All About Royal Families

From 25 July 1992 till 9 August 1992 the Summer Olympic Games took place in Barcelona. These games are still considered as one of the most successful modern Olympics with more than 9.300 athletes and 169 countries participating. The opening ceremony took place on 25 July 1992 with a big show at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona , Spain.  As mandated by the Olympic Charter, the proceedings combined the formal and ceremonial opening of this international sporting event, including welcoming speeches, hoisting of the flags and the parade of athletes, with an artistic spectacle to showcase the host nation's culture and history. Greek mezzo-soprano, Agnes Baltsa, sang "Romiossini" as the Olympic flag was taken around the stadium.  Alfredo Kraus later sang the Olympic Hymn in both Catalan and Spanish as the flag was hoisted.  The Olympic flame cauldron was lit by a flaming arrow, shot by Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo. The arrow had been lit by the f...

One of the most special churches I've ever seen is without no doubt the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It really is a very big building in a quirky but beautiful style created by Antoni Gaudí. The Sagrada Familia also is listed at the UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its Neo Gothic Modernist style and its beautiful history. Sagrada Familia in Barcelona 2016 Some history Originally the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia was the inspiration of a bookseller, called Josep Maria Bocabella. He was the founder of the Assoición Espiritual de Devotos de San José. In 1872, Bocabella visited the Vatican. When returning from Italy, he had the intention of building a church inspired by the Basilica at Loreto. On 19 March 1882, the building work started by architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. He had the plan for a Gothic Revival church of a standard form. On 18 March 1883, Francisco de Paula del Villar resigned and Antoni Gaudi assumed responsibil...

Railway Stations, trains, and the movement of people always fascinated me, especially when they have special Royal History as it is in the case of the Barcelona França Railway Station or Estació de França. Barcelona França Railway Station Some history The railway station was built in the 19th century and opened in 1848. As in the name, it was a stop for trains who came from France. It also served North East Catalonia and the Costa Brava as well. In 1929 the Barcelona França Railway Station was re-opened for the international Exhibition. Barcelona França Railway Station  The station was designed by architect Pedro Muguruza and inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII of Spain . Source picture: Wikipedia The railway station had another big renovation between 1988 and 1992. It re-opened for the Olympic Games of 1992. Barcelona França Railway Station  Architecture For me this is one of the most beautiful railway stations of Spain. It has an am...

On 12 October 1492, Christopher Columbus made landfall in the Caribbean. So, October can be called Columbus' month. One of the most beautiful monuments to remember his first voyage can be found in Barcelona, at the end of the Ramblas and the beginning of the harbor. Columbus monument - Barcelona  own picture taken in 2016 The monument serves as reminder that Christopher Columbus came to Barcelona to report King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile about his first voyage. King Fernando and Queen Isabella - Source picture: Wikipedia The monument is a column of 40 meters height. It was said that Christopher Columbus  was looking to the new world. royal shield on the Columbus Monument - own picture taken in 2016 However it is more likely that Christopher Columbus was looking to the sea to  undertake a new adventure. Columbus monument - Barcelona - own picture taken in 2016 The idea of a monument arose in 1856 from Ant...

The Palau Nacional (the Catalan word for National) really is surprising and very beautiful. Palau Nacional - Barcelona - Spain It has a ground surface of 32,000 square meter and the building has a rectangular floor plan flanked by two sides and one rear square section with a dome in the middle. Some building history On 18 July 1924, the engineer Marià Rubió i Bellver, launched a competition of projects. The participation was open to all Spanish architects who could present an individual project or one together with the proposal of a construction company. In January 1925, there were nine successful projects. Finally the winning proposal was that of Eugenio Cendoya and Enric Catà. The Palau Nacional has an amazing Spanish Renaissance architecture with an air of academic classicism. Palau Nacional - own picture The building has two floors, the dome looks like that of the St. Paul's in London or that of the St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Some...