So the order of the day was to cross things off the list. First stop was the Temple of Augustus. In Roman times there was a temple roughly where the Cathedral is today. It is roughly the highest spot in the Old City. All that remains of the 120 Foot long Temple are four Corinthian Columns (dating from 1 B.C.) that are now surrounded by other structures. It is still an imposing site.
Click Read More below right...
Click Read More below right...
Next up was the Casa de l’Ardiaca. The building once was the residence of an archdeacon and now houses the city archives, which are not open to the general public. But the courtyard had both a lovely fountain and superb tiled walls. Inside the lobby there was an alcove where we viewed parts of the roman wall and briefly enjoyed the free exhibition in the lobby of the role of women during the Spanish Civil War. Then we climbed the stairs to the balcony that afforded a good view of the cathedral steeples and the gargoyles.
After eating the sandwiches we purchased this morning at the bakery in another shaded courtyard we parted ways. Harry went to visit the Barcelona Cathedral, which he had not visited previously and Marsha headed off to walked through the Old Jewish Quarter, El Call. Since there were pogroms beginning at the end of the 1300’s that culminated with the forced conversions or expulsions in 1492 (that must have been a really interesting year) there hasn’t been a Jewish presence in this area for some time. Thirty five years ago (1980) an historian searched through tax records for the location and his hunch was proved correct when he noticed that the building faces east toward Jerusalem. Basically there are two rooms below street level with roman walls and Catalan vaulted ceilings. In the room adjoining the synagogue itself you can see the remains of dyeing vats under the glass floor that were used in a shop run by former Jews who had been forcibly converted to Christianity. The staff on site gave a good talk about the history of the Jewish people in Barcelona and gave information about the donated religious objects in the exhibit cases in the room. I remained in the synagogue room after the others had left to stand in front of the Bima and recite the Mourners Kaddish.
After that I referred to my “Rick Steves Pocket Barcelona” book for his walking tour through the La Ribera and El Born sections of the city. I have meandered through some of these streets before but this made me be a bit more focused.
Then I headed for one of the two possible Plaza’s that Harry had indicated might be his destination to do some sketching. He was right where I expected him to be at a café table somewhat hunched over his sketchbook drawing a round roman tower. I joined him and we ordered a snack enjoyed the scene together.
After eating the sandwiches we purchased this morning at the bakery in another shaded courtyard we parted ways. Harry went to visit the Barcelona Cathedral, which he had not visited previously and Marsha headed off to walked through the Old Jewish Quarter, El Call. Since there were pogroms beginning at the end of the 1300’s that culminated with the forced conversions or expulsions in 1492 (that must have been a really interesting year) there hasn’t been a Jewish presence in this area for some time. Thirty five years ago (1980) an historian searched through tax records for the location and his hunch was proved correct when he noticed that the building faces east toward Jerusalem. Basically there are two rooms below street level with roman walls and Catalan vaulted ceilings. In the room adjoining the synagogue itself you can see the remains of dyeing vats under the glass floor that were used in a shop run by former Jews who had been forcibly converted to Christianity. The staff on site gave a good talk about the history of the Jewish people in Barcelona and gave information about the donated religious objects in the exhibit cases in the room. I remained in the synagogue room after the others had left to stand in front of the Bima and recite the Mourners Kaddish.
After that I referred to my “Rick Steves Pocket Barcelona” book for his walking tour through the La Ribera and El Born sections of the city. I have meandered through some of these streets before but this made me be a bit more focused.
Then I headed for one of the two possible Plaza’s that Harry had indicated might be his destination to do some sketching. He was right where I expected him to be at a café table somewhat hunched over his sketchbook drawing a round roman tower. I joined him and we ordered a snack enjoyed the scene together.
For dinner we took a chance and wandered over to the waterfront, and then headed back into the narrow streets until we found a reasonable looking patio dining establishment. The tapas were "OK" -- not as good as Sensi Bistro to which we will return for one last sentimental meal tomorrow night.