Spanish Diaries: Barcelona, Madrid, Montserrat, Zaragoza, Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela and Loyola

Among the countries that I’ve visited in Europe, Spain has the richest character for me. One place can be so cosmopolitan, and the next, old-fashioned and quaint.   Here are some highlights of our tour in Spain.

Barcelona
Sagrada Familia is probably the most famous landmark of Barcelona.  It's a marvel of a design. I was just in awe. I don't know how many wows I said while staring at it. 😆

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia's architect, Antoni Gaudi, is one of the most celebrated modernists. He is popular for defying design rulebooks as he mirrored curves and mixed nature, astronomy and religion. 

Gaudi began work for Sagrada Familia in 1882 and spent over 40 years of his life working on it until his accidental death in 1926 (when he was ran over by a train).  😢

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

Two other architects have continued his work since then and the church is expected to be completed in 20 to 30 years’ time. Such a long time! Not sure if I'll ever see Sagrada Familia complete in my lifetime. 😅

Inside Sagrada Familia

Another must-see for Gaudi fans is Park Guell.  Park Guell is Gaudi’s 1st major architectural project. 

Park Guell

Gaudi was commissioned by Count Guell to build a garden village but when it was completed, no one wanted to live in it because it was up a hill and was considered far from the city. 

Park Guell

But looking back, it’s also a good thing that no one opted to live there because otherwise, it wouldn’t be open to the public now.  :)  Here are the beautiful structures you'll see inside Park Guell.

Park Guell

Park Guell

This concrete bench is ergonomic!  

Back rest of the concrete bench - beautiful mosaic. 

At Park Guell, there are Hansel & Gretel-inspired houses.  No kidding!  Gaudi was inspired by the Hansel and Gretel story according to our tour guide. I think the houses were supposed to be the guard and caretaker houses of the village but now, they are used as the information office and souvenir shop respectively.  

Hansel & Gretel-inspired houses by Gaudi

Around Barcelona, we also passed by another building designed by Gaudi called Casa Batllo. It was built in 1877 by Gaudi.

Casa Batllo

Las Rambla. It’s the shopping district of Barcelona. 

Las Rambla

Las Rambla

We only had 1 hour to go around so I just bought some pasalubong and then decided to watch a band playing blues just outside Il Cortes Ingles (Spain’s version of SM).

Las Rambla

Montserrat
This has to be one of the most breathtaking landscapes I've ever seen. 

Montserrat

Montserrat

Monasteries and churches are perched atop the mountain against beautiful rock formations. 

Montserrat

Montserrat

The monastery is 750m above sea level and the topmost peak is approximately 1,027m above sea level.

Montserrat

We took a bus to go up the monastery but there's also a rail going up. 

Rail that goes up to the Montserrat Monastery

The church at Montserrat houses the Black Madonna, Catalonia’s patroness.

Black Madonna

Montserrat Church which houses the Black Madonna

Zaragoza
On our way to Madrid, we stopped over at the Basilica of Nuestra Senora del Pilar (Our Lady of Pillar, Spain’s patroness). This church is also Spain’s biggest basilica.

Basilica of Nuestra Senora del Pilar

Basilica of Nuestra Senora del Pilar

Nuestra Senora del Pilar, Spain's patroness.

Right outside the basilica, you can also explore the beautiful square. 

Outside the Basilica of the Nuestra Senora del Pilar

Outside the Basilica of Nuestra Senora del Pilar

Madrid
Among the cities we visited in Spain, Madrid is the least that we were able to explore because we had the city tour in the evening upon arrival (and aboard the bus! Waaa...). If we didn’t have dinner and spent the night there, I couldn’t even say that I’ve set foot in Madrid! 😂

Madrid

Madrid

Madrid

Madrid

Salamanca 
Salamanca is an old town with well-preserved architecture.  It's a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Salamanca

Salamanca Market

Salamanca

Salamanca

Santiago de Compostela
Similar to Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela is also an old town - another UNESCO World Heritage site. The place is also referred by Paulo Coelho as the road to Santiago.  I super love the place that I'll do a separate blog on it.

Santiago de Compostela

Loyola
We also visited the Sanctuary of Loyola. Built around the 17th and 18th centuries, it was designed by Fontana (a disciple of Bernini) and patterned to look like a mini-Vatican.

Sanctuary of Loyola

Sanctuary of Loyola

Next to the church is the Holy Home of St. Ignatius of Loyola.  

Here's the room of St. Ignatius – now the Chapel of Conversion. This is where St. Ignatius went through surgery and was near death. He also spent time reading his religious books here which greatly influenced his conversion.

Chapel of Conversion

So many interesting and beautiful places in Spain, right? That's why if you'll ask me to force rank all the countries we visited, Spain is definitely in my top 3 out of the 7. Still can't decide though if it's 1, 2 or 3. 😅

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This trip is part of my 20-day, 7-country Best of Europe adventure. Budget requirement is approximately USD3,500 (including airfare, accommodation, land arrangement and travel taxes).