viernes, 29 de abril de 2016

BARCELONA AIRPORT CONNECTIONS

The Barcelona Airport, known as El Prat, is located 15 kilometres aprox. south of the city. It has two Terminals: T1, the larger and newer one, and T2. Next you have the connections between Barcelona and the airport and back.



Zara store
Zara store in Barcelona Airport Terminal 1


If you aren't in a hurry and you didn't have to go to the Barcelona city centre, I recommend the 46 Bus (TMB). This bus is cheaper and Plaça d'Espanya is well connected with most places of Barcelona.




A shop in Barcelona Airport Terminal 1Another shop in Barcelona Airport Terminal 1

- Metro L9 (TMB)



  • Stops T1 or T2.
  • Single ticket price for the airport T1 y T2: 4,5€ (2016). This ticket is needed to reach or leave from the airport stations.


Barcelona Airport Connections
Barcelona Airport Connections


- Bus (TMB)


  • The 46 bus runs from Pl. d’Espanya to Barcelona Airport (T1 and T2) every 30 minutes aprox.
  • Single ticket price: 2,15 € (integrated fare)(2016).
  • from 4.50am to 23.50pm departures from Barcelona Airport.
  • from 4.50am to 23.50pm departures from Pl. d’Espanya.
  • Further information: www.tmb.cat.


Aerobus in BarcelonaThe Aerobus is probably the fastest way to arrive at Barcelona from the airport


- Aerobús (A1 and A2)



  • Daily service every 5-10 minutes between Plaça de Catalunya, Plaça d'Espanya and Barcelona Airport (T1 and T2).
  • Approximate journey time: 35 minutes.
  • Ticket price: 5,90 € (single); € 10,20 (return) (2016).

  • From 5am to 12.30am departures from Pl. de Catalunya.
  • From 5.35am to 01.05am departures from Barcelona Airport.
  • Web Site: www.aerobusbcn.com.


Barcelona Airport Terminal 1Another picture of the Barcelona Airport Terminal 1


- Train (RENFE)

  • Daily connections every 30 minutes with Barcelona Airport from the Renfe (Spanish Rail) Barcelona Sants Station.
  • Journey time: 20 minutes aprox. (from Barcelona Sants Station).
  • From 5.13am to 11.14pm departures from Barcelona Sants Station
  • From 5.42am to 11.38pm departures from Barcelona Airport.
  • Web Site: www.renfe.es.

- Night bus (NITBUS)

  • The N17 night bus runs every 20 minutes from Ronda Universitat / Pl. Catalunya to Barcelona Airport, stopping at Pl. d’Espanya.
  • From 09:55pm to 4.45am departures from Ronda Universitat.
  • From 11.00pm to 5:00am departures from Barcelona Airport T1.
  • From 11.10pm to 4.40am departures from Pl. d’Espanya
  • The N16 night bus runs every 20 minutes from Ronda Universitat / Pl. Catalunya to Castelldefels stopping at Barcelona Airport.
  • From 11:30pm to 5.10am departures from Ronda Universitat.
  • From 11.00pm to 4.40am departures from Castelldefels.

  • Single ticket price: 2,15 € (integrated fare)(2016).
  • Website: www.emt-amb.com.

Other Buses:

  • L99 from Castelldefels (Departures from Plaça de la Estació). Stops in Gavà and Viladecans. Single ticket price: 2,15 € (integrated fare)(2016).
  • L77 from Sant Jian Despí (Departures from Hospital Moisés Broggi). Stops in Cornellà, Sant Boi and El Prat. Single ticket price: 2,15 € (integrated fare)(2016).
  • PR-1 Shuttle Bus from T2 to T1 and back. Free ticket.

- By car
  • From the Avinguda Diagonal and the Ronda de Dalt the best way to get the Airport is the C-32 Barcelona-Sitges motorway.

