Through a collaboration between the Sagrada Família and La Pedrera, free tickets were given out for art workshops at Antoni Gaudí’s two most emblematic spaces. Specifically, this past April, winners of the draw held by La Pedrera got to take part in the Easter workshop held at the Sagrada Família, which included a fun tour of the Temple with a discovery game called “Search for the lost sounds”. And on 3 May, the winners of the draw held by the Sagrada Família participated in the workshop “Indiana Stones: Let’s Explore!”, which has the kids discover La Pedrera through activities throughout the building. We use our own and third-party cookies to improve this website, as well as collect and analyze access data. By clicking on 'OK' you accept the use of your data for these purposes. You can modify this consent whenever you wish. the iconic modernist building on Barcelona’s central Passeig de Gràcia boulevard opened its doors to its latest art exhibition: a major retrospective of the abstract Irish-born and US-based artist Sean Scully The exhibition features more than 60 works spanning his six-decade career From some of his earliest figurative pieces of the 1960s to his minimalist phase of the 1970s But La Pedrera will also unveil a new and “monumental piece” that is displayed in the courtyard and was made especially for the Barcelona exhibition.  The statue “is very important because it establishes a dialogue between the works of Sean and the architecture of Gaudí,” the curator of the exhibition Sean Scully is one of the most prominent artists of contemporary abstract art Scully has reduced his iconographic repertoire to a series of lines stripes and blocks that have become the distinctive elements of his work The exhibition is open until July 6. Tickets can be purchased here.  Get the day's biggest stories right to your phone The Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera presents the work of Antonio López (Tomelloso the representative par excellence of the Spanish realist movement of the second half of the 20th century his work does not allow for simplifications reality is nothing more than a starting point the austerity are the protagonists of his personal grammar from the intimacy of the domestic environment creative and human values of universal dimensions The exhibition at La Pedrera is the first retrospective monographic exhibition of Antonio López to be presented in Barcelona and it brings together a careful selection of around eighty works - between painting sculpture and drawing - which makes it possible to trace the trajectory of this artist over seven decades of work the exhibition highlights that certain motifs on which the artist reflects persist and evolve throughout his career: domestic interiors landscapes and urban views—mainly of Madrid— Exhibition organized in collaboration with the Drents Museum (Assen Curated by Estudio Antonio López and Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera students and people with disabilities (equal to or greater than 33%) members of professional associations (ACCA people with disabilities (equal to or greater than 65%) and accredited companions January 1: special hours from 11am to 7:30pm (last entry: 7pm) Maximum group: 25 students / class group and 2 teachers Free entry for teachers (up to 20 students: 1 teacher; more than 20 students: 2 teachers) Maximum group: 25 people; minimum group: 15 people Free entry for an accompanying person (from 16 people) Prior registration: cultura@fcatalunyalapedrera.com This exhibition has resources and accessibility services: You must book a week in advance at accessibilityat@fcatalunyalapedrera.com Reservoirs across the Segura River basin continue to gain water nearly two percentage points higher than the previous week This increase reflects the positive impact of recent heavy rainfall in the region According to data released Tuesday by Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition water levels in the Segura basin have risen by 1.93% over the past week two reservoirs have seen the most significant gains: Fuensanta which rose by 9 hectometres (hm³) to reach 31 of its 210 hm³ capacity saw a modest increase of 1 hm³ and now holds 89 of 437 hm³ the Segura basin reservoirs were at only 19.5% capacity The rains have provided welcome relief from the region’s critical drought conditions the Tagus River basin has also seen notable improvement The key headwaters for the Tagus,Segura water transfer With further rainfall expected in the coming days reservoir levels are likely to continue rising Log in to leave a comment © 2021 The Leader Digital “Sean Scully” is the latest exhibition by the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera The most comprehensive retrospective of the artist’s work ever staged in Barcelona will be on view from 14 March to 6 July at La Pedrera’s exhibition hall journalist and writer – and developed in close collaboration with the artist the exhibition follows a chronological exploration of Scully’s work encompassing all stages of his artistic production The exhibition presents more than sixty works – including paintings watercolours and pastels – created over six decades from his early figurative pieces in the 1960s and his minimalist phase in the 1970s to his most recent abstractions – the latest work in the exhibition dates from 2025 characterised by a reduction of his iconographic repertoire to a series of lines which have become the hallmark of his practice and reflect his aspiration to “restore emotion to abstract painting” Sean Scully is one of the most influential artists in contemporary abstraction Scully has reduced his iconographic repertoire to a set of lines bands and blocks that have become the signature elements of his work he is particularly noted for his painting technique Distinguished by an intuitive layering of paint – often wet-on-wet – his colours blend and emerge creating unique tonal variations of remarkable depth that infuse his abstract compositions with warmth Scully prioritises rhythm over form; the wide bands that structure his canvases vary in width have blurred edges and do not always follow the same direction – some run horizontally The simplicity and repetition of his compositions create a visual cadence that Each band of colour contains multiple gradations within the artist’s palette has become increasingly nuanced and complex Scully is deeply invested in the humanisation of painting His distinctive way of rethinking the medium bridges analytical abstraction with poetics His work has redefined the paradigm of abstraction evolving from the reduced vocabulary of American Minimalism to a more emotive form – one that reintroduces the spirituality inherent in the European painting tradition Scully’s work does not convey a fixed meaning but remains open to interpretation often eliciting a profound state of introspection and contemplation The exhibition at La Pedrera offers visitors a chance to experience the evolution of Scully’s work while underscoring his relentless pursuit of redefining abstraction “something that can reflect the dimensionality of the human spirit within the grid of our world” This exhibition at La Pedrera holds particular significance as the artist is returning to the Catalan capital a city where he lived for a time and maintained a studio for over 14 years It also coincides with his 