Dónde vamos Eva
The mystic and religious Gaudí
I love going out in mega-touristic Barcelona, wandering around and discovering the virtually unknown, almost virgin, areas of the city. This is what happened when I stumbled upon the Sant Pacia church, which is located in the traditional Sant Andreu del Palomar neighborhood.
San Andreu del Palomar used to be another one of the “pueblos” surrounding central Barcelona, but it was pretty much absorbed by the vibrant city and is now a perfectly integrated neighborhood. Due to its “unknown” feeling, San Andreu has managed to conserve its beauty and quaintness of its simple houses and narrow streets. The neighborhood actually looks a lot like the Gracia neighborhood.
There’s another secret gem hidden within the traditional neighborhood. The 19th century neo-gothic church designed by architect Joan Torras I Guadiola has a splendid Gaudí-designed mosaic inside. The one-aisle long church is very beautiful. From the outside, the different levels between the bell tower and rest of the building are quite striking. It’s located on a small street which is also striking because, although it occupies a good amount of space, it is still remains hidden, like it’s being guarded so no one discovers it and tries changes it. Once on the inside, Gaudi’s stunning Greco-Roman mosaic is what stands out. At this church we get to see the work of the mystic and religious Gaudí, instead of the bourgeoisie Gaudí. The mosaic covers the church’s entire floor, full of symbolic biblical references. Aside from the mosaic, Gaudí also designed the lamps, the altar and some furniture (although it’s not currently in the church). Visiting Sant Pacia is a necessity for the true Gaudí admirers.
I love parking my car and just walking around this traditional neighborhood, discovering Gaudí’s other hidden jewels in Barcelona. I recommend coming by metro, Renfre (train), or bus, seeing as it’s fairly complicated to maneuver a car in this neighborhood as the majority of the streets are for pedestrians only ;-) I love it! After seeing the church, I’d recommend you walk around the historic center of Sant Andreu where you’ll find several pleasant surprises.
Consult the schedule of masses and make appointments for visiting, as the church isn’t always open to the public. The church is included on Barcelona’s modernist tour route.
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