Showing posts with label Spain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spain. Show all posts

14 Mar 2019

Barcelona - Museu de Carrosses Fúnebres

Short description:

One of the biggest cemetery in Barcelona: Poblenou, is located on the sea side of Montjuic. It was opened in 1819 and till 1835 funeral ceremonies (transporting human body) were done by the people. Then, mayor of Barcelona established using carriages. Nowadays, none of those are in use, and you can see it only in a Museu de Carrosses Fúnebres (Museum of Carriages).

Free entrance

You can visit Museum of Carriages free of charge:
 every Saturday and Sunday from 10.00 AM till 2:00 PM
You will get a free small guide with a description.
There is a locker to close all your belongings (deposit 1 Eur).














More to explore:

Official website you will find here: Funeral Carriage Collection
Adress: Mare de Deu de Port, 56-58
How to get there: bus no. 21/CEMENTARI DE MONTJUIC

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6 Mar 2019

Barcelona - Basilica Santa Maria del Mar

Free entrance

Normally for the entrance to Basilica you have to pay: €5, if you want to enter both church and crypt it's €8,50 it includes towers and roof too. Off course you can avoid this payment if you will visit on:

  • Monday - Friday: 09:00 am - 13:00 pm and 17:00 pm - 20:30pm
  • Sundays and holidays: 10:00 am - 14:00 pm and 17:00 pm - 20:30 pm
  • Daily mass on 19:30 pm and Sunday mass on 12:00 am

Unfortunately, during evenings it is possible to enter only the church (without crypt, towers and roof). At least there are no queues :) 




my Tipp:

I recommend to put €1 to the box nearby small Basilica model. You will see why... Btw. prepare your camera before :)


More to explore:

Official website you will find here: Basilica Santa Maria del Mar
Adress: Placa de Santa Maria, 1
How to get there: metro L4/JAUME I

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3 Mar 2019

Barcelona - Palau Güell

Short description:

Palau Güell was designed by the best well-know Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi; a men who went beyond his times. It was built between 1886 and 1890. This place shows not only the essence of Gaudi's architecture but also collaboration between him and Eusebi Güell (industrialist and politician) - the first and the last Gaudi's client. Gaudi and Güell - imagination and money, this is how one of the most specific style was born.


 

Free entrance

Once in every month entrance to Palau Güell is free of charge, when? First Sunday of the month. Free tickets you have to pick up from ticket office, the queue is extremely long, that's why I recommend to you come before opening hours, let's say 30/40 minutes earlier. Tickets are limited and distributed for the certain hour (entrance is every half on hour), so if you're alone your chances to pick up ticket for the next entrance are bigger:) Otherwise, you will have to wait for your turn. One person can take up to 5 tickets - if you are lazy to wake up in the early morning, send your boyfriend there!! :)
Another chance to enter palace Güell for free is come on one of "open days":
> 23.04, 21.05, 11.09, 24.09, 15.12 <


Tickets are distributed:

  • from 01.11 - 31.03 -> 10:00 am - 13:30 pm and 13:30 pm - 16:30 pm
  • from 01.04 - 31.10 -> 10:00 am - 15:00 pm and 15:00 pm - 19:00 pm




Useful information:

1. On the left side behind security control (yes, you are not allowed to bring dangerous items;)) are the lockers to put your belongings and close it. A deposit of €1, which will be returned, bring a coin with you.
2. You will get a free audio guide (ES/CAT/EN/DE/FR) so easily you will discover the area. Moreover, in the attic you can watch interesting movies showing story of palace and collaboration of Gaudi and Güell.
3. Toilets are downstairs, in the corner.

Details and amazing use of light can be seen everywhere

Coming to the roof terrace... The most spectacular combination of art and technology as well as beautiful view.

Roof terrace

Chimney without me :(
Chimney and me :)



More to explore:

Official website you will find here: Palau Güell
Address: Nou de la Rambla 3-5
How to get there: metro L3/LICEU
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27 May 2017

Alcazaba de Almeria - fortress of Southern Spain

Castles' gardens

Almeria was one of the cities we visited on our first trip together in march of 2014. Here we spend just half a day, as it was only a stop on our trail. We asked in the tourist office for one the most interesting thing to see in Almeria and the assistant, without any doubts, told: Alcazaba. So there we went.

A brief story:


Alcazaba de Almeria is a huge fortress (one of the biggest in Andalusia). It was built in 955 and later expanded in 1487. The fortress is equipped with the high defense walls and several towers. Moreover, on the courtyard of the castle, there are placed wells and tanks, in which the water has been stored. Although, the town in situated in very warm and dry climate, thanks to this water the castle has magnificent gardens. Furthermore, such a water storage gave possibility of survival for 20 000 people during sieges in the past. For military purposes it was used till XXth century.
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5 Mar 2017

Salamanca - the town made of gold stones

Main Square - Plaza Mayor

During our way to Portugal we decided to stop in Salamanca. The sightseeing was short, as it was planned only as the break in our journey.



