REPOBLICA ESPANOLA Sight of Giiell Park Photo. Mas ARCELONA, the weahhy capital of the four Catalan provinces, enjoys a splendid situation opposite the Mediterranean, in a rich undulating plain, between two rivers, tile BesSs and the Llobregat, and the two natural watch-towers of the Tibidabo and Montjuich mountains. Its favourable climate, with a mean annual temperature of between 16 and 17 degrees, and sky of rare clearness and beauty make the city an exceptionally agreeable place of residence in all the seasons of the year. Without any very exact historic data it is more or less certain that Barcelona was the capital of the Layetanos. In the first centuries of our era, under the name of Favencia Julia Augusta Pia Barcino, it enjoyed a position of great importance, later serving as the court of the Visigothie kings. Suffering the fate of the rest of the peninsula, it was dominated Sight of Catalufia Square A Public Swimming-Pool Photo. Roisin by the Arabs, and passed through all the vicissitudes of the struggle varied requirements of metropolitan life: hotels, banks, big stores, etc.; between Franks and Saracens, until in the year 874 Count Wilfred, its numerous workshops and factories which bring the bustle and mo- known as the Hairy, obtained the privilege of declaring hereditary the vement of city life to every part of the great town. The centre of Barce. fiefs and benefices of the counties of the Spanish Mark. With this was lona's activity is the Plaza de Catahifia; the largest square in Spain, initiated the Catalan dynasty, and Barcelona rose to great importance recently embellished with great gardens and fine groups of sculpture. as the capital of what came to be the kingdom of Aragon and Catalonia; Into this square run streets which distribute the traffic among all the a crown famed for its arms and its commerce, extending all along the different quarters and outlying suburbs,-- streets of very European Mediterranean towards the far East. Gifted with enormous economic appearance, though among them figure the very characteristic "RambIas" power and an extraordinary power of assimilation, with a restless activity which extend as far as the harbour. A street with other claims to interest and desire of progress, as well as with industrious habits and a great is the Calle del Marquis de] Duero, commonly known as the Paralelo, capacity for work, Barcelona enjoys an intense industrial and mercantile a lively spot at night by reason of the many theatres and places of development, which is at par with its growth as an active intellectual and amusement it contains. artistic centre. Apart from the gardens which adorn some of the ÿtreets and squares, In the same way, while in no way interfering with the schemes of attention must be drawn to the old park called the Ciudadela which is re-planning and municipal development, it still preserves what is the very large and fine; the Giiell park, one of the great curiosities of Barce- very heart of old Gothic Barcelona, in typical, old.fashioned quarter, lona, is most original; the beautiful Labyrinth, in the Horta quarter, where stands the city's most precious treasure, the lovely cathedral. All belongs to the Marquis de Alfarrÿs. The Montjuich park, in the mountain this ancient part, however, and various other relics of past civilisations, of the same name, commands splendid views, and is provided with gar- in no way detract from the important modern and cosmopolitan character dens, trees, fountains, statues, and all kinds of attractions. of Barcelona, with its fine broad streets, all symmetrical in plan; its The cathedral, to which we have already alluded, is an interesting walks and parks; its sumptuous buildings which provide for the most example of the Catalan Gothic style; the most striking features are the apse, the cloisters, tile central only one of its faqades which nave, the crypt of Santa Eulalia is ahnost finished, thai called and some examples of iron rai- the Nacimiento (the Birth), is lings. The chapel of Santa Lu- one of the prides of Barce- cia dates from the 13th century. lona; the crypt rouses a re- As examples of mediaeval splen- ligious emotion hardly to he dour there may be mentioned expected from modern art. the facade and cloisters of San Notable public buildings which Pablo del Campo; the facade should he mentioned are: the of the Episcopal Palace; the University, the Palace of Jus- churches of Santa Maria del tice, the Palace of the Con- Mar, a fine Gothic work of tile des de Giiell, in the Calle de 14th century; Nuestra Sefiora Conde del Asalto; the Liceo del Pino, also Gothic; San- theatre, the Post Office, va- tos Justo y Pastor, with a no- rious beautiful houses in the table reredos; Santa Aria, with Paseo de Gracia, and other a Gothic doorway and interest. important streets, "Torres" or ing cloister; San Pedro de las country villas, of luxurious Puellas, recently restored; San and original character in the Jaime; the palace of the Con- suburbs, etc. Saint Mary of the Sea. The Portal