It’s in Montjuich and if you’ve visited the Olympic Stadium, the Olympic museum, el Poble Espanyol or any of the other features in the area, including Plaça Espanya and the magic fountains, you might have gone by it, but other than the garden, it’s not usually possible to visit inside. But it was open to the public. Not only that, but there were music and dances in the gardens, food vans, and entertainment, including actors playing the part of butlers and maids, keeping the people queuing amused by giving instructions as to what to do, introducing each person to everybody, asking where they were coming from…

Here a few pics:

Dalí painted the fresco in the dome and ceiling at the entry
Dalí painted the fresco in the dome and ceiling at the entry
As you've probably noticed I like stained glass and domes...
As you’ve probably noticed I like stained glass and domes…
The banquet hall
The banquet hall
The kitchen
The kitchen
The building itself
The building itself
A view of the garden. I told you it was sunny later.
A view of the garden. I told you it was sunny later.

The hospital is open to visits, but the little palace isn’t usually open although the gardens can be visited some mornings, but do check the information if you’re curious.

Thanks so much for reading and watching, and do like, share, comment, and CLICK!

And, in case you are planning a trip to Spain and looking for things to do (especially if you’re travelling with an RV), this post, listing 100 Things to Do in Spain is pretty comprehensive and full of interesting things (quite a few I’ll have to try myself).

 

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OlgaNunez
I was born in Barcelona and have lived in the UK for many years now. I'm a writer, translator (English-Spanish and vice-versa) and I'm a medical doctor and worked in Forensic Psychiatry many years. I also have a BA and a PhD in American Literature and Film, and a Masters in Criminology. I've always loved books and apart from writing them I review them often. I write a bit of everything, check my books for more information and my about page for links. My blog is bilingual, English and Spanish.

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Comments (33)

  1. Spain has some of the most beautiful architecture on Earth.

    1. Thanks, James. I think it’s a matter of taste, but there are some impressive places, for sure. 🙂

  2. dgkaye says:

    Stunning photos Olga. 🙂

    1. Thanks so much, Debby. I’m a horror taking pictures, but it was difficult not to get something interesting. 🙂

  3. Good morning Olga..thank you for these beautiful photographs…Barcelona is truly a magnificent city and the architecture is extraordinary….By the way I do hope your Mother is doing well….looks and sound like you had a lot of fun together. Safe travels…and have a lovely day…Janet. x

    1. Thanks, Janet. You’re very kind. She’s not too bad. I’ll be back by the end of the month as she has several doctors appointments and I have a few things to do there too… 😉

  4. That old hospital is indeed impressive. Nice that it is now open to the public, and another wonderful sight to add to all the others in Barcelona.
    Best wishes, Pete.

    1. Thanks, Pete. It was great that they got such talented architect to design a hospital, although there are some pretty impressive public buildings in the UK. Now they tend to be a bit more functional, although not all.

  5. My son is in Barcelona too since last Friday! So cool that you were there at the same time!

    1. I saw your post over the weekend, Erika. I’m sure he’ll have a great time!

  6. Beautiful, Olga. I have never been to Spain! Until recently, a friend from school, married to a Spaniard, was living in Barcelona and I was going to visit but they’ve moved to Leeds!

    1. Thanks, Sarah. I do like Leeds and is not very far from where I live, but it’s not the same…:)

        1. If you ever come to visit your friends here, let me know. Perhaps we’ll catch up.

          2. 🙂

  7. Oh what beautiful places, Olga! I enjoyed the photos very much. Safe journey my friend. Huge hugs.

    1. Thanks, Teagan. I’ve arrived. Now trying to catch up. Hopefully, it won’t take me too long to go back to work. 😉

  8. Beautiful pictures, Olga. Thanks for sharing.

    1. Thanks Jo-Anne!

  9. macjam47 says:

    Your photos are stunning. The tiles and stained glass are gorgeous. Happy to hear you made it safely. Hugs.

    1. Thanks, Michelle. They looked after every little detail. It’s a joy. Take care!

  10. Welcome back to the UK, Olga. I hope all is now well with your mother? Glad to hear you two had a great time. Thank you for shraing the photos with us.

    1. olganm says:

      Thanks for asking, Hugh. Well, my mother is still waiting for another cataract operation and has several appointments coming up in November, when I have to go back. But she’s stable and doing much better than I expected. I’m briefly back in the UK, see what I can fit in while I’m here. Do take lots of care. 🙂

      1. You sound like you’re going to have lots on, Olga. I’m sure your mum appreciates you being there for her. I wish you both well. Take care.
        xx

        1. Thanks, Hugh. We’re all very busy. I’ve discovered that working for yourself means it’s difficult to get a proper break. I hope to meet you in person soon again. 🙂

          1. Very true, Olga. I’m going to be at The Llandeilo Christmas book fair, but notice you won’t be there. However, I hope we can meet up again in the New Year.
            Best wishes.

          2. I had hoped to be there giving a hand (not as an author, but rather take your place organising in the last one) but I have a book fair in Madrid with the cooperative I’m working with, for three days early in December, so I don’t think I’ll make it there…

  11. Beautiful Barcelona! Hope all is well. xx

    1. Thanks, Inese. Just trying to do as many things as I can before I go back again at the end of the month. I hope everything is well with you. 🙂

      1. We got another scare, Olga, it is why I was out of radar. Things started to straighten up, thankfully. xx

        1. Sorry to hear that although pleased that things are getting better. Sometimes it seems as if one can’t catch up a break. I’ll be thinking of you and your family.

          1. Thank you, be good xx

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