Barcelona

Music, colored lights and uncountable fountains make the Plaza de Espana an interesting evening destination.

Music, colored lights and uncountable fountains make the Plaza de Espana an interesting evening destination.

Music, colored lights and uncountable fountains make the Plaza de Espana an interesting evening destination.

Music, colored lights and uncountable fountains make the Plaza de Espana an interesting evening destination.

One of the fascinating things about Barcelona was its role as center of a new architectural style toward the end of the 19th century. Modernisme. Barcelona's example district is full of highly original buildings created for wealthy clients.

One of the fascinating things about Barcelona was its role as center of a new architectural style toward the end of the 19th century. Modernisme. Barcelona's example district is full of highly original buildings created for wealthy clients.

Left, Rick Steves describes Casa Mila (La Pedrera) as, a "roller coaster of melting ice cream eves." Designed by Gaudi, the top floor is a museum and the roof a sculpture garden. The apartments are home to some of the wealthiest of Barcelona. Recommended.

Gaudi's first commercial success was a mansion designed for Eusebi Guell. Today it is located in a park of the same name.

One of the bizarrely decorated chimneys which has become associated with the architectural style.

Guarding the entrance to Parc Guell, Draco, the dragon. The curved forms with bright colored tiles are as immediately recognizable as the Moorish arches and tiles of the Alhambra.

Gaudi designed Segrada Familia cathedral but didn't live to see it completed. Today it continues under construction. Gaudi was not especially disciplined about keeping detailed drawings. Instead much of the design lived in his head and perished with him in a trolley accident. Completing construction is a feat worthy of the deductive powers of Sherlock Holmes.

A view of the facade. Check out those abs! These guys could have stepped right out of a George Lucas movie.

An interior spiral stair which rises to the top of the spire.

Subirach's cryptogram mounted on the facade. It s a magic square with all rows and columns adding to 33. In fact, there are dozens of regular symmetric combinations of 4 squares which add to 33. An adornment to a cathedral that could only have been conceived in the 20th century.

Subirach's cryptogram mounted on the facade. It s a magic square with all rows and columns adding to 33. In fact, there are dozens of regular symmetric combinations of 4 squares which add to 33. An adornment to a cathedral that could only have been conceived in the 20th century.