80th birthday on 30 June it marks the first retrospective dedicated to Scully in Barcelona since 2007 His time in Barcelona led to the creation of a series of works some of which are now returning to the city These include paintings produced during his stay that bear the city’s name in their titles such as Barcelona Band of Light (2004) and Barcelona Dark Wall (2004) The exhibition also features a selection of Scully’s sculptures many of which are being shown in Barcelona for the first time A particular highlight is the newly created sculpture 55 (2025) Standing six metres tall and featuring a striking interplay of colours it will greet visitors to Casa Milà from the courtyard on Passeig de Gràcia The exhibition features works from the artist’s own collection – sourced from his studios in Munich London and New York – as well as works on loan from museums and institutions such as the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid and the Institut Valencià d’Art Modern (IVAM) Through a carefully developed strategy of partnerships with other cultural institutions the Foundation’s exhibitions extend their reach across the city with a series of cultural initiatives jointly created with various organisations activities organised in collaboration with the Gran Teatre del Liceu the Palau de la Música and Santa Cecília de Montserrat broaden the exhibition’s scope beyond La Pedrera offering fresh perspectives and fostering dialogues with other artistic disciplines filmmaker David Trueba has created a documentary that offers an intimate look at one of the most significant figures in abstract painting from the second half of the 20th century The film takes viewers inside Scully’s London studio where he is seen working on his latest pieces and reflecting on his practice It also documents the preparation of the exhibition at La Pedrera We believe in art as a stimulus for reflection and critical thinking at the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation we build experiences of the highest excellence that involve us and challenge us We propose our exhibitions as an intellectual refuge a welcoming space and a window open to knowledge Because culture is always a way towards a more humane world November 1956) has defined a sculptural vocabulary that builds immersive environments that refer to architecture mechanics and contextual factors of the environment Based on a language that combines fictional and natural forms her works include from suspended pavilions and lattices labyrinths and walls impregnated with texts as well as graphic work and drawings made on supports of various materials blurring the lines between interior and exterior and between what is organic and what is artificial Her installations evoke the memory of the landscape and refer to geology and the subsoil creating unexpected sensory experiences for the viewer the artist is working on a proposal of works that can refer to an architectural-sculptural dialogue ranging from the organicism of the elements of nature —also present in the building that will host the exhibition— to the strictest architectural or sculptural geometry The exhibition unfolds as a sequence of movements through the fluid spaces of Gaudí’s architecture and the closed and open spaces of Iglesias’s work creating a dynamic interaction between physicality and observation Some of Iglesias’ large-scale installations will be shown as well as a selection of two-dimensional works the Girona Provincial Council and the Gavarres Consortium have joined forces to reduce the risk of large-scale forest fires in the Gavarres Massif working together on a plan to improve the resilience of the area’s woodlands forest decline in the region – worsened by drought and heat waves – is weakening trees such as the maritime pine making them more vulnerable to pests and fire €200,000 will be invested – shared between the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation and the Girona Provincial Council – in prevention and conservation efforts The main actions will include thinning and clearing across 30 hectares of the massif to reduce vegetation fuel and prevent high-intensity fires These actions will take place on both public and private land under the coordination of the Gavarres Consortium which will prioritise areas and manage the necessary permits with landowners Part of the investment will also go towards constructing two water tanks and restoring stone paving – key infrastructure to support the work of fire-fighting teams The Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation applies a sustainable management model at Can Puig de Fitor where it promotes a circular and social bioeconomy while also carrying out thinning operations in maritime pine stands and selective harvesting in cork oak woodland to help the forest adapt to climate change it has introduced extensive livestock farming with Albera cattle to support landscape maintenance This first year of collaboration has already involved an investment of €30,000 in strategic actions at Coll de la Ganga with an additional €70,000 earmarked for actions in the Montnegre – Els Àngels area These efforts aim to prevent a fire from spreading across the massif from east to west This inter-institutional collaboration reflects a shared commitment to protecting the natural environment of Gavarres and mitigating the risk of forest fires one of the most outstanding creators of the contemporary art scene We are all Greeks' was organized by the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation and could be visited between March 8 and June 30 general director of the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera explains: "Our commitment to creating exhibition experiences of great artists is a reflection of the firm commitment of the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera to bring art to everyone this exhibition has been a clear example of this commitment and it joins the previous ones with outstanding figures such as Jaume Plensa and Antonio López we reaffirm our desire to bring art and culture closer to everyone thus contributing to enriching the cultural fabric of our society the Foundation and La Pedrera position themselves as a point of reference for high-level exhibitions." The exhibition was visited by nearly 40,000 visitors and all the activities of the expanded exhibition sold out their places Miquel Barceló started creating with clay in 1994 after a stay in Mali during which a strong wind prevented him from painting and drawing This led him to experiment with this new material which greatly influenced him and affected central aspects of his work Barceló's ceramics are like an extension of his painting The exhibition at La Pedrera has been organized chronologically and traced a route through Barceló's artistic trajectory over three decades of work has been supplemented with more than fifteen paintings and some notebooks related to ceramics in addition to a bronze sculpture that occupied the courtyard of Passeig de Gràcia in La Pedrera THE EXHIBITION HAS EXPANDED BEYOND THE ROOM the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera organized a series of cultural proposals that expanded the exhibition beyond La Pedrera to offer new perspectives by establishing dialogues with other artistic disciplines All the activities of the expanded exhibition sold