de de Centellas; the "Canonja" The Arch of Triumph, The Cathedral. A View from the back of the Choir Photo. Mas which was originally the resi- commemorative of the Uni- Photo. Mas dence of the canons of the ca- versal Exhibition of 1888; va- thedral; the castle of Bellesguard, in the Bonanova, the residence of the rious fountahls and numerous statues, Ito Columbus, to Prim, to Doc- kings of Aragon, restored in our day, etc. tor Robert, to Pitarra, to the first MarquSs de Comillas, to Verdaguer, The Town Hall (Casas Consistoriales) with a fine Gothic facade ornament different parts of the city. looking on to the Calle de la Ciudad, contains the historic Hall of the There are many museums in Barcelona. The most important is the Hundred. The Palace of the "Generalidad" of Catalonia, completes the Municipal Museum of Art and Archaeology, of enormous interest, and Plaza de Don Jaime; its finest features are the hall and chapel of San absolutely necessary for the study of Romanesque art, on account of the Jorge (St. George), the Court of the Oranges, and the gallery in purest magnificent collection of frescoes from little churches of the Catalan Gothic style. The Exchange, with its famous hall, also Gothic and of Pyrenees which its various sections contain. It has also valuable primi- elegant proportions, is a monument of the 18th century, as is the tive Gothic works, mostly belonging to the Aragonese crown, and various Casa del Arcediano, to-day the city record office, opposite the cathedral collections of porcelain, stuffs, and stained glass, while its prehistoric and with an artistic patio. section is also rich in interesting objects. Other interesting museums are Baroque art is represented by the Casa de Dalmases, in the typical the Archaeological, installed in the old chapel of Santa Agueda, with a Calle de Moncada, and the church of Nuestra Sefiora de BelSn. The valuable epigraphic section, the Museum of Contemporary Art with Virreyna Palace in the Ramblas is one of the few Renaissance buildings examples of modern Catalan painting, especially works by Fortuny; the preserved in Barcelona. Martorell Museum of Natural Science and the Geological Museum; the A notable work of the famous Gaudi is the church of the Holy Viladomat and Episcopal Collections, etc. A private collection of great Family (Sagrada Familia), which was erected by public subscription; the importance is that of St. Plandiura. The Palace of tile Generalidad. Courtyard Photo. Mas The Monastery of Montserrat Photo. Wunderlich The rapid and convenient means of communication make it easy to grand and imposing scenery. A special visit is necessary for Vich on visit the surroundings of Barcelona, some delightfully picturesque and account of its cathedral and Episcopal Museum• with fine views, such as the Tibidabo, las Planas, Vallvidrera; some HOTELS curious and instructive, as in the great industrial quarters of Sans, Hos- RITZ--Full board from 35 to 105 pesetas tafranchs, San Martin de Provensals, San Andr6s de Palomar... On the COLON- Full board from 30 to 57"50 pesetas fine coast to the south of Barcelona we have the lovely coast of Garraf, MAJESTIC HOTEL INGLATERRA -- Full board from 27'50 to 45 pesetas CONTINENTAL-- Full board from 22'50 to 45 pesetas• and Sitges, a beautiful village with a fine beach and the Cau Ferrat, a PALACE--Full board from 22'50 to 35 pesetas ORIENTE-- Full board from 22'50 to 35 pesetas private museum of the artist Santiago Rusifiol; to the north Caldetas, METROPOLITAN-- Full board from 18 to 27"50 pesetas Arenys de Mar, the magnificent "Wild Coast" (Costa Brava) which belongs AVEI'qIDA-- Full board from 18 to 27'50 pesetas CONDAL--Full board from 15 to 22'50 pesetas to the province of Gerona, etc. Other interesting excursions are: to Ba. INTERNACIONAL--Full board from 15 to 22'50 pesetas SPLENDIDE-- Full board from 15 to 22'50 pesetas dalona, San Jer6nimo de la Murtra, with a fine Gothic cloister, the RANZINI-- Full board from 15 to 22'50 pesetas restored Cartuja de Monte-Alegre, and the Conreria, a wild and fas- EUSKALDUNA-- Full board from 15 to 22'50 pesetas SUIZO-- Full board from 13 to 18 pesetas cinating spot; to Pedralbes; with a monastery founded in the 14th MARINA--Full board from 13 to 18 pesetas CeLL (TmtnaBo) -- FuU board from 12'50 to 18 pesetas century and a modern Palace; to San Cugat del Vallds, with a Ro- EUROPA-- Full hoard from 10'50 to 15 pesetas manesque monastery with Gothic additions, and Tarrasa with the UNIVERSAL-- Full board from 10'50 to 15 pesetas CARMEN-- Full board from 10'50 to 15 pesetas Visigothic Baptistery of San Miguel and the Romanesque church of San PAZ--Full hoard from 10'50 to 15 pesetas PENSION MARIA LUISA -- Full board from 9 to I2 pesetas Pedro; to the Monastery of Montserrat, the great religious centre of Cata- PENSION BALEAR--Full board from 9 to 12 pesetas lonia, a modern church with ancient images and a rich treasury, among PENSION CAPELL--Full board from 9 to 12 pesetas BARCELONA 38SCAI,A DISTANCE From Madrid : 685 Kms.