- Further information in the Airport web site: www.aena.es


domingo, 17 de abril de 2016

BARCELONA: PARC DEL LABERINT


El Parc del Laberint d'Horta es uno de los jardines más bonitos y con más encanto de Barcelona. Sin embargo no recorrí sus senderos y me introduje en su laberinto hasta octubre del 2007. Tampoco había oído hablar de él mucho antes, posiblemente debido a que está situado en el extremo opuesto de Barcelona al que vivía y alejado del centro de la ciudad.



Parc del Laberint en Barcelona
Parc del Laberint d'Horta en Octubre del 2007, la  primera vez que entré en su laberinto


A pesar de lo bonito que me pareció no lo he vuelto a visitar hasta este año 2016, en que un soleado y caluroso domingo de abril decidimos ir a pasar la mañana.



Parc del Laberint en Barcelona
El laberinto hecho de cipreses da nombre a este bonito parque de Barcelona


Quizás lo que más me atrae de este parque es su ambiente tranquilo por estar alejado de las zonas más turísticas de la ciudad, aunque últimamente es visitado por más gente que, como yo, lo está descubriendo. Además de sus senderos íntimos y su conocido laberinto hecho con setos de ciprés, también me gusta mucho los elementos artísticos que salpican este parque, como:


  • Esculturas y relieves sobre mitología griega
  • Palacios y templetes de estilo neoclásico, neoárabe y neogótico
  • Jardines de estilo neoclásico y romántico
  • Cascada, fuentes y canal romántico



Las zonas del Parc del Laberint que recorrí en esta segunda visita fueron:


  • Palacio Desvalls
  • Jardín de los Bojes
  • Templete de Danae
  • Mirador o Belvedere
  • Gruta de Eco y Narciso
  • Laberinto y Estátua de Eros
  • Canal Romántico
  • Pabellón Neoclásico y Estanque
  • Fuente de la Ninfa Egeria
  • Templete de Ariadna
  • Jardín Romántico y Cascada




Palacio Desvalls



Palacio Desvalls en la entrada del Parc del Laberint
Fuente junto al Palacio Desvalls en la entrada del Parc del Laberint


Palacio Desvalls en la entrada del Parc del Laberint
El Palacio Desvalls está construido con elementos neoárabes y neogóticos


Jardín de los Bojes



Jardin de los Bojes en el Parc del Laberint de Barcelona
Jardín de los Bojes en el Parc del Laberint d'Horta



Desde el jardín de los Bojes salen los caminos que llevan a los templetes de Danae y Ariadna, al jardín doméstico y también al jardín romántico, que ocupa todo el flanco izquierdo del parque.




Templete de Danae




Templete de Danae
Templete de Danae




Escultura de Danae en el Parc del Laberint
Escultura de Danae en el Parc del Laberint



Mirador o belvedere del Parc del Laberint
Mirador o belvedere del Parc del Laberint d'Horta con el laberinto a la izquierda visto desde la zona del templete de Danae




Parc del Laberint
Laberinto hecho de setos de ciprés con una estátua de Eros en el centro




Mirador o Belvedere



Templete de Ariadna en el Parc del Laberint
Templete de Ariadna tras la escalinata del mirador del laberinto



Escalinata del belvedere en el Parc del Laberint
Escalinata del belvedere en el Parc del Laberint d'Horta


Gruta de Eco y Narciso



Gruta de Eco y Narciso
Gruta de Eco y Narciso a la salida del laberinto




Laberinto y Estátua de Eros


Estanque a la salida del laberinto
Estanque a la salida del laberinto visto desde el mirador o belvedere





Parc del Laberint
Laberinto desde el mirador o belvedere


Centro del Laberinto desde el mirador
Centro del Laberinto desde el mirador


Estatua de Eros en el Centro del Laberinto
Estátua de Eros en el Centro del Laberinto desde el mirador o belvedere


Estatua de Eros en el centro del laberinto
Estátua de Eros en el centro del laberinto



 Estatua de Eros en el Parc del Laberint
Estátua de Eros en el Parc del Laberint d'Horta con el templete de Danae en el fondo






Canal Romántico



Canal Romantico en el Parc del Laberint
Canal Romántico en el Parc del Laberint d'Horta