out all their locations The activities of the expanded exhibition were the concert in the foyer of the Gran Teatre del Liceu with the pianist Alain Planès; Miquel Barceló's bibliographic exhibition Per amor a la literaARTura at the National Library of Catalonia; the presentation of the documentary Barceló traces of mud made by Josep Maria Civit; the conversation between Miquel Barceló and Albert Serra; the Pascal Comelade concert at the Palau de la Música; the dialogue visit with the Joan Miró Foundation and the Miquel Barceló day with the ESMUC (Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya) The Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation is a private foundation that works so that everyone has a better future The Foundation's dream is for culture to be the path to a more humane world This is why cultural and exhibition experiences are created that are an open window to thought to stimulate reflection and critical thinking The TimesBe it bone-like exteriors or the world’s most famous unfinished building most Barcelona sightseeing lists are anchored by the unique architectural confections of Antoni Gaudí too: seeing those should be non-negotiable But that’s only the tip of this particular Catalonian iceberg Active visitors can paddleboard at sunset and cycle around by day; foodies might take a tapas tour compare cava or trawl La Boqueria food market Then there are the art museums devoted to Picasso the four miles of sandy beach to investigate GETYOURGUIDEMeet while it’s still dark at the Eswell surf school (which also hires out kit to the more experienced) and take guided paddleboarding classes the small group will take to the Mediterranean water You can choose to stand or sit on your board and photos of you will be provided afterwards The reasons for scheduling this 90-minute class at sunrise are twofold: so participants can watch Barcelona slowly coming to life as light coats its skyscrapers and domes and so they can learn amid calm conditions ripe for beginners Casa BatllóGETTY IMAGESAntoni Gaudí’s remarkable and two can be combined on an easy guided walk along fashion-focused street Passeig de Gracia First up is the Casa Batlló townhouse — its rippling exterior resembles a coral reef or human bones better known as La Pedrera (the quarry) for a more rustic blend of stone and metal you can linger after the end of the three-and-a half-hour tour — which includes precious queue-jumping entry tickets None of the city’s history museums tells Catalonia’s tale more interestingly than the portside Museu d’Historia de Catalunya Everything from liftable suits of armour to Moorish poetry awaits across eight chronological galleries and four floors along with a solemn testament to Franco’s postwar suppression of Catalan culture Similarly captivating is the venue itself: an arched red-brick warehouse enduring from Barcelona’s old industrial harbour and topped these days by the panoramic rooftop restaurant and café • Discover our full guide to Barcelona ALAMYTaking longer to finish is Gaudí’s most famous concoction Work on the Sagrada Familia began in 1882 and completion is finally due soon — but then that’s been said before Instructed to build a temple as atonement for Barcelona’s sins of modernity the architect responded with 18 sculpture-snagged spires multicoloured stained-glass portals and strangely angled pillars aping a madcap forest and to go early for cooler climes — especially given that bare shoulders and short skirts or shorts are prohibited tower-climbing tours give the easiest and most comprehensive access just 40 miles up Catalonia’s coastal highway the Costa Brava’s beautiful castles and colourful villages can easily be enjoyed by Barcelona-goers An all-day tour might begin at an unspoilt sandy cove for some sunbathing or swimming before a typical three-course Mediterranean lunch and glass of sangria at a family-run restaurant In the afternoon you can visit Tossa de Mar (above) this seaboard’s best-preserved fortified town and wander up to its picturesque lighthouse GETTY IMAGESGaudí did green spaces too — well the Unesco-listed Parc Guell was actually intended as a housing area imbued with fantastical Catalan modernism little buyer interest ensued and Gaudí moved into the lone home instead Guided walks enter via a dramatic staircase whose broken-tile mosaics typify Catalonia’s “trencadis” style a cave dwelling-like laundry room and a free-flowing theatre plaza this tour heads for the eastern neighbourhood of El Clot No English-language menus or food trends here; rather you’ll frequent family-owned bodegas where grandpas and grandmas have manned the kitchen for decades producing cold cuts or seafood dishes you’ll not find downtown and where the other customers are all regulars Traditional plates to look out for include buñuelos de bacalao — salt-cod fritters that are best washed down with some cava or vermouth vegetarians and coeliacs can all be accommodated Pablo Picasso spent his formative years in Barcelona explaining perhaps why the Gothic Quarter’s vast Museo Picasso focuses so strongly on his output up to 1904 Sprawling across three connected 14th-century mansions this 5,000-strong permanent collection includes oils or sketches from its subject’s domestic childhood holidays plus portraits of his parents completed when he was 15 — proof of a precocious talent There are also renditions of Paris and Barcelona itself along with Blue Period works and revisions of Velázquez’s masterpiece ALAMYBarcelona has dozens of rooftop cocktail terraces but even more romantic than them is a sunset catamaran cruise you’ll see the sail-shaped W Hotel and then follow the coast as winds dictate In one direction will be the pink sea; in the other A glass of cava or wine is usually served as chill-out music plays the boats’ size guarantees a sense of seclusion McJesus by Jani LeinonenWhat do the following have in common All are works inside Barcelona’s Museum of Prohibited Art opened in 2023 near Placa de Catalunya by Tatxo Benet a Catalan collector and businessman who thinks that no such creation should be taboo • Best affordable hotels in Barcelona• Best boutique hotels in Barcelona FC Barcelona’s stadium is the biggest in European football the nerve centre of an acute football philosophy and a realm indelibly associated with wizardry by Romario the Players Experience is the most exclusive It covers the home changing room and other private player areas as well as the press room ALAMYIt isn’t enough that Montjuic offers terrific views of the city; this hill above Port Vell also hoards attractions Tick several off during a flexible self-guided walking tour during which there’s plenty of time for breathers or extra investigation whenever desired You’ll first ascend past the stylishly spartan Barcelona Pavilion and 3,620-jet Magic Fountain beside which sprawls Catalonia’s national art museum Carry on by the royal palace to sculpture gardens and the Olympic Stadium before a grand finale: palm-hugged Montjuic Castle whose grisly history vies for attention with those glorious vistas Its actual name is El Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria and it’s one of Europe’s largest covered food markets: a place of typical tumult dimly lit lanes and floors slick with ice or vegetable peelings the Eat Boqueria tour capitalises on long-standing relationships with