There’s something about reading a book in situ, isn’t there?
Beaches are not my usual habitat but my travelling companion’s blistered feet did insist on some respite after we had walked the length and breadth of Barcelona, down the Ramblas, around the Gaudi buildings and parks, the Picasso Museum and the Miro foundation. While she sun-worshipped, I spent hours in the company of Colm Tóibín’s very educative homage.
Tóibín has lived in Barcelona on and off since the 1970’s and has fully immersed himself in the history and culture of the place. While DK’s Top 10 Barcelona provided the necessary starting points, Homage to Barcelona added depth in 15 chapters with titles that enabled them to be picked off to compliment our itinerary. This second edition from 2002 encompasses the social and political history of Barcino from Roman times through the trauma of the Spanish Civil War right up to the building and beach clean up work undertaken in preparation for the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Selective chapters focus on cultural giants, Gaudí, Picasso and Miró. Interesting too the insider’s guide to local festivals, eating and drinking and other entertainments on offer. And let’s not forget the insights into Spanish literature. I’ve added a few names to the at this point virtual TBR. I’ve no doubt that Montalbán will appear on the physical one some time soon.
We were there for only a week and so it was impossible to follow up all of Tóibín’s leads, but reading the relevant chapter the evening before we visited a place certainly enhanced the trip. There were some things we would have failed to appreciate, had Tóibín not been following our every step. For instance, we would probably have simply shook our heads at this baffling box of junk.
In 1983 Barcelona built its monument to Picasso in Passeig de Picasso, beside the Parc de la Ciutadella. It was designed by Antoni Tapies as a glass box in a pool of water containing some old chairs and an old hall-stand, old ropes and sheets with indecipherable messages written on them. All the furniture is cut through with iron grids. It is an astonishing piece of work. It stands there as a monument the mind’s ability to create images, to our freedom to imagine.
While Tóibín has obviously failed to convert me to surrealist art, I’m sure I’ll be referring back to his book, not only when I revisit Barcelona to visit the places I missed this time round, but as I’m reading my way through the Spanish literature TBR that had amassed prior to my visit. I had to abandon Manuel Rivas’s Books Burn Badly because there were too many unrecognised cultural references. I think that Homage to Barcelona may have resolved many of those difficulties for me.
P.S Barcelona is so picturesque. The architecture is fabulous. I took hundreds of photos. There’s a selection of them here. I’ve still to title each photo and add notes. Still I hope you enjoy them in the meantime.
Glad you had a wonderful time Lizzy, well sounds like you did and sounds marvellously busy! My twelve year old sister has just gone to Barcelona this very weekend on a school trip for a week!
I love the city its one of my fav’s but stupidly didnt take any spanishor barcelona based lit with me. I tried and failed with Anna Karenina instead! I would love to take the Toibin book though next time I go!
I love reading books in situ, just adds an extra dimension to my reading and holidaying! I still haven’t visited Barcelona but I’ve heard it’s marvelous. Hope you had a lovely trip!
Barcelona is one of my favorite cities! Am also a big fan of Toibin’s work – will have to pick this one up!
Love Barcelona. I know you did some Gaudi sights – did you make it up that big paved hill to the park with the Gaudi buildings (one looks like a life size gingerbread house)?
Oh yes – Parc Guell. Fabulous! La Pedrera – superb! Casa Battlo – quite possibly the most beautiful building in the world?
Great trip huh? we loved gaudi city a lot with all it’s charistics of one big tea pot