Plaza Mayor


First of all the Main Square of Salamanca (Plaza Mayor) is one of the most magnificent squares in entire Spain. It was built in 1755 in the Baroque style. The square is enormous compared to most of the squares we've been to. You can find there plenty of restaurants and souvenir shops.


Main Square - Plaza Mayor


Casa de las Conchas



This building is famous, because its facade is decorated with more than 300 scallop shells. Thus, it is called House of Shells (Casa de las Conchas). Its also one of the best examples of 15th century civic Gothic with a significant Italian Renaissance influence. The shells comes from a sing of Order of Santiago, to which the first owner of this building belonged. 

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2 Dec 2016

Bizkaia Bridge - cable car for cars





If you would spent your holidays in bay of Biscay (South France/North Spain) and having enough of swimming, eating and tanning, we recommend you to see a unique solution of technique - Bizkaia Bridge. Mostly because it is a "moving bridge" with a rail above the gondola. Furthermore, it can be accessed for cars.
Bizkaia Bridge is located near to Bilbao city, which is named "less beautiful brother of San Sebastian":)...


Some facts.



  • The built of Bizkaia Bridge was started in 1890 and it became a first transport bridge of the world.
  • It was opened for public three years later and still works.
  • Construction consist of two levels: gondola and walkway, which is located over the rail of gondola.
  • Gondola can be entered by car and single people, while walkway can be use only by people.
  • In July 2006 bridge was declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
  • Since opening more than 650 million persons have crossed the river with the gondola (we are two of them:)).

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2 Nov 2016

Frias - a middle of nowhere

Overview on Frias from the main road

Let me tell you a story..

Far, far away, somewhere in Central-Northern Spain, behind seven hills, seven rivers and three deserts there is located the smallest settlement with city rights in Spain. It is not very well known place, because is very small and far away from any other touristic attraction. These circumstances creates this place magical.
You can get there by car from the closest big city - Miranda de Ebro - by following the road BU-535/A-2122 in Eastern direction, then turn left on the road A-2122 (the main road change the number and goes straight). In next several kilometers you'll find guideposts with the direction to Frias. The road is shown on the map below.
   
Magnificent view from the road to Frias #1


Magnificent view from the road to Frias #2

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28 Jun 2016

Gibraltar - a tropical England


Our first trip together was finished in Gibraltar. Where we got after 5 days of driving, delivering packages in two middle places. During this trip we had only one completely free day, which we decided to spent on the 'Rock'. One day is absolutely enough for exploring this country. Of course during summer you can also spend much more time on sunbathing and swimming in the Mediterranean See. We were there in March so for us, the sightseeing was enough that time. Although it was not even spring the temperature on this day was varying between 19 and 25 degrees.

Let's enter the city!

Cute macaque
Morning view for the Rock of Gibraltar form plage of La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain

Tropical England:

In Gibraltar you will find everything what in ordinary English city: double-decker buses, red public phones, Pounds and people speaking English fluently. The prices are significantly larger than in Spain, but there is one thing which local people buy specially there: alcohol. The generic price for a 1L of whisky is around 8 euro, which is a way cheaper than even in Poland. 




Grand Casemates Square
Red public phone








Double-decker bus

The Rock of Gibraltar

Gondola station on the top of the Rock


Mandarines trees in the center of Gibraltar











View for the east slope of the Rock









Is highly recommended to reach the top of the Rock, even it is not cheap attraction. You have several possibilities of sightseeing the Rock:
- on foot, only for experienced walkers due to very big height differences, the walk is not so nice (cost-free)
- by gondola to the top and walk on the top of the Rock. We choose this option, even the cable car is really expensive (15 euro per person for a return ticket), but the walk is not time limited and it is very nice to meet macaques and explore the Rock on your own
- by car trip, it is only 2/3 euro per person more expensive but it is an option for lazy people who don't like to walk so much xD

After we came back to the city we took really nice walk and we also visited 100 ton gun museum. On the end of the peninsula famous lighthouse is located, but unfortunately we haven't reached this place. On the other hand we still have the purpose of going there for the second time:)


View for the Gibraltar city, airport and the harbour of La Linea de la Concepcion (Spain)

Gibraltar airport

Warning! Achtung! Uwaga! Pozor!

Border:
Even the Gibraltar is in the European Union, but due to historical reasons the border still exists. Moreover, the control is very strict, so don't be scared and don't forget your ID while going there. Just next to the border the airport is located. Thus, to reach the city pedestrians and cars have to cross the airstrip.

Money:
As normal for the England there are also used Pounds, so better exchange money, before to not lose during transactions in souvenir shops.

Alcohols:
They are very cheap there, especially whisky. So by leaving Gibraltar buy o bottle or seven for your personal use:) Remember that you can cross the border with maximum 1L of high percentage alcohol per person. Actually the control didn't happen for us, so we regretted that we didn't buy more:p

Monkeys (Macaques):
As we showed they are really living on the Rock of Gibraltar. Although they looks cute, please be careful they are stealing food every day. Furthermore, during taking photo we put the coat on the ground and in the minute one macaque tried to steal it looking for food. Fortunately Iwonka was faster then small monkey:) 
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