stallholders to deliver ham olive and wine-tasting sessions as well as behind-the-scenes access Choose the 10am option to encounter a more authentic market It’s a savvy move: temperatures still average 12C You can also inspect La Fira de Santa Llucia the city’s best and oldest Christmas market It’s been held in front of the Gothic Quarter’s Catedral de Barcelona since 1786 and its stalls are piled high with Nativity-scene figures including the cheeky and carols are guaranteed to be audible somewhere came about when an 1800s phylloxera outbreak forced winemakers into attempting to recreate champagne using their local white grapes One of the best places to try (or buy) esteemed blends is Can Paixano a Barceloneta bar (above) better known as La Xampañeria it’s almost guaranteed that it’ll be standing room only and bursting with atmosphere It’s usually possible to try various options before choosing a full bottle; otherwise two filled bocadillo baguettes and two glasses are unlikely to exceed €10 (about £8.50) — a bargain two-and-a-half-mile beach — the whole thing only assembled to support the 1992 Olympics Each designated section of soft sand is distinct busy Barceloneta excels in water sports providers and seafood-grilling chiringuitos huts while Nova Mar Bella’s amenities are perfect for those of limited mobility Sant Sebastià has naturist and LGBT-friendly zones Llevant is the least developed and Nova Icària and Bogatell both blend good facilities with calmness The Caress of a Bird at Fundació Joan MiróALAMYAnother reason to hike up Montjuic is the gallery devoted to one of Barcelona’s most beloved modern artists Barcelona native Joan Miró is known for blending abstraction — particularly oversized canvases or the incorporation of objects — with colourful surrealism across paintings he’s remembered in a white-walled building and garden that he personally oversaw similarly minded contemporary artists are also on show RUNNER BEAN TOURSThe mazy Gothic Quarter rarely has a problem seducing adults with its Picasso Museum The two-and-a-half-hour guided Kids & Family Walking Tour with Runner Bean Tours Barcelona Games and songs are promised as families venture into a puppet museum devoted to giants before moving on to solve mysteries at a Roman temple There’s also a stop at the oldest shop in Barcelona where children are tasked with working out what is sold there (parent spoiler: it’s candles) A street performer in La RamblaGETTY IMAGESThe five successive streets forming La Rambla — aka Las Ramblas — are Barcelona’s most identifiable landmark Identifiable and unmissable: they run from Plaça de Catalunya and the fountain where FC Barcelona fans celebrate wins It’s a boulevard that stretches three quarters of a mile Saunter down its pedestrianised central walkway and look out for the many fabled florists between a series of surreal street performers — one squats on a (fake) toilet all day — and pause on Cafè de l’Òpera’s terrace for chocolate with churros Thanks to its diversity of attractions — an aquarium here Barcelona’s buzzy seafront is great for families a three-hour walking tour begins in the renovated Port Vell At the Columbus Monument your brood will hear tales of exploration and new worlds before time spent in Barceloneta’s spider web of beachside streets Afterwards you could make castles on the adjacent sand or journey along the aquarium’s 80m underwater tunnel The Encants Vells market in PoblenouALAMYPoblenou is a post-industrial eastern neighbourhood overlooked by most tourists despite its youthful You’ll find installation-art galleries in disused factories and plant-filled concept stores or buzz-worthy cafés where warehouses once stood Street art — the good kind — decorates many walls while the Design Museum lures aesthetes Bicycle tours of this rangy area also stop for 30 minutes at Barcelona’s biggest flea market which these days is shaded by a mirrored canopy imitating huge shards of glass The Basilica de Santa Maria del MarALAMYIf it’s Catalan gothic splendour you want the 14th-century Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar astonishes courtesy of a neck-craning height The church represents a rarity for Middle Ages architecture in its singularity of style; aiding that was a 55-year construction English-language guided tours cover the crypt and rooftop; go in the morning for thinner crowds • Best hotels in Barcelona• Best restaurants in Barcelona Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Become a member Support us Sign up to newsletter This event has already taken place. We invite you to explore the current program Unique and exceptional concert by Pascal Comelade within the framework of his friend Miquel Barceló's exhibition in La Pedrera C/ Palau de la Música, 4-608003 BarcelonaT. 932 957 207[email protected] Monday to Saturday: from 8.30 am to 9 pm.Sunday and public holidays: from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm and 2 hours before the concert (for sale day) Exhibition experiences that challenge us as people and new perspectives on artistic creation The most complete retrospective of the work of one of the great references of contemporary abstraction this exhibition at La Pedrera-Casa Milà offers a unique vision of the artist’s career over seven decades from his figurative beginnings to his most recent creations lines and textures convey deep emotions and create a unique connection with the viewer Each piece is an invitation to immerse yourself in a universe of rhythm and intensity that transforms abstract painting into a visual and introspective experience Sean Scully says he loves seeing his works in such an eccentric space as Gaudí's La Pedrera because it achieves something extraordinary On the occasion of the exhibition organized by the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera we spoke with the artist about his relationship with Gaudí color and music; as well as other details of his life and work The intensity of Scully's work cannot be explained or captured in a reproduction.. it must be seen and let yourself be captured Now you have the opportunity to see it with this great retrospective at La Pedrera “I think we are facing one of the most complete exhibitions of Sean Scully because it includes seven decades of his production and all the artistic disciplines in which he has worked” which can be seen in the exhibition hall of La Pedrera until July 6 explains what we will find in the hall of La Pedrera -paintings photographs and works on paper-; as well as the particularities of the work of this reference of contemporary abstraction Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Barcelona the last secular building designed by Antoni Gaudí the Casa Milà (popularly known as La Pedrera It is a stupendous and daring feat of architecture and the culmination of the architect's experimental attempts to recreate natural forms with bricks and mortar (not to mention ceramics and even smashed-up cava bottles) it appears to have been washed up on shore its marine feel complemented by collaborator Josep Maria Jujol's tangled balconies sea-foamy ceilings and interior patios as blue as a mermaid's cave.When it was completed in 1912 it was so far ahead of its time that the woman who financed it as her dream home became the laughing stock of the city - hence the 'stone quarry' tag Its rippling façade led