Barcelona

Great book about the history and culture of Barcelona by an unbiased outsider and art critic.

A fantastic history, sociological, political, and cultural from the great art writer, Robert Hughes. Shock of the New introduced me to Hughes, and The Far Shore got me addicted. Barcelona is typically stuffed with engaging details which illuminate and entertain.

If you have been to BCN you'll love this one. It will take you by the hand throughout BCN's history from different perspectives: the arts, the architecture, the geography, the political conflicts, its main personages, and even its people's superstitions and character. You will learn the history of famed places like Casa Batlló (and all of Gaudí's impressive buildings), Santa Maria del Mar, and...more

If you have been to BCN you'll love this one. It will take you by the hand throughout BCN's history from different perspectives: the arts, the architecture, the geography, the political conflicts, its main personages, and even its people's superstitions and character. You will learn the history of famed places like Casa Batlló (and all of Gaudí's impressive buildings), Santa Maria del Mar, and the Barri Gothic,among so many others. If you want to be knowledgeable about this unique city, and about Catalonia in general,this is the book to read. It is not a boring guide, or something like that. It was written by Robert Hughes, an Australian who, like many others, including myself, visited the city (1966) and fell in love with it. He has been going back to it since then and is an expert in all things BCN. It is an enjoyable read and by the time you're done, you'll be wanting to go back there.   hide