Sagrada Familia (week 5, assessment)

The Sagrada Família

A trip to Barcelona would be incomplete without visiting the overwhelming architectural marvel, the Sagrada Família. The Sagrada Família is a large Roman Catholic Church in Barcelona and with 2.5 million visitors a year, this UNESCO World Heritage site, is the most visited monument in Spain!

With entry being $23, I might have to sacrifice a few drinks in my next few outings, but it'd definitely be worth it.

A greatly admired and respected architect, Antoni Gaudi, assumed responsibility for the Sagrada's design in 1882. Realising that he could not finish the construction before his death, Gaudi planned for each part of the Sagrada Família to be constructed separately, so that each generation of architects, using his designs as a framework, could bring their own style to the construction.

The building of the Sagrada Família was solely funded by private donations, and this continues to be the case. Indeed, construction of the Sagrada Família is still in progress, with only 8 of the planned 18 towers completed!

One of the mysteries of the Sagrada Família, and one that I know I would easily overlook next to the large number of intriguing architectural oddities, is the presence of a magic square on the cathedral's Passion Facade.

The "magic" of the square is that the sum of each vertical, horizontal and diagonal line equals the same number… 33. This is assumed to represent Christ’s age at the time of his crucification. However, the true meaning of the square is buried with Gaudi in his resting place inside the Sagrada Família. 

This hidden story teaches us to always look for the obscure and go to where all the tourists aren’t going, there you’ll find the most interesting tales. By discovering the hidden stories, you'll end up forming stronger links and memories to the sites that you visit and thus, truly make the most out of your travels.

The Nou Camp (week 4, assessment)

The Nou Camp

In the centre of Barcelona lies the largest stadium in Europe, the Nou Camp. Since its opening in 1957, the Nou Camp has been the home of FC Barcelona and is the source of the football fever that can be felt radiating throughout the city. Thousands of fans (and soon me!) from all over the globe visit the Nou Camp to unite and celebrate the wonders of football.

This cheerful layer of the Nou Camp is what most tourists and outsiders tend to be familiar with. The club, however, has seen some dark times, as during the Spanish civil war, club president Josep Sunyol, a representative of the pro-independence political party, was murdered. This was a defining moment in the history of FC Barcelona and Catalan identity.

After the Spanish civil war (1936 - 1939), extreme repressive measures were taken against Catalonia. Catalans weren't allowed to even speak their language! Going to the Nou Camp to support FC Barcelona during games against other Spanish clubs, was a way of expressing patriotism and autonomy. This is why the club and the Nou Camp have become a symbol of Catalan culture and independence. The video below further explains the way FC Barcelona lead the Catalan social feeling during Franconism.

These days, FC Barcelona still plays a role in the call for Catalan independence. However, Catalan independence is not something that all of the people of Barcelona want. Therefore, there has been quite a bit of controversy surrounding the club, with many fans calling for the separation of football from politics. As a result, the FC Barcelona museum and merchandise store have slowly started to transform their presentation to be more focused on football and less about political history. 

The club's social importance and the joy football brings to the people of Barcelona is unmistakable and with entry being just $25, my wallet agrees visiting is a must.

Nou Camp images

About Me (assessment)

A Culé, A Barcelonista, A poor poor student. 

At the NGV

Being a 20 year old student in Melbourne with four more daunting years of studies ahead of me, I have decided that I need to spice up my life a bit and hopefully make another addition to my list of unforgettable experiences along the way.

As the influential writer pico Iyer says - 'we travel, in essence, to become young fools again — to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more.'. Slowing down time and disconnecting from my surroundings and responsibilities is exactly what I need to... well, refresh myself in preparation for the coming years. 

So traveling it is!

Choosing Barcelona as my destination was a very easy task, the city is defined by eccentric architecture, innovative food and a vibrant street life...oh and did I mention Barcelona Football club?!

Nou Camp

I am a BIG Barcelona fan, I've supported them since I was 7 years old, so visiting the club and getting to meet the players would be a dream come true for me. Barcelona,  the city, has an incredible football atmosphere that can not be found anywhere else in the world. With futsal courts around every corner and great matches lined up every week, it is every football fan's paradise. 

I plan on getting lost into this new world, relax and just take my mind of things, and what better place to do this than the spectacular beaches that Barcelona is famous for.

and not to mention its history-rich, breath-taking architecture.

Sagrada Familia

Sadly, but nonetheless true, being a student is synonymous with being poor. Therefore, my angle is that of a football fan exploring and enjoying the wonders of Barcelona on a limited budget.