local painter Santiago Rusiñol to quip that a snake would be a better pet than a dog for the inhabitants But La Pedrera has become one of Barcelona's best-loved buildings and is adored by architects for its extraordinary structure: it is supported entirely by pillars asymmetrical windows of the façade to invite in great swathes of natural light.There are three exhibition spaces The first-floor art gallery hosts shows of eminent artists while the upstairs space is dedicated to giving visitors a finer appreciation of Gaudí: accompanied by an audio guide (included in the admission price) you can visit a reconstructed Modernista flat on the fourth floor with a sumptuous bedroom suite by Gaspar Homar framed by parabolic arches worthy of a Gothic cathedral holds a museum offering an insightful overview of Gaudí's career Best of all is the chance to stroll on the roof of the building amid its trencadís-covered ventilation shafts: their heads are shaped like the helmets of medieval knights which led the poet Pere Gimferrer to dub the spot 'the garden of warriors' Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! facebooktwitterspotifytiktokAbout us Contact us Time Out Worldwide SpainChevron CataloniaChevron BarcelonaChevron ChevronChevronPhotosSave this storySaveSave this storySaveReviewed by Gemma AskhamTell me: What’s this place all about?On the corner of Passeig de Gràcia and Calle Provença, just in sight of Casa Batlló three blocks down it’s the pillars on the roof of Casa Milà—twisted like corkscrews—that first grab you and the decided lack of color—this is a Gaudí after all Casa Milà got its nickname La Pedrera ("stone quarry") for these exact reasons: the sand-colored façade bears a striking resemblance to an open pit (admittedly some lucky residents and offices still count this as their address But the visitable space includes a majestic internal courtyard an attic showcasing models and plans of Gaudí’s buildings What’s it like being there?Casa Milà feels like the architect’s choice totally at the top of his game—it’s considered a breakthrough piece Is there a guide involved?Ticketed entry (€22) includes an audio guide Who comes here?Unofficially number four on the Gaudí chart (after La Sagrada Familia Park Güell and Casa Batllò) Casa Milà dodges some of the hype It’s the underdog—but one that still packs all the Gaudí punches (The balcony ironwork the roof hosts cava and concert nights with classical performers And La Pedrera Night Experience is an immersive evening event that projects visuals onto the walls to tell its history in a dynamic up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Les cases barates del Bon Pastor have been included in Iconic House a list that values buildings-museums where there are places like La Pedrera This has now been pointed out by the Iconic House network which has included the Casas Baratas del Bon Pastor in its prestigious list of buildings which also includes some of Gaudí’s jewels Iconic House is an organization that selects 20th century homes and studios that stand out for their architectural value and function as museums the cheap houses of Bon Pastor join the list of 198 houses around the world that are part of this network among which already include in Barcelona the Pedrera (Casa Milà) the visitable floor of the Casa Bloc and the Casa Moratiel This recognition underlines the historical and architectural importance of these modest dwellings built in 1929 in response to the need for affordable housing for the city’s working classes Inside the houses, visitors can tour an exhibition that reflects the daily life of the residents over nearly a century, with architectural details and objects that transport them to different eras. That stigma led them to be out of the heritage panorama of the city, but in recent years the claim of the periphery has put them back on the map, and the precariousness of housing conditions in the city make see these houses, small individual low houses with their own courtyard located in pedestrian streets, as a small luxury that many would sign right now in the city. This project is part of Acciones para Músicos Noveles (Actions for New Musicians), which is the result of the collaboration between Acción Cultural Española, AC/E and Taller de Músics. The aim of the project is to promote the creation and international careers of talented artists from the Taller de Músics community. Price: 38 € (includes free visit to the attic of the whale, concert and drink) the last house built by the Catalan artist Raphael Minder speaks to one of the few remaining residents living in the midst of it all I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Every year, more than 1 million people visit the home of Ana Viladomiu in Barcelona Viladomiu lives in La Pedrera, the last house built by Antoni Gaudi, the brilliant Catalan architect who died after being hit by a tram in 1926. His works around the city have helped make Barcelona one of Europe’s main tourism hubs whose undulating and uneven stone facade makes it look as if cave dwellings had been carved into a massive rock visitors discover a building with unusual features from bottom to top The tiled courtyard at the entrance resembles an underwater forest; the roof terrace has chimneys shaped like helmets living in La Pedrera raises some practical issues starting with her daily struggle to reach the elevator that leads to her fourth-floor apartment “I’ve found myself many times elbowing my way home while people shouted at me because they thought I was jumping the ticket queue,” she says in her apartment especially if you’re carrying your shopping bags back home.” The apartment itself is a whitewashed and airy 350 square meters and is lightly furnished and has large bay windows moved into the building shortly after meeting her husband who rented one of the apartments before La Pedrera was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1984 Gaudi designed the building as a private residence which was then shared among several tenants he was commissioned by a wealthy couple – Roser Segimon and her husband Pere Mila – to build their new home on what was then becoming – and remains – the city’s fashionable shopping avenue Gaudi took six years to complete the building after which the couple kept the main floor for themselves which had been subdivided into 20 apartments became the talk of Barcelona even before it was completed because of its rough-looking facade and asymmetrical shape His design was satirised by newspaper cartoonists The couple was eventually fined by city authorities because Gaudi built a house that was larger than allowed by its building permit outlived her husband and sold La Pedrera to a real estate company Another architect then transformed the top floor Viladomiu has one of the few left. In March, she published a book, The Last Neighbour, about the history of the building, as well as the experience of occupying an apartment in one of the jewels of Gaudi’s Modernist style of architecture is that her rent has not risen significantly in over three decades even as the tourism value of La Pedrera has rocketed “Paying what I pay to live in such an extraordinary place in the heart of Barcelona I would be very silly to move anywhere else,” she says without revealing the exact cost of her rent I’ve found myself many times elbowing my way home while