Homage to Barcelona
Homage to Catalonia was written by George Orwell about his experience fighting in the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) for the POUM militia of the Republican Army under attack by Fascist forces under General Franco. The book was published in 1938, a year before the final defeat of Republican forces. POUM stands for Partido Obrero de Unificación Marxista, Workers’ Party of Marxist Unification. Orwell, a socialist at the time, wrote in the opening of the book “I had come to Spain with some notion of writing newspaper articles, but I had joined the militia almost immediately, because at that time and in that atmosphere it seemed the only conceivable thing to do.” Orwell escaped to France after he suffered a serious wound. Barcelona, the most bombed city during the war, fell to Fascist forces in January 1939.
I am uploading this picture post while Felicia and I are visiting Barcelona during a brief Fall school break. A film clip of Barcelona at the end of the war at the Museu Nacional Art Catalunya shows the city completely destroyed during the Spanish Civil War by Fascist bombardment. Now it is a rebuilt European city mixing the old, the very old, and the modern.
The bombing of Barcelona between March 16 and 18, 1938 by Fascist forces during the Spanish Civil War. The planes were supplied by Germany and Italy in a prelude to World War II.
Panorama of Barcelona taken from Parc Güell.
La Catedral square at night. Parts of the building date to the13th century. The front entrance was updated at the end of the 19th century.
Rome started the city of Barcino on this site in the 1st century BC. However, according to legend the city was actually founded by Hercules while sailing with Jason and the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. These walls date to the 3rd and 4th centuries.
The modern harbor.
The Barcelona Mediterranean beach during the day and at night.
La Sagrada Famila is the largest unfinished Roman Catholic church in the world. It was designed by architect Antoni Gaudi (1852–1926) who in the church combined Christian belief with modernistic whimsey. Construction was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War when partisans burned much of the interior because the church was aligned with the Fascists.
Gaudi’s designs survive across the city including in Parc Güell where he lived.
Museu Nacional Art Catalunya in the Palau Nacional built in 1929.
The museum has an exhibit of Spanish Civil War posters. Republican CNT (National Confederation of Labor).
Plaza Espanya viewed from the Museu Nacional Art Catalunya.
The Castle on Montjiuc was continually extended as a fortification from the 17th century to the 19th century as Spain fought imperial war with Great Britain. After Barcelona fell to the Fascist, the Castle was used to imprison and slaughter thousands of captured partisans.
There is a strong independence movement in Catalonia and you frequently see the Catalonia flag.
El Nacional restaurant.
Barcelona Arena. I promised my sports crazed grandson to include this photo.
Adiós amigos (Spanish). Adéu amics (Catalan).
