Barcelona’s Architectural Inspirations

When people think of the architecture of Barcelona, they think of the intricate and highly individual style of Antoni Gaudí. While Gaudí’s influence is prominently showcased throughout the city, other architects have made their mark as well.

Sagrada Familia (Holy or Sacred Family)

The most famous of Gaudí’s works is Sagrada Familia, the almost hypnotically beautiful Catholic church. Construction began in 1882, and the following year, Gaudí became involved. He fused the curvilinear Art Nouveau and stark Gothic styles to create a unique combination of elaborate towers, spires, and façades. The three entrances celebrate the virtues of Hope, Faith, and Love.

Courtesy of barcelonatraveller.info

Shaped like a Latin cross, the interior has five aisles, with roof pillars that resemble branched trees. Stone caricatures tell the story of Christianity inside and out, and as in all his works, Gaudí included elements of nature throughout the building. Known as Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece, Sagrada Familia is set to be completed around 2026.

Palau del Baró de Quadras

Designed by Josep Puig in 1904, this architectural marvel was built in the Modernist style and houses Casa Asia today. Its main façade combines Gothic and Plateresque styles, and features ornate sculptures of flowers, garlands, and busts by the famed sculptor Eusebi Arnau. Gargoyles appear frequently, and one corner depicts St. George fighting with a dragon. Some visitors have remarked that the façade appears to be made of lace.

Four Gothic style windows adorn the second floor, the third floor has a long row of arches, and the fourth floor’s mansard roof has gables and glazed ceramics to catch interest.

Barcelona Cathedral (Cathedral of Santa Eulalia)

Courtesy of Catedral de Barcelona.org

Constructed from 1298–1448, this Gothic cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona. The cathedral was built over the crypt of the former chapel of St. James, the church of the Viscounts of Barcelona. The ornate roof fascinates visitors because it features not only the typical gargoyles but also a variety of domestic and mythical animals.

The interior is divided into five aisles, with chapels at the outer two aisles. A side chapel is dedicated to Christ of Lepanto and contains an ornate cross from a ship that fought at the Battle of Lepanto. Coats-of-arms of the knights of the Order of the Golden Fleece decorate the choir stalls.

Barcelona Cathedral is dedicated to Eulalia of Barcelona, a young girl who was martyred during the Roman era. She was put into a barrel, which was then stuck with knives and rolled down a street. The cathedral’s crypt holds Eulalia’s body. The cloister houses thirteen white geese to commemorate the fact that Eulalia was 13 years old when she was martyred.

We’ve covered only three of the many architectural treasures of Barcelona. Have you seen any others, and which aspects of the architecture did you enjoy most? 

The Grapes of Spain: Touring the Ribera del Duero Wine Region

With over 250 wineries, the rural Ribera del Duero in central Spain is one of the world’s celebrated wine regions. Specializing in fragrant, robust Tinto Fino red wines, Ribera del Duero lies north of Madrid along the Duero River and is home to the Tempranillo grape.

Unlike the Napa Valley or other temperate wine regions, Ribera del Duero’s weather ranges from harsh winters to warm summers. With these temperature extremes, high altitude, and limestone soil, the region creates red wines as brazen and unique as the land that grows the grapes.

The region has been making wine since the Roman era, but the world did not discover Ribera del Duero until the late 20^th Century. The main wine of the region is the bold, intense Tinto Fino, but Ribera del Duero also produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, and Malbec. Winemakers delight in blending their reds, and you can expect any Ribera del Duero wine to have strong fruit flavors and distinct woody notes. To complement these aromatic reds, you’ll find the simple, delicious cuisine you would expect in a rural region, such as rich cheeses, stews, and roast lamb.

When you visit the wineries of Ribera del Duero, you’ll enjoy the architecture and history of the area. The region straddles four historic Spanish provinces: Valladolid, Soria, Segovia, and Burgos, and you’ll see castles, Roman ruins, and medieval churches as you journey through the vineyards and the charming villages that surround them.

The region’s most famous winery is the Vega Sicilia, which was founded in 1864 and makes the complex aged Unico wine. The small, family-owned Emilio Moro winery has also been making wine for over 100 years. Other exclusive wineries to look out for include Aalto, Hacienda Monasterio, and Viña Sastre. Alejandro Fernández makes the renowned Tinto Pesquero, and the winery at Pingus is said to resemble a pink flying saucer.

Abadia Retuerta is a fascinating confluence of history and contemporary winemaking. The winery was established in 1996, and a spectacular 12^th Century monastery sits on the property. The monastery was founded in 1145 by the daughter of the Lord of Valladolid, and wine tasting takes place in the monks’ dining quarters.

Red wine lovers could not find a more enchanting region, with more multi-dimensional wine, than Ribera del Duero. With its stunning architecture, lovely villages, and hearty cuisine, the region is the perfect getaway for the wine connoisseur.

Have you ever been wine tasting in Spain?

Spotlight on Luxury Travel Provider: Marbella Club Hotel

As a part of our Spotlight on Luxury Travel Providers series, we had the sheer pleasure of interviewing Carlos Quereda, director of sales and marketing at the Marbella Club Hotel, on the experience travelers receive when they visit the acclaimed Marbella Club Hotel. Located on the glistening shores of Spain, this hotel is one of Europe’s most enchanting destinations. 

See below for the interview:

1. How does the Marbella Club Hotel stand apart from other luxury hotels in Spain?

The Marbella Club Hotel, located in a natural paradise on the shores of the Mediterranean, in the heart of the Golden Mile and only five minutes from Old Town Marbella and the world famous Puerto Banús, enjoys 325 days of sunshine. Open year round, the renowned hotel, one of the “The Leading Small Hotels of the World,” was once the private residence of Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe. Since opening its doors over half a century ago, the hotel has been regarded as the European playground for the international jet-set: aristocrats, stars of the entertainment industry, and business and political leaders from all over the world. 

