An in-class field trip brought us to Medieval Barcelona. On the way we passed the famous Palau de la Musica. I had walked by the building several times and always stopped to look at the architecture and why the older half and the newer half looked so different yet fit together so well like a puzzle. The facade of the Palau is magnificent, my favorite part being the huge glass panel at the entrance. From there we made our way around the corner to a smaller theatre known as L'Antic Teatre. I took the recommendation to return to L'Antic Teatre and have a drink on the patio. It was great. Directly next door to this smaller theatre we stopped as a class for about 10 minutes to discuss a building that was built in the 13th century. The building is the orange colored one picture below and to the right. As you can see the windows begin to get smaller and smaller as the floors get higher. This can be explained through an understanding of the class system in Medieval Barcelona. The walls that surrounded the city had prevented horizontal growth, thus it had to grow vertically. The owner of the building, thus the owner of the store or restaurant or whatever may be on the bottom floor, lived on the second floor and was
given the largest window. His floor was called 'Principal.' Today, in my apartment building in Barcelona, I press 3 when I use the elevator. However, before 3 there is Entresuelo, Principal, 1 and 2. I'm not sure what Entreseulo stands for or what it's historical significance, if any, it holds. After Principal, in Medieval Barcelona, lives the artisan or master of the craft who works in the store on the bottom level. After him are people who work for him and on top of them live the maids of the house and building. It is a social hierarchy of richest to poorest from the bottom up. Balconies were also a sign of affluence. We then made our way to Santa Maria del Mar and on the right there is a picture of a grave stone. Wealthy families
that donated money to the construction of the cathedral were given the privilege of burial within the cathedral itself. This field trip also focused on the many guilds of Barcelona and street names signified where members of the guilds lived and worked. A large plaza in Medieval Barcelona was Placa de la Llana. To the bottom and the left, there is a picture that shows the sign of the Llana guild, or textile workers. There are many markers like this around the old city. To the bottom and the right, another picture representing a separate guild dons the wall. These plaques on the walls have lasted 6 or 7 centuries and the history of the city can be unfolded by simply taking a walk.
given the largest window. His floor was called 'Principal.' Today, in my apartment building in Barcelona, I press 3 when I use the elevator. However, before 3 there is Entresuelo, Principal, 1 and 2. I'm not sure what Entreseulo stands for or what it's historical significance, if any, it holds. After Principal, in Medieval Barcelona, lives the artisan or master of the craft who works in the store on the bottom level. After him are people who work for him and on top of them live the maids of the house and building. It is a social hierarchy of richest to poorest from the bottom up. Balconies were also a sign of affluence. We then made our way to Santa Maria del Mar and on the right there is a picture of a grave stone. Wealthy families
that donated money to the construction of the cathedral were given the privilege of burial within the cathedral itself. This field trip also focused on the many guilds of Barcelona and street names signified where members of the guilds lived and worked. A large plaza in Medieval Barcelona was Placa de la Llana. To the bottom and the left, there is a picture that shows the sign of the Llana guild, or textile workers. There are many markers like this around the old city. To the bottom and the right, another picture representing a separate guild dons the wall. These plaques on the walls have lasted 6 or 7 centuries and the history of the city can be unfolded by simply taking a walk.
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