Catalan Modernisme: Casa Rocamora in Passeig de Gracia

Casa Rocamora, resuming my particular modernisme route from previous posts, is located at Passeig de Gracia 6 - 8 next to carrer Casp. 

As an introduction you should know that Passeig de Gracia was originally a path leading to Via Augusta during Roman times. In the early 19th century, it was urbanized by the Marquis of Campo Sagrado, and was electrified in 1899. 

Local bourgeoisie was establishing beyond the old city limits in the new Eixample (a grid of symmetrical blocks that was never finished) designed by Catalan urban planner Ildefons Cerdà. At the beginning of the 20th century, most of the best modernist houses were built in the district.  

Casa Rocamora dates back from 1914. It was designed by brothers Bonaventura and Joaquim Basegoda inspired in renaissance Gothic.

See Casa Rocamora Picture on a Google Earth Map.

Street Artist XI at Las Ramblas, Barcelona

Today I choose a picture about something more likely to be admired in case you visit Barcelona (personally I think my two previous mountain images are too far away for tourists). I keep counting my series of Barcelona artists: number XI here a veteran fakir and sword eater is entertaining the crowd who does not know whether to laugh or look the other way sickened by the view. 

Did you know that Fakir is an Arabic word meaning "poor" and that sword swallowing was already famous as a magic trick in Ancient Greece?, in fact it is not an illusion, it's a matter of learning to control your reflex gagging at objects touching the throat. Anyway, I am glad that I chose the backstage because I had a great time watching people's faces by far more interesting than the show (no offense).

See Picture of Barcelona Street Artist at Las Ramblas Picture on a Google Earth Map.

Landscapes of Catalonia: Climbing the Pedraforca Massif

Now that I have introduced the Pedraforca Massif in my previous post and considering I have several pictures to show, why not taking a little break. I come from playing a soccer match with some friends and I am really exhausted. Besides my beloved blogger service is making me nervous. 

Here you go, a picture of my daughter at the moment of inflection when we both got tired and headed back. Notice the road in the background, well add up a couple more curves to reach the mirador again...

See Pedraforca Massif Picture on a Google Earth Map