Montjuic Private Tour

They are known as the Barcelona Venice towers for their resemblance with the San Marco bell tower in Venice. As a matter of fact, the Italian one was used as a model by the architect Ramon Reventós to build these that are located in Plaça España, just at the entrance of Montjuic trade. The reason of their construction was the International world trade fair (also called International Exhibition) that took place in Barcelona in 1929. This global event was a unique occasion to represent the different countries and cultures in one single city. During the XX century, where the global transportation evolved, these events were an opportunity to get to know with many cultures around the world in one single place. At the same time, the set-up of these events, was the perfect excuse to dedicate public funds to develop a certain area of the city. That is why in 1929, the area around Montjuic, at that time in the outskirts of the city characterized by open fields and some factories, started to get developed with many new buildings inspired by different countries. The towers were built as a decoration of the main entrance to the exhibition area, to which people would access from Plaza de España. Nowadays, they are still part of the skyline of this area, welcoming all those people who want to discover Montjuïc and its many facets. These towers can be seen in our Montjuïc private tour with other interesting attractions such as Mies van der Rohe Pavilion (that was representing Germany at the same world exhibition of 1929) the magic fountains or the MNAC museum.

The Pantocrator is a term used in Eastern Orthodox iconography to describe a specific depiction of Jesus Christ. In this depiction, Jesus is shown as the ruler of the universe, often with a stern expression and holding a book or scroll representing the Gospels. The Pantocrator from the apse of Sant Climent de Taüll is a beautiful historic fresco from the XII century that can be found in MNAC. The MNAC (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya) is a national museum located in Barcelona, that has a large art collection including medieval art from the north of Spain. This painting is one of the masterpieces of the European Romanesque era. It was painted in a small church in the Pyrinees, and it was moved to Barcelona in 1919 with other fresco elements of the Romanesque churches. The fresco depicts Christ sitting on a throne, surrounded by angels and evangelists. His right hand is raised in a blessing gesture, and his left hand holds an open book. His facial expression is solemn, with an intense gaze, and he is dressed in imperial robes https://www.museunacional.cat/

Joan Miró was an artist focused on abstract and surrealist fantasy. He became very popular after the 2nd world war. Many of his artwork can be found today in the Tate Modern (London), MOMA (New York) or the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.
In Barcelona there is also a big collection in the Fundació Joan Miró thanks to a donation made by Miró himself, and then enlarged thanks to other private and public donations. It helps to understand his artistic life and evolution. The museum's collection includes over 14,000 works by the artist, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, and other works on paper. The collection also includes a number of works by other artists that were collected by Miró over the years. The museum also frequently hosts temporary exhibitions of contemporary art.
Apart from the works of Miró, there is also a collection of contemporary art, a part of which comes from a tribute made after his death.

Nowadays it is known as the Caixa Forum, a cultural center, but its history dates back to the beginnings of the XX century, when it was built as a textile factory by the great Modernist architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch. The architectural style is typical of that period, with exposed bricks and some ceramic and iron decorations on the towers, where we can read the name of the owner. The towers themselves were built not just as a mere decoration, but they were used as water deposits to extinguish possible fires. Last but not least, it was an innovative structure, as the factory used to work thanks to electricity; the architect kept in mind the employees’ wellbeing and working conditions, that’s why there are big windows and high ceilings. Unfortunately, the factory didn’t last long, as in 1920 it went bankrupt and closed its doors. During the 1929 International Expo it was used as a warehouse; later on, as a unit for the national police, until it was bought by the foundation “La Caixa”, that restored the entire building, preserving its original aspect. More information in (Spanish website): https://caixaforum.org/es/barcelona/p/el-edificio

The Olympic Games that were celebrated in Barcelona in 1992 left many iconic buildings and structures in the city. One of the key examples is the Calatrava tower. This tower was built in Montjuic, close to the Olympic stadium, and is 136 meters high (almost 500 feet). The tower was built to cover the Olympic Games efficiently, since they were held in the middle of Montjuic hill, that has no communication coverage at the time. The particular share of the tower has a meaning: it represents an athlete carrying the Olympic torch with the flame. The base of the tower is covered by Trencadís, the mosaic technique used by Gaudí 100 years ago in other places in Barcelona such as the park Guell. The tower is located close to Sant Jordi stadium and the Olympic stadium, in a very wide an open area where some outdoor activities are organized such as concerts or running events. It has turned one of the most iconic pictures over the city that can be found in many postcards.