people shouted at me because they thought I was jumping the ticket queue but that includes access to only part of the building including one of the apartments he designed intrepid visitors have sometimes overstepped the boundaries forcing Viladomiu to add a barrier outside her apartment she says: “There were people ringing my doorbell constantly Viladomiu opened her front door to strangers “When I have seen some tourists approach who looked interesting to me Viladomiu likens her experience to living on the set of Big Brother photographed by tourists whenever she steps out onto her balcony and monitored by security cameras and smoke detectors she has sometimes inadvertently set off while cooking her dinner “But it’s of course the Big Brother of our world heritage,” she added Nowadays, Gaudi is at the heart of Barcelona’s tourism offering, and efforts are continuing to highlight his works. The most ambitious project concerns his unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia basilica, which was only about a quarter built at the time Gaudi died. This month, city authorities finally delivered a permit to allow the works to proceed, in a bid to complete the building in 2026, which would coincide with the centenary of Gaudi’s death. Two years ago, the first house that Gaudi built in Barcelona, Casa Vicens, was transformed into a museum. Barcelona’s current love affair with Gaudi contrasts with the relative disinterest shown toward his works in the 1980s, when La Pedrera was last put up for sale and struggled to attract a buyer. Eventually, Caixa de Catalunya, a bank, paid 900 million pesetas, equivalent to £5m, to buy the building in 1986. The bank’s foundation then renovated La Pedrera and opened it to tourists, while offering to pay off the tenants to move out. In addition to Viladomiu, a few other tenants also refused the foundation’s offer. Two of them still reside in the building, but they didn’t want to be interviewed. Gaudi included features in La Pedrera that were novelties at the time, like an elevator and running water in each apartment. La Pedrera was also one of the first houses in Barcelona to have an underground garage, with 16 spaces where residents could park either their cars or their horse carriage. The garage has now become an auditorium. But Viladomiu also pointed out some aspects of Gaudi’s design that showed how he prioritised aesthetics, including his extensive use of curved surfaces. “You can almost forget installing a bookshelf, because there isn’t a single straight wall here,” she says. “Gaudi had very clear ideas and a very strong personality, which you just have to respect in order to live here.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies One of architect Antoni Gaudí's masterpieces in Barcelona, 'La Pedrera' or 'Casa Milà,' has become a new exposition site for renowned sculptor Jaume Plensa. The artist will exhibit over a hundred small, medium, and large-scale pieces until July 23 in different spaces of Gaudí's building in the Passeig de Gràcia boulevard. The show explains the different works Plensa has done during his last five decades and mainly focuses on literature, letters, and poems. Some of the works even date back to 1988, and for the first time, visitors will get to enjoy some of the objects Plensa worked on during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. Sculptures are exposed all around the building, going from the vast majority of the collection in the exhibition hall to ones in iconic sites such as the rooftop, the courtyards, and even outside the main façade. On the rooftop, visitors will get to see pieces such as 'Silent music IV,' dating back to 2019, 'Day-night' (2012), and in the courtyards, 'Overflow' from 2023 and 'Together' (2014). It is just outside, in front of Antoni Gaudí's 'La Pedrera,' where passersby can see 'Flora,' a 2.5-tonne and 7.5-meter tall sculpture, a piece made in 2021. Visitors, which will definitely relate Plensa's work to literature, will see that he was well inspired during his lifelong career by writers such as T.S. Eliot, William Shakespeare, Dant, Goethe, and Vicent Andrés Estellés. but we travel a lot to la pedrera to vacation ‘we used to spend all our summers there in the last 20 years and as soon as I found this land it was love at first sight.’ image © cristóbal palma (also main image) ‘la pedrera house’ is just a five minute walk from the beach made from a combination of concrete and wood sticotti oriented the two-storey building to take in sea views the ground floor contains a large kitchen and dining area that spills out onto a deck at the rear of the home while the upper level accommodates the living room as well as the master bedroom with sea views a separate guest house in the backyard contains two additional bedrooms name: la pedrera house architect: alejandro sticotti location: la pedrera, uruguay photography: cristóbal palma AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Not a problem: you can grab a quick meal without having to skimp on welcoming surroundings If you want to take in the views of the architecture around you be sure to try out the restaurants located on La Pedrera’s mezzanine or the various squares in the area © La BodeguetaWine bottles line the walls while barrels stand above the bar. Although it can get pretty busy, the food and friendly staff are well worth the cramped, narrow space inside, and there's a great terrace space outside to enjoy an array of tapas. With its old-style charm, La Bodegueta is packed with locals chowing down on traditional Spanish and Catalan eats. © Gregg CCBar Mut has an ineffably Gallic feel, with its etched glass, bronze fittings, chanteuses on the sound system, and (whisper it) Paris prices. The tapas are undeniably superior, ranging from a carpaccio of sea urchin to fried eggs with foie. Other menu items to look out for are haricot beans with wild mushrooms and morcilla, or poached egg with chips and chorizo sauce. © Tina SchmechelAs a master of the balancing act between elegance and cosiness, La Terraza del Claris is a safe bet for a great time. The true strengths of this terrace are its unbeatable atmosphere of well-being and its stylish design. Unlike other rooftop bars, La Terraza del Claris also boasts a top restaurant in the space. Well-prepared Mediterranean specialities and the friendly wait staff make sure you get what you pay for. © Cafe EmmaDesigned with the feeling of home in mind, Cafe Emma provides a cosy environment where you can savour simple French dishes. A true bistrot, Cafe Emma offers a daily set lunch menu featuring traditional French meals. Among their top dishes are the 'blanquette de veau' (veal stew), the punchy onion soup, the macaroni with lobster and the steak tartare.  