Carrer Elisabets
When you live in a city, being outdoors to enjoy the outdoors, is often limited to hanging out in parks or squares, or if you’re lucky, on your very own balcony. In Barcelona this is no different, but luckily for those of us who live here, balconies abound.
There is a great variety in their styles, and I will show you a small selection, starting with the rather austere (above and below)…
Carrer Portaferrissa
… followed by the next two, where there is a little more detail to be found, either on the façade of the building itself, or on the bottom of the balconies (remember one of last Friday’s corners?)…
Baixada de la Llibreteria
Carrer Veguer
Carrer Veguer's canary
In Spain it is not unusual to find bird cages on balconies. Their inhabitants are usually canaries that sing their little hearts out while they bask in the sun. Barcelona is certainly no exception to this custom, and although I am not a fan of caging birds, I find it delightful to hear the song of a canary when I walk past…
Plaça del Pi
Above and below are some examples of slightly fancier balconies and buildings they hang from. Did you notice, how, on the one below,the balconies get smaller towards the top of the building? This is quite typical here. From street level, when viewed from close-by, they often seem to be the same size – an architectural quirkiness which creates this optical effect.
?
?
A very typical thing in Barcelona, is outdoor curtains. I think it looks lovely, and not only that, it also helps keep cool on hotter days, when it is too hot to lower the blinds to keep out the sun.
Carrer del Duc
Jardins Rubio i Lluch
Grander buildings often have enclosed balconies on the 1st floor. The above one is quite simple and elegant, and can be found in the courtyard I wrote about a couple of weeks ago.
Carrer Montsió
These two (above and below) are super frilly, aren’t they? I’m quite the ‘less-is-more’ kind of person, but I still love the exuberance of this abundance of detail on buildings around Barcelona.
Carrer Santa Anna
Carrer Avinyó
Many balconies are ‘dressed’ with plants. It’s a way to surround oneself with samples of nature, and when the sunlight hits them, the contrast between the fresh greens of the various plants, and the ochres, terracottas or stone tones of the buildings, is simply marvelous!
Carrer Montsió
Carrer Escudellers
Plaça Reial
Two pretty examples of floral abundance, both real, as well as hewn in stone and made of wrought iron.
Carrer Patriarca
Carrer Jerusalem
Where less is more: the mirrored windows enhance the wrought iron balustrade, and (below) the arches behind the outcropping balcony with its austere and straight lines, add drama to its simplicity.
Plaça del Angels
A very special balcony – well it is actually more of a terrace; I suppose – is to be found on a delightful square in the Barri Gòtic. It’s one of my favourites, and I can totally imagine evenings under the stars, dining al fresco with good friends, or having leisurely breakfasts on weekend mornings… Ah, but it’s only Monday! Have a great week!
Plaça de Sant Just
great post.great city.nice! up up
Thanks very much!!