Montjuïc has one of the most iconic views of the city: The Palau Nacional. This building contains the Catalan National Museum (MNAC) and is very well known around the city for the big city lights that can be seen during the evenings. The palace was designed by the architects Eugenio Cendoya and Enric Catà as the main building of the World fair in 1929. It was intended to be a symbol of the cultural and artistic achievements of Catalonia, and it was built in the style of Spanish Renaissance architecture. The palace was built in just two years and it was inaugurated in 1929 by King Alfonso XIII of Spain. The building was the main pavilion built for the World Fair of Barcelona of 1929. The opening ceremony, chaired by the king Alfonso XIII, took place in its oval room, to this day still used for public events. After the exposition, the palace was converted into the National Art Museum of Catalonia and it was used to house a collection of artworks, primarily from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. During the Spanish Civil War, the palace was used as a prison and it was badly damaged. After the war, it was renovated and it was reopened as a museum in 1948. In the following years, the palace was used for different purposes, mainly as a venue for exhibitions and cultural events. Nowadays, it is the home of the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), which houses an extensive collection of Catalan art. The palace has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years, but it still maintains its original architectural style. Overall, the Palau Nacional has a rich history and it is an important architectural and cultural landmark in Barcelona. It was built as a symbol of the cultural and artistic achievements of Catalonia and it has served as a venue for exhibitions, cultural events and as a home for the National Art Museum of Catalonia.

The modernism, or Art Nouveau in Catalonia, is a famous art movement that has in the architecture its most relevant discipline. However, there are more artistic areas that were very relevant at the end of 19th century. This is an example of the Tandem, one of the most iconic drawings from the Modernism period from 1897. In the painting, Ramon Casas (the author) and his friend Pere Romeu were riding a tandem cycle with the Barcelona skyline behind. This paining was placed in the beer-hall in a café called "Els Quatre Gats". "Els Quatre Gats" (The Four Cats in English) was a popular café in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Barcelona. It was a gathering place for many prominent artists, intellectuals, and politicians of the time, including Pablo Picasso, who made it a regular hangout during his formative years in the city. The café was also associated with the Catalan Modernist movement and featured the work of many contemporary artists on its walls. It closed in 1903, but it was later re-opened and still in operation today. Pere Romeu was the owner of "Els Quatre Gats" and, in the painting, you can see both friends (the painter and the owner of the café) riding a tandem bicycle. This, and many other modernists paintings can be seen in the Catalan Art Museum (MNAC) https://www.museunacional.cat/

An old military fortress, from the 17th Century was built on top of Montjuïc hill. Montjuic Castle was originally built in 1640 by the Spanish military, as a way to protect the port of Barcelona. The fortress was strategically located on top of Montjuic hill, which is over 180 meters high, providing a clear view of the entire city and the surrounding area, making it an ideal location for a military fortress. Its first purpose was to control the city from the most strategic area of the city: its highest point that could reach both the city and the sea access. Through the centuries, in all rebellions and battles of the modern history, the castle has become a key element to control the city in different battles, like the Spanish Civil War in 1936 or the Napoleonic invasion in 1808. Throughout history, the castle has been used for different purposes, including as a prison during the Spanish Civil War and as a military base during the Franco regime. After the fall of the Franco regime, the castle was opened to the public as a tourist attraction and a cultural center. Today, visitors can explore the castle's various exhibitions and learn about its history through the military museum located inside. The castle also offers panoramic views of the city, including the Barceloneta neighborhood, the port, and the Mediterranean Sea. The castle also offers great spots for a picnic or a stroll. Additionally, the castle is host of many events throughout the year such as concerts and festivals, and it's a popular spot for locals and tourists alike to watch the fireworks on New Year's Eve. Today, the Castle is an exhibition center that offers some of the best sights over the city.