THE ARENA
The Arena was a former Barcelona bullfighting ring, which has been transformed to a fabulous shopping mall. The Beatles even performed at the bullfighting ring in 1966!!!
The last bullfight took place here on June 9, 1977.
The entire facade has been raised one level, and a new roof top cupola with an open terrace has been added.
From bullfighting to shopping--amazing! Built in 1900, there was room for 16,000 bullfighting fans.
The Arena has beautiful shops, restaurants and cinemas!
Opening day for the mall was in March 2011.
The top addition features a 360 degree roof-top skywalk terrace with panoramic view of the city.
PLACA DeESPANYA
Laura and I are looking down from the skywalk to one of Barcelona's most important squares created for the 1929 World Exhibition.
A wide avenue on the left is flanked by two towers and leads to the Magic fountain and the National Art Museum (up on the hill).
The statue in the roundabout is The Central Fountain. The artist's modernist style was clearly influenced by Guadi.
The two 154 ft. high towers are modeled after the Bell Tower of the St. Mark's Basilica in Venice.
In addition, to the left of the right tower, you can see the slender white Communications Tower that was erected for the 1992 Summer Olympics to transmit television coverage of the Olympic games.
George is looking down on a park that was originally Slaughterhouse Park--where the dying bulls were slaughtered.
In the 1980s the park was renamed Parc de Joan Miro for the local artist who left his mark on the square with a colorful sculpture, known as the Woman and Bird (below).
Stores Inside The Arena--
This isn't a candy shop; it is a soap shop!
Since Barcelona is right on the Mediterranean Sea, there was plenty of fresh fish!
Different way to display ham--with the hooves attached! Cured ham served in thin slices is a key component in Spanish cuisine.
Laura couldn't pass up this shop with the name Lola--the name of her little granddaughter that lives one mile away from her in Florida!
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Next on our list--Barcelona's most famous three-mile-long walking street--LA RAMBLA.
2 comments:
I think it's funny that george asked for a Coke at a wine tasting. funny, funny. thanks for all the great posts!
George is my kind of man! Although I would be pretty tempted with that wine I must admit.;)
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