This charming restaurant located on Passeig de Gràcia offers a Catalan cuisine as beautiful as Gaudí's creations. The team at El Principal creates culinary delights based on traditional dishes from around Catalonia. Be sure to order items made with seasonal food from each region. The inner courtyard is the ideal place for a meal with family and friends. © Scott ChasserotThis is the only restaurant in Barcelona devoted exclusively to mussels, so if you're a fan, you won't want to miss out. La Muscleria serves their mussels au gratin, in breadcrumbs, with cod, with spinach, steamed, in cider... and of course, Belgian-style: a good mussel casserole with chips. Pair your order with a fresh salad or tapas and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. In Mumbai, the word 'bembì' is used to talk about the navel, the nexus of union between mother and child. The restaurant Bembì is a nexus of union between Indian cooking and Barcelona. Relaxed and cosy, this is the perfect spot for surprising your date with a tasting menu – a senses-stimulating parade of 100 percent Indian recipes with touches of creativity and maximum-quality products. © Irene FernándezBreakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner – whenever you're hungry, stop by La Pepita. The 'pepitas', inspired by the famous pepito pork cuts, from the classic loin, are not to be missed. There's also a bar with a predilection for gin and tonics (they’ll make you a half-measure if you so desire) and their house vermouth, made up of gin, orange and soda. © Café de La PedreraLocated on Casa Milà's own mezzanine Café La Pedrera offers culinary delights that incorporate the best local products from both sea and land to keep authentic traditions alive you'll get your fill in the surrounds of La Pedrera itself seeing that bit more of the spectacular sight you've set out to see and is used to thousands of visitors a day in MadridMon 13 Apr 2020 06.00 CESTLast modified on Wed 1 Jul 2020 18.46 CESTShareOn a typical day upwards of 3,000 tourists would stream through her home But as Spain’snear-total lockdown stretches beyond Easter Ana Viladomiu has found herself weeks into living a near-solitary life in one of Barcelona’s top tourist attractions For more than 30 years, Viladomiu has lived in La Pedrera, a modernist jewel built more than a century ago by famed architect Antoni Gaudí The passing decades saw almost all the other tenants move out supplanted by ever growing throngs of visitors lured by the building’s rippling stone facade and knotted balconies Two other tenants remain in another part of the building – separated from Viladomiu with their own elevator and staircase – while a few security guards rotate through their shifts unseen Her unusual status as a tenant in a tourist attraction came to light last year after she published a book, The Last Neighbour, weaving together the history of the building with her experience of living on the fourth floor of an attraction that received some 1.3 million visitors last year Like much of Spain, however the building has been transformed in recent weeks by the pandemic “What surprised me the most is the silence,” she said such as the freedom to take out the rubbish in pyjamas I would never dare take the elevator in a nightgown,” she said with a laugh “Now I’ve been wandering around here freely She has taken comfort in the building’s cast iron pillars bright airy courtyards and sculptural nods to nature “I’m really privileged to be surrounded by art and beauty,” she said “I’m getting more and more used to it,” she said. “What’s going to be shocking is that first day when they open the doors and people start pouring in. I’ll be like, ‘Madre mia, what is happening?’” Antoni Gaudí's Catalan Modernist wonders have long attracted architecture enthusiasts from around the globe will become the first place in Spain that will be able to be explored with HoloLens 2 mixed reality smartglasses which in the words of Microsoft Spain general manager Alberto Granados "Gaudí was an extreme innovator and a person that was disrupting in his time with Modernism," Granados said "We are doing something similar now with the technology." For €18, adults and children alike will be able to "discover the secrets" of one of the Catalan capital's UNESCO World Heritage sites thanks to new technology used in the La Pedrera Magical Vision multi-sensorial experience Developed by a multidisciplinary team from Microsoft and Laie bookstore, La Pedrera Magical Vision will provide visitors with HoloLens 2 head-mounted displays that allow them to see both reality and Gaudí-inspired holograms of animals the experience teaches them about "Gaudí's architecture and the period of Modernism but with new technology," Marta Lacambra Puig the general director of the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation told Catalan News.  La Pedrera Magical Vision will only be available on the first floor of the building which will be open to the public for the first time ever, and will allow visitors to learn about the building's history – and fascinating tidbits – in an immersive manner: Did you know that Jack Nicholson starred in a movie that was shot there Or that the basement served as a bomb shelter during the Spanish Civil War who commissioned the building that bears his name The Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera presents the work of Miquel Barceló (Felanitx 1957) is one of the most notable figures on the contemporary art scene Barceló began to create using clay in 1994 during a trip to Mali when strong winds made it impossible for him to paint and draw because his works ended up covered in dust he began to experiment using this material that was new to him which influenced him and affected core aspects of his work Barceló’s ceramic pieces are thus a kind of extension of his painting charts Barceló’s artistic career over three decades from his first works produced in Africa in 1994 to his more recent pieces The show is complemented with paintings and works on paper related to the ceramic exhibits and also includes a bronze sculpture installed in the courtyard of La Pedrera Visit La Pedrera-Casa Milà and the temporary exhibition «Barceló from 10 am to 7.30 pm (last visit: 5.30 pm); Friday from 10 am to 7.30 pm (last visit: 6 pm); Friday Free entry for an accompanying person (from 16 people) You must book a week in advance at accessibilityat@fcatalunyalapedrera.com  who has lived in the building for more than 30 years The writer used to live in the apartment with her husband and daughters but now lives alone Antoni Gaudi's La Pedrera opened in 1912 and took six years to complete Video produced by Daniel South and Sergi Forcada Freixas ShareSavePeople cheer as power comes back on in MadridResidents applauded as the lights came back on in Spain's capital, after a huge power cut brought the country to a standstill. 