Sometimes, you need to look closer. Whether in cities you know well or in places you have never been to before, you gain new insight through new perspectives. Sometimes, it is as much as to look up at the facades of buildings you never really consciously looked at, they were just there, a screensaver to your everyday life. There is beauty hidden everywhere, but the beauty sometimes lies in the little observations.
Gothic is not necessarily the architectural style that comes to mind first when talking about Barcelona. You instead associate the capital of Catalunya with the Modernismo movement, the local version of Jugendstil, and, in general, with the beginning of the 20th century. However, the city of Barcelona is older. Much older, in fact. It was founded as Barcino in the times of the Roman Empire and was an important city on the Mediterranean Sea throughout the Middle Ages. Therefore, like the rest of Europe during the Middle Ages, it was mainly influenced by the Gothic style of architecture. There is some of it still left in the city, notably the magnificent old Cathedral in the city center of Barcelona.
Parc Guell is a private recreational park in Barcelona, Spain. It is well known for its architecture and overall composition, thought out by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. The structures here, bridges and buildings, have a foreign, almost strange, feel to them. However, it is a beautiful sight and a must-visit when in Barcelona.
The city of Zürich is often called lovingly “Züri” by the local residents. In the region of Zürich, there are almost 1,3 Million inhabitants, making it the largest agglomeration in Switzerland. A city with a long history, it was founded by the Romans as a military outpost called Turicum.
Zürich is a clean city that seems to be pretty structured at first sight. On further inspection, it becomes evident that the town is historically grown and consists of layers from many centuries. There are Gothic churches, as well as neo-classicist palais and medieval monuments.
The city of Zürich is the largest town in Switzerland, situated in the heart of the country. Albeit not the formal capital, Zürich is the economic center of the country and constitutes the most crucial transportation hub. Moreover, it is a rich city with a rich a wide range of cultural venues and a high quality of life overall.
Michael Hoffman Photography 