Oldest statue of Barcelona

The fountain of Hercules, in Còrsega street with Passeig Sant Joan, is the oldest public monument in the city, opened in 1802 in the disappeared Passeig of the Esplanade

Hercules statue Barcelona

It is the oldest public statue of Barcelona and represents Hercules, mythological founder of the city. Currently he can be seen capping the fountain of crossing the Paseo Sant Joan and Còrsega. But it was not always there. When built, for over two centuries, it was located in the late ride Esplanada, a landscaped public space in Barcelona between the Ribera district and the Ciutadella fortress.

It is the work of Salvador Gurri, a sculptor highly prized in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. It is estimated that the monument was built between 1797 and 1802, on the initiative of the then Captain General of Catalonia, Augustine of Lancaster, to commemorate the visit to Barcelona of King Carlos IV and his wife, Maria Luisa of Parma. In fact, the source of Hercules was part of a set of four devoted to mythological characters. The other three were devoted to Fortis sea god, a Nereid riding a dolphin and the nymph Arethusa. The Hercules is the only survivor of that group.

The original location of the four fountains, the walk to the Esplanade, for nearly a century was a very popular and frequented by the locals space, devoid of amenities within the walls. The tour ran more or less parallel to the street Commerce, in full security zone, uninhabited, which had been arranged around the Ciutadella. He starting near what is now the station França and ending in the Portal Nou, almost touching the current Arc de Triomf, largely following the path of Paseo Picasso.

The demolition of the strength and development of the park and the site of the Universal Exhibition of 1888 condemned this first public garden and fountains. Only saved Hercules, being in the near Arc de Triomf end, so he joined gardens also disappeared Palau de les Belles Arts. He was there until 1928, when his transfer was decided to urbanize the ride Sant Joan, designed as an extension of the Esplanada.

Until the Civil War, the dean of the city monument was the source of Santa Eulalia, originally from 1673, which was destroyed during the war and later restored.

Courtesy

Barcelona Car Service Airport

Car Service Barcelona to Cruise Port

Car Service Barcelona

Chauffeur Barcelona airport

Car Service Madrid

 

A church is a garden

Santi Moix painting 1

Santi Moix, the Catalan painter born in Barcelona in 1960, has spent many summers in Saurí (Pallars Sobirà), so when the villagers, during the festival, asked him if he would intervene Romanesque church, he said yes. Although he did not think that things come to port. But it came. Thus, the New York based artist got down to work. The immediate goal: to marry contemporary art with a church of the twelfth century to recover. The long-term objective “intervene ancient churches in the area that take years to reopen closed and create a route to attract public” he says.

When started thinking about the project, had very clear that wanted to work full of “color and energy ‘as far as possible from the” darkness and sadness “that sometimes evoke these places. And an intervention that would allow parishioners “feel good, let go and seek his inner world without imposing images.” In short, “a decoration full of flowers and nature that made reference to the environment where it is located.” The result Moix defined as “a cave of colors” and as “a church that is a garden”. All sprinkled with texts by J. V. Foix and Cavafy.

Santi Moix painting 2

First he thought of projecting images and grow fungi to draw space. But the Centre de Restauració Bens Mobles de Catalunya suggested to paint al fresco. “The technique of techniques” that Moix had never used but now passionately defends “A very sophisticated technique that allows great freedom gesture that puts you in your place: the correction is not possible.”

Porcelain flower

The suggestion fresco painting was the only one received. For the rest he has had complete freedom, both by locals as the Bishop of Urgell. “I told them I would not make saints or virgins, but nature and light. And they were very receptive “he says.

Santi Moix painting 3

Although there are some religious reference as the four evangelists and feet of Christ. For the last stage of the project, when there is funding left the representation of the resurrection: “A large flower in the apse in layers of petals made from porcelain and ceramic scatter light and color. Something very complicated technically, “he explains.

For now, he made like and attracts curious. “Every day I receive visits and I have to convince to return to the last minute. Since the walls make me time. ” And the cool does not support or corrections or delays.

Courtesy  Car Service Barcelona airport

Chauffeur Barcelona airport

Limousine service Spain