Barri Gotic area (Gothic Quarter) Plaa de la Seuhttp://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/sandamichaela-1927838-walk-barcelona18/

*

*

*

Picasso Museum was inaugurated in 1963 in the Aguilar Gothic palace in Montcada street, 15. Then another 4 palaces were added so now the museum houses a really vast collection chronologically showing the history of Picasso's art creation. Picasso Museum is one of those opened before artist's death and a large part of present collection comes from the donation that Picasso himself made in 1970.

Many of Picasso's works represent Barcelona as this is where he lived, where he studied, where he worked, where he had his studios and also, this must be the best place to show his life and art.

*

Berenguer d'Aguilar palace dates back to the 15th century, although it is also made up off elements from other periods. It has been the Picasso Museum since 1963. During the restoration work on the building, a series of marvellous mural paintings were discovered depicting King Jaume I (James I) of Catalonia and his noblemen in the city of Palma de Majorca. It comprises the Picasso Museum, together with the Palaces of the Barn de Castellet, Meca, Mauri and Finestres.

The Picasso Museum was first opened in the Gothic Aguilar Palace palau gtic Aguilar (Montcada, 15) in 1963. The City Council extended the museum by annexing the Bar de Castellet Palace palau del Bar de Castellet (Montcada, 17) in 1970 and then with the Meca Palace palau Meca (Montcada, 19).

A new museum extension was opened in 1999 at the casa Mauri and the Finestres Palace palau Finestres with space for temporary exhibitions. These five palaces presently constitute the Barcelona Picasso Museum.The Wait (Margot), 1901

Sardana Dances locals get together in front of the cathedral on Sundays to perform a Sardana dance. The participants gather in circles, hold hands and hop and sway to the tune of the music. They put all their belongings in the middle of the circle a symbol of community and sharing.

Placa de Sant Jaume, the main square of the Barri Gotic, is the venue for a mass performance of the sardana, Catalonia's national dance, every Sunday

Els Tres Frisos de la Mediterrnia (The Three Friezes of the Mediterranean Sea)

Across the Plaa de la Seu and opposite Barcelona's Cathedral, Picasso's frieze is on top of the modern Collegi d'Arquitectes buildingEl fris dels Gegants (Giants Frieze)El Fris de la Senyera (Flag Frieze). El Fris dels Nens (Children Frieze)

Picasso was the designer and the Norwegian Carl Nesjar (1961) was the sculptor.

There are two additional friezes in the building: El Mur dels Arcs (Archs Wall), in the correspondent side of Arches Street, and La Sardana (Sardana Dance)

Placa del Angel

Santa Agata chapel, also known as the Royal Chapel, also comprises of the group of buildings of Real Mayor Palace. It is set in the Roman wall and was built in 1302 by order of Jaime II and his wife Blanca D'Anjou.

El la Va Layetana de Barcelona

Placa del AngelBarri Gotic

The Arxiu Histric de la Ciutat de Barcelona (loosely translated as the citys historic archives), building is found opposite the archbishopric, on Carrer Santa Llucia 1. It is quite small, and overrun with tourists most of the time, but it is rich in detail, very pretty and filled with plants, so well worth a visit. The building is known as Casa de lArdiaca and was constructed onto parts of the old Roman walls in the 12th Century, and reconstructed in 1510, in the Italian Renaissance style much favored in those days.

Ca l'Ardiaca, Escut de Barcelona

The Roman wall which adjoins Barcelonas Plaa Nova has a secret in store. On the other side, stands the entrance to the Casa de lArdiaca, or Archdeacons House, which contains interesting archaeological remains. As you enter the Casa de lArdiacas courtyard, youll find a building which is a fusion of all eras and styles.

The Casa de lArdiaca, the residence of the ecclesiastical hierarchy from the 12th century onwards, has undergone many alterations over the years, such as the ones carried out in the early 16th century which connected the building with the deans residence. This was also the period when the porticoed central courtyard was built and the Renaissance-style decorations, which tie in with the flamboyant Gothic style of the original building, completed.

A staircase leads to the upper terrace, a balcony in the purest Romeo and Juliet style. At the back of the Casa de lArdiaca is a wall underpinning part of the ancient Roman wall of Barcelona. One side of this wall is attached to a section of a replica of the aqueduct which stood at the gateway to the city.

the upper terrace

The lovely courtyard here is centered on a fountain, and on the day of Corpus Christi in June the fountain impressively supports l'ou com balla, or "the dancing egg," a Barcelona tradition. Eggs are placed atop numerous jets of water as part of the celebration.

The marble letter box by the front entrance was designed in 1895 by Lluis Domnech i Montaner

In 1895, the Lawyers Association, the Collegi dAdvocats, set up its premises in the building and commissioned the architect Llus Domnech i Montaner to design a letter box. The modernista elements which it is composed of are deeply symbolic: the three swallows guarantee the freedom of justice, whereas bureaucratic procedures, symbolised by the tortoise, represent the obstacles that hinder legal matters. The Casa de lArdiaca has been the home of Barcelonas Municipal Archive since 1921.

Text: InternetPictures: Internet & Daniela IacobCopyrights of the photos belong to each photographerPresentation: Sanda Foioreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasandaSound: Canco del Lladre - Catalan Folksongs - Miguel Llobet

*Carrer de la Merc 14, Lion Head Door Knocker

*

*

*

**Carrer de la Merc 14, Lion Head Door Knocker