Count Rudi, who was the general manager when the hotel first opened is still there greeting guests and VIPs as they arrive. Everyone from the Duke of Windsor to Elizabeth Taylor to the Rolling Stones to Britney Spears and the Beckhams have stayed there. They have a saying at the hotel “No glossy past outshines the present. Here the good old days are what’s happening.” And it is so true. 

The beachfront retreat has it all—121 luxury bedrooms and suites and 14 Andalusian-style villas throughout 42,000 square metres of lush subtropical gardens, golf, riding, tennis, fitness, world-class restaurants, stunning beach and pools and accommodation to suit the needs of any entourage, family or couple (as well as private 2 – 5 bedroom Villas with private gardens and pools). 

In 1968, a Town & Country article is quoted as saying ‘The Marbella people have come up with a new set of rules to live by. Daytime, no matter how sunny and dazzling, gets the short end of the stick; after dark is when all the sensible folk come out to shine.” And they still live by this sentiment today—days are spent at the beach or beach club, a late afternoon siesta is followed by dinner at midnight and then a dance club until dawn. The Marbella Club and later Puente Romano opened some of the first discotheques in the region. 

Voted “Best Beach Hotel of Europe” by the members of the American Express Platinum & Centurion Card, the Marbella Club Hotel offers a wealth of experiences and activities. It is the ideal destination for male trips and female getaways, site-seeing excursions, romantic getaways, sport and golf vacations, family holidays, and rejuvenation and spa trips.

The Marbella Club Hotel offers a wide variety of restaurants, bars and cafés, a beach club surrounded by palm trees and lush gardens, private golf club, riding stables, tennis courts, state-of-the-art fitness facility, children’s club, and the exquisite Thalasso Spa.   

2. The Marbella Club Hotel is located in the center of “the Golden Mile,” on the southern coast of Spain. Tell us a little bit about this area and how guests benefit from the hotel’s location. 

What is known as Marbella’s Golden Mile begins at the western edge of Marbella city and stretches to Puerto Banus. The area is exclusive and home to some of the area’s most impressive villas and estates.

The Golden Mile is divided into two parts by a motorway that runs through it. Along the motorway are strings of business centres, five-star hotels, a golf course, and other services. The beachside of the motorway is fully developed, while the mountainside is still undergoing development. Investment opportunities in this area include spectacular views of mountain and sea.

Urbanizations in the area’s seaside are Alhambra del Mar, La Alcazaba, Las Torres, Los Verdiales, Marbellamar, Marina Marbella, Oasis, Rio Verde and Santa Margarita.

On the mountainside  of the motorway, the following urbanizations are currently developing: Sierra Blanca, Nagüeles, Cascada de Camoján, Jardines Colgantes, Marbella Hill Club, El Venero, El Batatal, La Capellania, La Virginia, Carolina, El Vicario, Altos de Salamanca, Casas del Señorio de Marbella, Coto Real, Ancon Sierra.

3. The golf course at Marbella Club Hotel is absolutely stunning! What makes this golf course unique compared to other golf courses found throughout Europe?

With its magnificent 18-hole golf course, designed by Dave Thomas, and its superbly equipped riding stables, the Golf Resort and Riding Stables of the Marbella Club Hotel are a haven where enthusiasts, riding fans, and nature lovers can enjoy their favorite pastimes. It is also an ideal spot for lovely walks among the hills and for taking in the spectacular views of the Sierra, Gibraltar, the North African coastline, and the Mediterranean.

 Seasonal watersports are available on the beach, as well as the Puente Romano Tennis & Fitness, located at sister hotel Puente Romano (only a 5 – 10 minute beach walk away), which includes 10 tennis and four paddle courts and a state-of-the art Fitness Centre with a selection of aerobic courses, saunas, and steam baths.

4. Describe the hotel’s Thalasso Spa. Specifically, what type of experience can visitors expect and what are the spa’s most popular signature treatments?

The Thalasso Spa is, without a doubt, one of the best spas to be found in a major European destination. Located on the beach with the Mediterranean at its doorstep, the spa is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a dynamic indoor seawater pool, hammams (Turkish baths), saunas, a relaxation room, and 12 treatment rooms. Guests can also enjoy the heated outdoor pools and the renowned Puente Romano Tennis & Fitness club.  

5. Is there anything else you would like to add?

The culinary offerings at the Marbella Club Hotel are simply spectacular. The famous Beach Club buffet, the romantic Grill, the avant garde MC Café, the brand new MC Beach and the delightful Pool Bar and, of course, the Golf Resort Club House restaurant, all offer delicious dishes and the exquisite service that characterizes the hotel.

Truly a place of magic, almost anything imaginable is possible when it comes to romance and events at the Marbella Club Hotel. In the past, wedding guests, honeymooners, and loving couples have been dazzled by fireworks, entertained by performers such as Julio Iglesias, privately dined on the shores of the Mediterranean, rode horseback through the mountains or along the shores on a private yacht, and even danced on a glass dance floor suspended over the pool.

About the Marbella Club Hotel:

Marbella Club Hotel has come to be recognized the world over as one of the most prestigious establishments in the hotel world. And the Prince’s vision has become reality with the Marbella Club Hotel Golf Resort & Spa that we know today, included as it is amongst the “Leading Small Hotels of the World.”

Connect with the Marbella Club Hotel:

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/marbellaclub

Website http://www.marbellaclub.com/welcome.html