A journey through centuries on Barcelona’s legendary city streets.

While Catalonia travel destination is as hot in Europe as the Spanish sun, one cannot but agree that Catalonia, with Barcelona shining bright, holds a special vibe. 

We already wrote about the legendary places in Barcelona you must visit – the Bar Marsella, Biblioteca de Catalunya and The Carretera de Les Aigües are all must-visits. But what is the story behind the history of Sagrada Familia and Bunker del Carmel?

Sagrada Familia

While Sagrada Familia is not necessarily the oldest, it is surely one of the most famous and legendary spots where the world-famous architect Antonio Gaudi intervenes with the centuries-old Spanish art, still in progress after more than 135 years. 

The beginnings of the Temple of the Sagrada Familia date back to 1866, when Josep Maria Bocabella i Verdaguer, a founder of religious association, started to campaign for a temple to the Holy Family. In 1881, the association purchased land, and just a year later, the first cornerstone was laid, kicking off the construction with neo-Gothic design. The first project, however, was designed by  Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano, and only after a while, the project was given to Antonio Gaudi.

So, what is so special about the temple? First, Gaudi dedicated his all final years for. Not only he worked exclusively for the Expiatory Temple day and night from 1914, he also lived very next to his workshop in his final months. 9 years later, he came up with the final design for the naves and roofs, and in 1925, the first bell tower was constructed – the only one Gaudo would see in his lifetime. You can still see it on Nativity facade. Dedicated to Siant Barnabas. After getting hit by a tram, he was buried right in the Sagrada Familia, in the chapel of Our Lady of Carmel.

But why the Temple is still a work under progress? Legendary architect’ s death is not the only reason. In fact, Sagrada Familia falls somewhere in between other major European churches – after all, Notre Dame in Paris took 182 years, the old Saint Paul’s in London took 200 years, Reims went through different stages spanning 264 years and Cologne took 600 years… that said, it is fairly decent progress with Sagrada Familia, taken into account the donations.
That leads to the factor of the grinding poverty in the country after WWII and well into the 60s, which seriously impacted donations, no matter how pious Franco’s regime claimed to be.

As for the original maquette destruction in the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939, when anarchists went on an anti-church rampage, it may surely add to the reasons why their work is still under construction. 

Bunker del Carmel

As for Bunker del Carmel, El Turó de la Rovira, or simply The Bunker, there is a history to the legendary place here as well.

When climbing the spot, the terracotta rooftops stretching out from right to left, BCN city is seemingly infinite, just to end with the coastline. From here, you can see the Sagrada Familia, the Palace of Montjuic and numerous surrounding mountains. 

Then what makes the legend?

The place has been occupied throughout centuries, but only recently by tourists. During the 30s Civil War, the Bunker was used to defend the city from aerial attacks, and thereafter was adapted for slam housing, which was only disbanded in the 1990s with the arrival of the Olympics. 

Today, you can see much less of the old-age stone walls than the recent concrete military build, but still, the place has one of the most magnificent views to the city.

Before you take off to the Bunker del Caramel by the Yellow Line 4 till Alfons X, make sure to pack a couple of bottles of cava or a few Estrellas and a bunch of snacks, but mind that there are no absolutely any facilities. No visitor centre, no shop, no toilet. And as a bonus – ad consequence – no crowds wit families as in Sagrada Familia.

Maze of Parc del Laberint d’Horta

The park is one of the most different from any other attraction you may face in Barcelona. 

Although a little tricky to get to, the park is one of the best non-touristic things to do in Barcelona. You can wander the greenery of the formerly private park. Since 1971 when the park was opened to the public, the park has been carefully restored and protected. With both neoclassical and romantic part of the garden, you can follow the history of garden architecture in Europe whilst visiting the park.

What clearly distinguishes the park from all others is the numerous sculptures with motives of Greek mythology and folklore, as well as fountains, springs, and pools. The pavilions of the intermediate terrace were chosen by poet Joan Maragall to represent classic plays, and in 1898 the tragedy Iphigenia in Tauris by Goethe, translated by Maragall and directed by Adrià Gual, was first played here.

The name of the park comes from the lower terrace with the hedge maze that gives the park its name, made up of 750 metres of trimmed cypress trees. At the entrance of the labyrinth, there is a marble bas-relief depicting Ariadne and Theseus. 

Having a capacity of 750 people at a time, you will not feel like in a crowded tourist place while here. 

The Cat of Raval

The legendary Cat of Raval will bring you luck, as you brush the chubby cat. And who doesn’t want good luck?

El Gato de Ravel isn’t the only artwork sculpture in Barcelona, and you can see Terminal 2 of Barcelona El Prat airport to see Botero’s oddly shaped horse.

Old Street Art of La Carbonería

The street has a special aura not only because of the artistic drawings on what previously was a coal factory.

During 2008 – 2014, the building was a significant part of the Barcelona Okupa Movement. Over the years, anti-capitalists have occupied many empty buildings to protest to their rights, but the squatters were eventually made to leave La Cabonería by the police in 2014.

While the building was once thought to be brought down to make space for new buildings, the city council protected it as a site of historic and artistic interest instead.

Hospital Torax de Terrassa

If there is any place you would like to explore only by day, it is Hospital Thorax. Set in the suburban Barcelona, it was once a hospital opened next to a pine forest in the 1950s and housed patients with respiratory diseases, at least officially.

The rumours are not as bright, though. During its operation, it had the highest suicide rate of any institution in Spain. The story goes, patients were driven mad by struggling to breathe and the isolation they felt near the forest. The garden is now nicknamed ‘The Jungle’, as it was a common combination to jump off the balcony into the garden. Want it to get greeny – darkish? Listen well and you may hear the sounds of screaming and loud thuds to that of primal jungle noises.

While “The Jungle” sounds more like a rumour than truth, what may very well be true are the inhumane experiments. Claimed true after a patient obtaining a foetus in a jar from the 5th floor of the Hospital de Torax, the place was eventually abandoned by 1997 and has received a lot of attention from ghost hunters ever since.

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