One of my favorite things to see in Barcelona, which you won't find in many guidebooks, is the beaux arts styled main post office.
Centrally located off the Barceloneta metro stop, just below the Born and the Gothic quarters and with views of Port Vell, plenty of people pass this building and assume it's a cathedral of sorts.
Yes, you are reading this correctly, this grand building is the
post office!
Since you'll probably be walking by numerous times a day during your stay, take a peek inside with me.
The quiet entry vestibule is efficient but begins to prepare you for the main room beyond with the beautiful details of stone columns, bronze lanterns and a dentil'd cornice (a common Beaux arts design layout).
I thought this stair, while beautiful, was perhaps a bit understated for such a grand building, but I suppose it's not meant to gain attention: guests not welcome in the offices upstairs!
The
piece de reisistance is the main postal room with beautifully frescoed ceiling.
Now THIS is the place to mail your postcards home!
In case you still don't believe me, it is labeled plain as day, Correos.
The space is light filled thanks to the glass dome a few stories above.
Just another close up of the beautiful columns and that ceiling.
Tucked into a corner was a bit of history. I would assume Spanish mail isn't still delivered using these bicycles (but as slow as it is, it just may be!).
Just another close up of the beautiful columns and that ceiling.
Tucked into a corner was a bit of history. I would assume Spanish mail isn't still delivered using these bicycles (but as slow as it is, it just may be!).
I think it was a great idea to have a stunning, gorgeous building for Barcelona's central post-office. And the internal decorative programme only made the building even more important.
ReplyDeleteI found a very similar story in Algiers. In this case the taste was néo-Moorish but the money and effort spent in making the post office grand.. was the same.
Hels
http://melbourneblogger.blogspot.com/2009/08/french-colonial-architecture-in-algiers.html
I actually never went inside. Now I am kicking myself!
ReplyDeleteRedfines the phrase "going postal" doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteI always love the Pompeian decorations like those on the ceiling, but what really grabs my attention is that incredible dome! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLovely- My sconces were $75 each - retail says $425!
ReplyDeleteI scored right, just like you do with each and every architecture ~ design find!
be well ~
pve
Getting to mail letters from this gorgeous building could inspire me to write more letters...
ReplyDeletegorgeous.. gorgeous!! It must be lovely to walk into a post office that looks so amazing..
ReplyDeleteAmazing! If we had something like this in Atlanta I'd actually look forward to going to the post office. Didn't Jackie O once say something about beautiful architecture bringing dignity to our everyday lives?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Stefan.
The domed ceiling is breathtaking. I really am blown away, by the beauty of Barcelona!
ReplyDeleteOh what a shame! I just came back from Barcelona and many times I went past this post office, but I did not think it is so worth seeing inside. (I'll visit it the next time...) I hope it's okay for you, when I link in my Barcelona trip report to your wonderful & interesting descriptions of Barcelona, too?
ReplyDeleteBest wishes from Austria,
Traude