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 Places of interest IV |
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Museu Picasso
The Museu Picasso is Barcelona 's most visited museum. The Picasso Museum is across Via Laietana , down Carrer de la Princesa , and right on Carrer Montcada - a street known for Barcelona 's most elegant medieval palaces. It's housed in three strikingly beautiful stone mansions on the Carrer de Montcada , which was, in medieval times, an approach to the port. Picasso spent several of his formative years (1901-06) in Barcelona , and this collection, while not one of the world's best, is particularly strong in his early work. The museum shows numerous works that trace the artist's early years, and is especially strong on his Blue Period with canvases like The Defenceless , ceramics and his early works from the 1890s. Displays include childhood sketches, pictures from the beautiful Rose and Blue periods, and the famous 1950s Cubist variations on Velázquez's Las Meninas (Ladies in Waiting).
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The second floor displays works from Barcelona and Paris, from 1900 to 1904, with a lot of his impressionist-influenced works. The evocative Portrait of Senyora Canals (1905), from his Pink Period is also on display. Among the later works, all executed in Cannes in 1957, consists mostly of studies on Diego Velazquez 's masterpiece.
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Tibidabo
At 542m (1778 ft), Tibidabo is the highest hill in the wooded range that forms the backdrop of Barcelona . You may arrive at the top of this mountain by the only tramway that still exists in Barcelona , and find there one of the most famous and spectacular amusement parks of Europe. The locals come up here for some thrills at the amusement park Parc d'Atraccions , which has fun rides and a house of horrors. One of the major attractions is the glass lift that goes 115 meters (126 yd) up to a visitors' observation area at Torre de Collserola telecommunications tower. One can also find solace in Temple del Sagrat Cor , Barcelona 's answer to Paris' Sacré Coeur . Tibidabo keeps its air clear and it continues to be a great place for views over the city. Looming above Tibidabo's funicular station is two churches, one on top of the other. The top one is surmounted by a giant Christ and has a lift to the roof.
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Parc de la Ciutadella
Inside the park there are the Parliament of Catalunya , the statue of the "Lady with the Umbrella," various museums and the zoological garden. Here, the World Exposition of 1868 took place.
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The street of Sant Felip Neri
Forming a corner are the street of Sant Felip Neri and the square of the same name. The 'square,' originally part of the cemetery named " de Montju del Bisbe " ("the Bishop's Jewish Hill"), has a fountain in the center. On the right-hand side of the square stands another Renaissance building: the Shoemakers' Guildhouse, which now houses the Antique Shoe Museum . The lion of St. Mark, patron of the guild, can be seen on its fa The coppersmiths' building was situated originally at Carrer de la B but when part of this street was demolished to make room for the construction of Via Laietana , the guild house's frontage was moved to Pla (square) Lesseps . It was later re-transferred to its present location.
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Gaudí Casa - Museu
Pink has always been a color that shouts and in here, it screams. Gaudí lived with his niece from 1906 to 1926 in this pink, Alice-in-Wonderland house, now a house museum. Exhibits include Gaudí-designed furniture, decorations, drawings, and portraits and busts of the architect.
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The pla d' Espanya
In the center of the square is a large fountain designed by the architect Josep Maria Jujol , a collaborator of Antoni Gaudí , ornamented with sculptures in marble and bronze by Miquel Blay . There is also the twin towers by Ramon Reventós that overlook the entrance to the Barcelona Trade Fair and to one of the ways to go up the mountain of Montju , where you can visit the Acclimatization Garden , the gardens named after Father Cinto Verdaguer , and Father Costa i Llobera , in addition to the one dedicated to the poet Joan Maragall . The series of bare brick buildings are the work of Nicolau Maria Rubió i Tudurí , and served as a hotel during the year of the Universal Exhibition held in Barcelona , which urbanized Pla d' Espanya in 1929.
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Carrer and placeta de Montcada
The street takes its name from the Montcada dynasty, who served the Counts of Barcelona for generations, finally becoming the leading power in the land in the mid 11 th century. This is the street that arouses in the hearts of the people of Barcelona fascination for the past, due to its extraordinary wealth of artistic and historic treasures. Beside the apse of the basilica of Santa Maria del Mar , to the right, is the Placeta de Montcada , which leads to the street of the same name.
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The mansions of the Carrer de Montcada were built at different times, and currently house Omnium Cultural, in the Palau Dalmases , and museums, such as the Picasso Museum which occupies the Aguilar, Castellet and Meca houses. The Cervelló mansion is now occupied by the Maeght art gallery. The mansion of the marquises of Llió , formerly the home of the Royal Academy of Letters , now houses the Textile and Clothing Museum . Other buildings here include: the house with the lattice window, the house with the tower with the tri-foil window, the house formerly occupied by the Cradle of the Child Jesus orphanage, the house with the large arcade and the house with the Tuscan gateway.
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The pla de la Universitat
Designed by the architect Elies Rogent (1821 - 1897) in a style based on Catalan Romanesque, its fa and the entrance hall are inspired in the forms of the monastery of Poblet . The square is enlivened by the presence of students and the bustling commercial activity from Ronda Sant Antoni , Carrer Pelai , Ronda Universitat and Carrer Tallers .
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La pla del Rei
The Pla del Rei (the 'King's Square') is fitted for the most noble of old Barcelona . To the right is the Palatine Chapel or Chapel of Saint Agatha and to the left is the Lieutenant's Palace . To the right, at the corner of Carrer del Veguer , is the Clariana - Padell house, which now houses the City History Museum . At the back is the portico of the Royal Palace which contains the wonderful Saló del Tinell banqueting hall.
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