Day 2- Montjuic Castle-12/10/2018

The ground floor at Montjuic Castle.

From the Sea wall facing the sea we are headed toward the Bastions.

One of the many courtyards of the Castle.

Bronze statue of a drummer

The covered way is a corridor running along the outer perimeter of the castle moats between the top of the glacis (the artificial slope) on the outside of a fortress that descends from the covered way to ground level, which made it more difficult for attackers to approach the walls – and the top of the counterscarp.

The view of the city is simply amazing.

Lots of orange trees in the garden.

In the middle of this picture you can see the Sagradia Familia Basilica.

On the left you can see the Santa Amalia Bastion which is an angular defensive structures projecting outwards from the curtain wall of a fortress, generally triangular or pentagonal in shape. They were used as advanced, defensive artillery platforms, allowing a depth of defense that forced assailants to retreat and keep their distance from the fortress. Furthermore, they permitted cross fire that helped cover the flanks

This area is called the Santa Amalia Orillon.

In military fortifications, orillons are reinforcements, usually round, which protect a flank of a bastion.  In Montjuic Castle the orillon is protecting the interior staircases, which allow coming down from the Bastion from a back entrance that opened to a moat.  In 1962 with the Castle opening to the public, the orillon was remodeled to become a balcony over the moat. 

The execution of President Lluis Company was executed here at the moat on October 15, 1940 after a trial and his sentence took immediate effect. He was led to the moat through the postern in Santa Amalia Bastion, taking what would be his last steps.  The witnesses noted the serenity with which Company's faced death.  His last words were: "Per Catalunya!" (For Catalonial).

More view of the city, the airport is on the left.

Catalan flag flying over Montjuic Castle.

Entering the parade ground.

Entrance way to the Parade ground

The parade ground is an unroofed quadrangle, located in the highest part of the castle and surrounded by an arcade which gives on to the main rooms in the fortress: the quarters originally occupied by the governor, the officers, chaplain and lookout, and also the dispensaries, canteen, bakery, pantry and latrine.

This was the heart of the castle, used for the administration, training and instruction of the troops.

Archway leading to the Interpretation center.

Inside the interpretation center where anybody can write anything on the black board.

Freedom board.

 The interior houses a permanent exhibition devoted to the history of this architectural monument, one of the most important in Barcelona, and indeed all of Catalonia.  There are 4 sections and this is just one them.

The first banner read let's form committees of action.

Defense and repression of Barcelona.

Our tour is pretty much over now...

 In the courtyard, a well used for collecting rainwater into the underground cistern.

The scenic way to get to Montjuic Castle is the teleferic but it is quite pricey ($20/person).  We were the cleaver tourists we took the subway and then the bus for about $1 per person.  It takes longer by bus but we had plenty of time.  It is also nice to ride on a bus and have the opportunity to see the roads and surrounding leading up to the castle.  The bus dropped you off just in front of the castle so it is really convenient.

Next..Day 2-Lunch at Bar Central