Barcelona: Like a jewel in the sun

MANILA, Philippines - Barcelona, situated on the northeastern part of Spain, is one place I have visited often because of family and friends, yet I keep discovering compelling reasons to come back again and again.

Growing up, I had the perception that the prolific genius Antoni Gaudi was Barcelona, and that Barcelona was Gaudi. On previous visits, I explored his massive edifices, like the residential-esque Casa Vicens, the almost sculpture-like La Pedrera, the garden complex of Park Guell and the intriguing Basilica de la Sagrada Familia.

Though Gaudi’s style, influence and clout have spread far and wide, I finally realized that there is more to Barcelona than just its most iconic visionary.

But just before I could truly escape his clutches, I walked into the Museu Diocesa, which contained a wealth of information on the enigmatic man, allowing me a sneak peek into his revolutionary ideas. I was in awe at the thorough documentation of his life and philosophy, as well as his architectural plans and models. But the crowning highlight was the virtual reality experience, where I could be transported to meet the man himself.

There is no escaping the imposing shadow cast by the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, a sky-piercing place of worship, designed by Gaudi himself – there goes the gentlemen once again. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is an on-going construction – started in 1882, it is expected to be completed by 2028! There are whispers that this structure will be the tallest spiritual sanctuary in the world.

The façade, which depicts three different masterfully detailed scenes from the Bible, never fails to amaze – and that’s just for starters. Indoors, five aisles flanked by geometrically shaped pillars lead to the brightly-illuminated Grand Altar. In addition, visitors may access the naves and crypts, plus the towers via a spiral staircase.

Continuing our cookie-cutter tour of Barcelona, we visited the Picasso Museum, cited by surveys as the most popular showroom in town, boasting the most complete collection of masterpieces by the renowned artist. Spanning a total of five large town houses, it hosts a plethora of materials and stimuli that figured throughout the formative years of Pablo Picasso, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the 20th century. Among the must-see works are The First Communion, which depicts his sister, as well as Science and Charity, which he painted when he was only 15 years old.

For this particular vacation, Qatar Airways was our choice airline. The in-flight safety video featured their endorsers, none other than the FC Barcelona football team. This prompted us to include their museum in our well-curated, now-revised itinerary.

The museum contained a wide selection of photographs, videos, clippings and trophies of the team on a touch-screen glass panel, while another proudly displays all the memorabilia that the club has amassed throughout the years of success, and nostalgia-filled items such as balls, the shoes and jerseys of the athletes.

A shop had jerseys in different sizes of the various members and replicas of signed footballs – keepsakes all for sale. As we exited, we noticed the sculpture of Ladislav Kubala Stecz, Hungarian by birth, who was hailed as the best player to have ever been part of the league. When he retired, the striker became a revered coach of FC Barcelona, Spain’s national and Olympic teams.

Then we decided to take the short, yet albeit enjoyable stroll through everybody’s favorite Las Ramblas, a kilometer-long pedestrian strip lined with trees which plays host to stalls, kiosks and cafes manned by enthusiastic staff and a number of talented entertainers, alongside enterprising individuals who promoted their very own merchandise.

Massive religious structures flank the street, such as the Iglesia de Betlem, the Catedrale de Santa Eulalia and the Monasterio de Sant Pau del Camp.

What caught my attention next was a building with an imprint of Tabacos de Filipinas. Curious, we entered the Hotel 1898, which was apparently built on the once headquarters of the General Philippines Tobacco Company.

The posh lobby featured sepia photographs of distinctly Filipino houses and roads from decades past, while the gracious hoteliers, after learning we were from las islas Filipinas, clued us in on the rich and not-so-widespread history behind it.

Situated in the heart of Barcelona, the structure was erected in 1881, designed by Catalan architect Josep Oriol Mestres, as the private residence of the Marquis de Comillas, belonging to the López y López family, known for their influence in the business and shipping industry. A bust of Don Claudio López i Bru remains in the hall today.

The emblem of a building was remodeled by the General Philippines Tobacco Company, and then reinvented to the commercial structure that it is today, under the leadership of Núñez i Navarro, a prolific hotelier, officially opening its doors to the public in 2005. Fan fact: its name was derived from the year that Cuba and the Philippines, the last two Spanish colonies, declared their respective independence.

The unique framework enabled the coal bunker to be converted into a relaxing spa, featuring an indoor pool with hydromassage, a dry sauna and a steam bath.

At its Terrace La Isabela, borrowing its name from largest province of Luzon, a panoramic vista of the land, coupled with a sweeping view of the Barcelona skyline, may be experienced at any time of the day.

Throughout our stay, we did not have a meal we did not like. One was at the El Quim de la Boqueria at the mercat, with an extensive menu, of which every item is a guaranteed gastronomic delight.

On our last day, we made one last paseo through the animated Boqueria, to take home some pasalubongs and choice ingredients, with hopes of whipping up dishes similar to what we’ve savored, to remind us of all the good memories we have of Barcelona.