Monday April 14th, Barcelona

Palau de la Musica Catalana (photo courtesy Wikipedia)

This was our last full day in Barcelona and we still had a couple of major sites we wanted to get to.  One was a music museum and the other a hospital, both designed by the same architect,  Lluís Domènech i Montaner, both beautiful in their own way, and both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Palau de la Musica Catalana

Built between 1905 – 1908, this Art Nouveau building was constructed as a home for the local Catalan choir, Orfeó Català.  The concert auditorium has a large organ taking center stage, but the highlight of the room is the huge, brilliantly colored glass skylight.

Skylight in golds and blues representing the sun and the sky

Colorful tiles, multiple roses, and patterns resembling a peacocks fanned tail decorate the ceiling

The “muses” on either side of the stage, each playing a different musical instrument

And at the end of the tour a much-needed cappuccino, with the appropriate clef note musical symbol adornment on top.

A cappuccino and a slice of carrot cake

Hospital de Sant Pau

Built over three decades from 1901 – 1930, this hospital was in full operation until June 2009.  Currently it is being restored for use as a museum and a cultural center.  

Facing the ocean, the front part of the hospital received fresh on-shore breezes.  Patients were segregated, with one side for men and the other side for women.  Open air gardens were throughout the complex to provide a nice ambiance to aid in patient healing.

“…it was essential to be able to give sick people a feeling of well-being and beauty, which would most certainly contribute to an early convalescence, as according to him beauty has therapeutic value.” ~ whc.unesco.org

GRATITUDE MOMENT:  Today I am grateful that my pants are fitting a little looser.  I think all this walking is good for me.