KACHEN #16 (Autumn 2018) English edition

© Bearfotos / Freepik
TEXT SUSANNE JASPERS
BARCELONA
Kachen on Tour with LuxairTours
Many cities have been immortalised in song. Catalonia's capital
city has a hymn of praise all its own, belted out by Freddy
Mercury and Montserrat Caballé in 1988 at the opera diva's
birthplace. This recording was dusted off once again for the 1992
Olympic Games. It's no wonder that this city has been so celebrated
– Barcelona has simply got it all. A terrific historic town centre,
harbour, beach and sea, streets pulsing with activity like the Passeig
de Gràcia and of course the legendary La Rambla. The most famous
of all is the Rambla de les Flors with its multitude of flower stands,
which exerts a magical power over tourists especially. A more
dignified experience can be had on the elegant Rambla Catalunya.
If your city stroll is interrupted by a downpour, you can pop into
one of the many cultural temples. The Museu Picasso in the city's
Old Town is a mecca for art lovers. Those who prefer more modern
works will enjoy the Fundació Antoni Tàpies – Tapiès is, after Joan
Miró, Barcelona's most important painter.
Miró naturally has his own museum as well, and you'll encounter
him at every turn. An enormous mosaic by the master welcomes
you in the arrivals hall at the airport. You can see even more works
in the spectacular Parc Joan Miró. Also essential to the Barcelona
skyline are the fantastical creations by the architect Antoni
Gaudí, who in 1926 fell beneath the wheels of a tram and died
from his injuries shortly afterwards. He had been on his way to a
construction site, which has remained unfinished to this day and
nevertheless has become one of the most important symbols of the
city: the Basilica Sagrada Família.
© Roman Kraft © Enes
© Michael Wilkin
134 | KACHEN | 3 / 2018