The Museu National d’Art de Catalunya had quite a lead up with an avenue of decorated steps rising to the terraced columnar entrance below its dome. The approach was a cross between Versailles and Monte Carlo.
The museum had the size of one of Chicago’s Columbian Exposition buildings. Inside it was sectioned off into four large gallery floors. I dragged Ella to the Renaissance & Baroque collection that she thought would never end.
Then we circled around up and down some stairs and went into the Modern Art area. There were some interesting large portraits.
And a sculpted head of Don Quixote that had transfixed a guy taking selfies by it. He must have posed in at least ten shots. I couldn’t tell if he was identifying with Quixote or challenging him.
I turned a corner and there was a silent movie Méliès made at the turn of the century where the special effects were showing a volcano erupting.
I don’t exactly know why this clip was part of the exhibition, but, hey, I’ll take my Méliès where I can find him. There was another floor devoted to 19th century art, but Ella wasn’t having any part of it, and I was at the point where anything I looked at wasn’t really registering. Time to exit. Outside, on the terrace, the crowds, the street musicians, and the view reminded me of Montmartre.
We took the metro back to the Gothic Quarter and had empanadas for dinner.
Did you happen to notice the shopping plaza across the street from the steps? It was a bullfighting ring that was jacked up and several floors of shopping was sandwiched in. It is truly an amazing city!
Yes. If it’s the one I think you mean, we went up to the roof top for 360° views. I didn’t know it had been a bull fighting ring!