This was my third trip to Barcelona. Having already seen the major Gaudi works in the city, I picked out a few attractions in the Montjuic Park area for our one day stopover from the cruise.
Every inch of Montjuic Park has been superbly designed and form a delightful network of gardens, museums, grand vistas, with elegant buildings and water features located every few steps. It is a sumptuous feast for leisurely strolls. We started from Joan Miro foundation at the upper part of the park, showcasing the legacy of another great Spanish modern painter - Joan Miro. This is an elegant example of modern architecture harmoniously integrated with its beautiful setting.
From here we strolled along the garden paths of the park, arriving at the MNAC (National Art Museum of Catalonia), a giant palatial neo-classical building with seven high points, four of which are towers resembling Moorish minarets of Andalucia, the three others taking the classical round dome style of the Pantheon of Paris. This mixture of architectural styles is very Barcelona. The front of this building has a giant waterfall cascade that flows down several levels, its scale and the powerful visual impact is almost like Versailles. This large amount of water eventually ends up in the Magic Fountain, a spectacular light show fountain that unfortunately was under repair.
We strolled to the "Spanish Village" nearby, a theme park that showcases the regional architecture and handicrafts of each region of Spain. One gets the impression of the very diverse cultures that exist within Spain, Many unique stores here sell superb artworks made by traditional methods.
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