Pabellón Neoclásico y Estanque



Pabellon Neoclasico y Estanque

Pabellón de Carlos IV de estilo Neoclásico y estanque en la parte posterior




 Estatua sobre el Pabellon Neoclasico
Estátua sobre el Pabellón Neoclásico que representa a Apolo y las Musas vista desde el mirador del Parc del Laberint



Fuente de la Ninfa Egeria



Fuente de la Ninfa Egeria
Ninfa Egeria cuya fuente nutre el estanque del Pabellón de Carlos IV



Templete de Ariadna




Templete de Ariadna en el Parc del Laberint en Barcelona
Templete de Ariadna en el Parc del Laberint en Barcelona


Estatua de Ariadna en el Parc del Laberint
Estátua de Ariadna en el Parc del Laberint d'Horta




Mirador o Belvedere del Parc del Laberint en Barcelona
Mirador o Belvedere del Parc del Laberint con el templete de Danae al fondo




Parc del Laberint en Barcelona
Vista del laberinto desde la zona del Templete de Ariadna


Parc del Laberint en Barcelona
Una última vista del laberinto que da nombre a este parque de Barcelona antes de introducirnos en el jardín romántico del Parc del Laberint




Jardín Romántico y Cascada



Jardin romantico del Parc del Laberint

Caminos a través del jardín romántico del Parc del Laberint d'Horta




Cascada del Parc del Laberint
En la zona norte del jardín romántico se encuentra esta Cascada




Parc del Laberint en BarcelonaJardín romántico del Parc del Laberint d'Horta a la sombra de grandes árboles




A pesar de estar un poco alejado del centro de Barcelona, para mí vale mucho la pena acercarse a este parque. Está bien comunicado con transporte público y el laberinto es un fantastico lugar para niños.



Información Útil


- Dirección: Pg. dels Castanyers, 1

- Como llegar:
  • Metro L3, parada Mundet.
  • Bus 27, 60, 73 y 76.
- Website: www.bcn.cat/parcsijardins




Por supuesto, hay muchos otros fantásticos parques para disfrutar en Barcelona:



Finalmente, en el siguiente enlace podéis encontrar links a otros bonitos lugares de Barcelona, entre ellos, más parques y jardines de Barcelona.



sábado, 16 de abril de 2016

BARCELONA: PEDRALBES MONASTERY

One sunny sunday afternoon (free admission from 3pm) of this early spring we decided to visit again the Monestir de Pedralbes. The environment of this monastery, located in a well-off area of Barcelona, is really peaceful. This gothic monastery, one of the finest examples of Catalan Gothic architecture, is well preserved and its cloister is really large and beautiful.

The monastery of Pedralbes was originally surrounded by a wall. However only two towers and two gates that gave access to the monastery are preserved.




Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona
On the left the apse of the church of Pedralbes Monastery and its bell tower appear and, on the right, a building belonging to the Conventet 


Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona
This street, called Baixada del Monestir, belonged to Pedralbes Monastery, so this door was its former entrance


Bell Tower of the Pedralbes Monastery
The bell tower of the Pedralbes Monastery from its main entrance


Bell Tower of the Pedralbes Monastery
A closer view of the Monastery of Pedralbes from one of its former gates


Baixada del Monestir street in Barcelona
Baixada del Monestir street in Barcelona


Church of Pedralbes Monastery
Gothic window, buttress and the top of the bell tower of the church of the Pedralbes Monastery



Pedralbes Monastery Church



Bell Tower of the Pedralbes Monastery gothic churchBell Tower of the gothic church of Pedralbes Monastery from Plaça del Monestir (Monestir Square)



Bell tower and doorway of the church of the Monastery of Pedralbes
Bell tower and doorway of the church of the Monastery of Pedralbes




Gothic archivolts of Pedralbes monastery
Main entrance to the church of Pedralbes Monastery, where you can see the gothic archivolts



Gothic church of Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona
Inside the gothic church of Pedralbes Monastery


Gothic church of Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona
Stained glass window inside the gothic church of Pedralbes Monastery





Pedralbes Monastery Cloister



Gothic cloister of Pedralbes Monastery

This cloister of Pedralbes Monastery has three floors. I haven't ever seen this kind of cloister with so many floors





Inside the cloister of Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona
 Inside the cloister of Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona


 Gothic cloister and bell tower of Pedralbes Monastery
 Gothic cloister and bell tower of Pedralbes Monastery


Orange trees inside the cloister of Pedralbes Monastery
  Orange trees inside the cloister of Pedralbes Monastery


Gothic cloister of Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona
A closer picture of the gothic cloister of Pedralbes Monastery with its gothic archs in the foreground



Gothic cloister of Pedralbes Monastery in BarcelonaThis cloister of Pedralbes Monastery surprises me because of its hugeness. It's bigger than the other cloisters I had visited before



In Baixada del Monestir Street there are the buildings that belonged to the walled monastery, like the Conventet. 



Monastery of Pedralbes and Conventet
Baixada del Monestir Street in Barcelona. The Monastery of Pedralbes is on the left and the Conventet on the right



Conventet de Pedralbes



In the corner of Baixada del Monestir Street and the Monastery square is the building known as the Conventet, which currently remains outside the monastery.


Conventet of Pedralbes in Barcelona
Romanesque door to the garden of willows in Conventet of Pedralbes in Barcelona


It was built in 1329 to accommodate the community of friars who took care of the spiritual care of the nuns of the monastery. It is a simple building with a small cloister, which is the only original element preserved.



Conventet of Pedralbes in Barcelona
The Romanesque elements of El Conventet (windows, doors and the upper gallery) come from the collegiate of Sta. Maria de Besalú in Girona



It was reformed in 1919 by the architect Enric Sagnier incorporating elements from the former Romanesque church of Santa Maria de Besalú. Nowadays the Conventet is a private property, belonging to Gòdia family.



Conventet
In the Conventet in Pedralbes, the architect Enric Sagnier adapted some old constructions next to the Pedralbes monastery


Conventet de Pedralbes
Besides Saugnier enhanced the modest facade with items brought from a great Romanesque building, the collegiate church of Santa Maria in Besalú (Girona)


Conventet de Pedralbes
Another view of the romanesque elements (upper gallery, windows and doorway) of The Conventet of Pedralbes




Conventet of Pedralbes in Baixada del Monestir
Conventet of Pedralbes in Baixada del Monestir Street



Houses beside Pedralbes Monastery
Some of the houses downhill from the monastery, facing the Conventet between the entrance and the lower gate of the wall, were a bakery or a butcher



Plaça del Monestir de Pedralbes



Plaça del Monestir de Pedralbes
Courtyard of a house next to Plaça del Monestir de Pedralbes


Plaça del Monestir de Pedralbes
Nice corner beside Plaça del Monestir in Pedralbes





Montserrat Abbey is another interesting visit to do near Barcelona (it's located 60 km away from Barcelona), especially if you like religious buildings. I also recommend visiting other beautiful monasteries in Catalunya, like:





Besides if you like gothic architecture, you would be interested in visiting the following religious buildings in Barcelona:




- Useful information:
  • Address: Baixada del Monestir, 9 (08034 Barcelona)
  • How to get there: Metro L6 - Reina Elisenda Stop. Bus 22, 63, 64, 75 and 78 and Barcelona Bus Turístic, Blue Route, stop Monestir de Pedralbes.
  • Web sitehttp://monestirpedralbes.bcn.cat/

- Opening time:
  • From 1st October to 31th March: Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 2pm. Saturday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
  • From 1st April to 30th September: Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 5pm. Saturday from 10am to 7pm. Sunday from 10am to 8pm
  • January 1st, May 1st, Good Friday, June 24th and December 25th closed.

- Clicking on the next link, a Pedralbes Monastery location map
.



Finally, clicking on the next link you will find links to more beautiful and interesting places of Barcelona, among them, the Gothic Quarter.