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Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera and Laie – Culture Experience today presented the new La Pedrera Magical Vision experience that lets you discover the secrets of La Pedrera-Casa Milà through a combination of holographic technology and reality offering a new vision of the building and Gaudí’s creations through Mixed Reality (MR) The Pedrera Magical Vision tour takes place in a new space in the building which is open to the public for the first time This circular space surrounds the Patio de las Mariposas and follows the architectural lines of Casa Milà During the experience you’ll discover who owned the building and stories from people who have lived there over the years During the presentation of this new experience explained that «our goal as a foundation is to build experiences that offer new perspectives on art Laie CEO Montse Moragas added «we have worked with the team of Catalunya La Pedrera in order to achieve an experience with quality but also with the magic and emotion that we believe are essential in an experience like the one we present« La Pedrera Magical Vision was created with the intention of bringing a new way of experiencing culture to visitors and sensory tour was developed in collaboration with Glassworks specialising in visual effects and digital animation that has collaborated with companies such as Apple and Netflix and with audio-visual projects such as «The Crown» series or the movie «A monster calls» to its credit This is the first time that this Microsoft technology has been used in a cultural context in Spain not to mention the first Gaudí building to make use of it explained that «Microsoft is delighted with this initiative as it is a clear and resounding example of how technology can bring people closer together and solve challenges in the most uneven environments Interacting with the holograms and content in this unique space in La Pedrera will most certainly ensure that we never forget Gaudí’s influence on art« This technology is based on the concept known as Mixed Reality Holograms are combined with actual physical space and appear in the various rooms throughout the tour where the visitor learns about the building’s inspiration and history through these exclusive visual methods they are a participant in their surroundings interacting with La Pedrera’s history MR is very different from other experiences for example those based on Virtual Reality (VR) since the user’s adaptation is almost immediate The visitor is aware of the space and the surrounding physical objects at all times This new programme at La Pedrera is part of a series of innovations on offer this summer for a more experiential trip to this unique Gaudí building In addition to the La Pedrera Magical Vision launch a new audio and video guide system has also been developed that improves upon and modernises the overall experience The new devices bring maximum personalisation based on visitors’ interests who can choose what kind of content they are provided with La Pedrera Photo Experience was also launched which is a new photography and video service in the building where souvenir photos or videos can be taken against amazing backgrounds: such as taking a trip through time with fascinating vignettes from ancient times Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera builds experiences with the aim of bringing art in all of its forms to a wider public Suggestive elements are introduced to transform a visit to La Pedrera into an experience that challenges visitors Laie launches a new business line dedicated to the creation and promotion of projects combining art and technology and always keeping people at the centre of things In the short term it aspires to bring people closer to a new means of experiencing the cultural landscape It aims to fill a void by making use of new technologies that help people connect with artistic initiatives spaces and artifacts in a more enriching manner Tags: La Pedrera-Casa Milà inaugura La Pedrera Magical Vision, una nueva experiencia única en España y la primera en un edificio de Gaudí, con la tecnología del visor holográfico Microsoft HoloLens 2. Microsoft ha anunciado una evolución de su marco de desarrollo responsable para soluciones de Inteligencia Artificial y ha compartido con la comunidad una serie de recomendaciones para impulsar la creación de una Inteligencia Artificial (IA) comprometida, segura y equitativa: Estándar de IA Responsable. ACN | Barcelona One of Barcelona's most iconic buildings, modernist architect Antoni Gaudí's La Pedrera, is now open to the public once again after remaining closed for months due to the public health crisis. Like many other venues in the post-Covid lockdown era, La Pedrera has taken a number of steps to ensure health and safety, including making sure everyone wears face masks, limiting the building's capacity to avoid crowding and checking visitors' and personnel's temperatures upon arrival. In addition to reopening La Pedrera's main sites, visitors will also be able to enjoy a temporary exhibition on US photographer William Klein and concerts held as part of the Grec Festival. The Catalan capital's Sagrada Família, also designed by Gaudí, will be following suit on July 25, though it will only allow entry to tourists on weekends from 9 am to 3 pm – Barcelona residents, on the other hand, will be able to visit it for free in the evening. The over 37,000 tickets for locals, available at the Sagrada Família website, ran out in under 5 hours, which managing director Xavier Martínez attributes to Barcelona residents "wanting to have their time and space to take in the Sagrada Família's unique beauty." Residents left behind in this first batch will be able to try their luck at obtaining tickets for September visits from August 3.  and Europe after the Second World War saw the birth of a painting radically different from that of the interwar period Cubism and surrealism were succeeded by European informalism and American abstract expressionism which questioned the form and matter of painting a new generation of artists revolutionized art and opened new paths for abstraction the expansion of the pictorial space and the use of new pigments mixed with other materials and on other supports mark the artist's new relationship with reality violent and individualistic nature of abstract expressionism a series of movements appeared at the end of the fifties that were also expressed in the field of abstraction but which they seek harmony and order in geometry and kinetic experiences that incorporate a reflection on space and movement Dialogues with the Museo de Arte Abstracto Español of Cuenca» is based on the important holdings of the Museum of Abstract Art of Cuenca created in 1966 by the painter and collector Fernando Zóbel and managed since 1981 by Fundación Juan March The exhibition highlights the significance of this museum said in 1967 was "the most beautiful little museum in the world" while also presenting the variety and complexity of the various forms that abstraction adopted during the second half of the 20th century and shows its main tendencies in the national and international spheres art optical-kinetic or the painting of color fields includes works by Spanish artists with international prestige and also by the main representatives of the Catalan informalism the exhibition is complemented by a dialogue with some of the main international artists through the work of artists such as Jackson Pollock An exhibition organised by Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation and Fundación Juan March Museo Universidad de Navarra © 1998 Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko/VEGAP/Barcelona students and individuals with disabilities (equal to or higher than 33%) ICOMOS) and individuals with disabilities (equal to or higher than 65%) and their companions with proof 1 January: special opening hours from 11 am to 8 pm From Tuesday to Friday Price: €6 per students Please contact: cultura@fcatalunyalapedrera.com  or at the telephone 93 214 25 80 Pablo Martín Trio is a proposal with influences from hard-bop with their own compositions and arrangements Inspired by historical trios such as Sonny Rollins Joe Henderson or Mark Turner's current Fly the three musicians come together to play with the sound possibilities offered by this format the group took part in the Fara Music Festival in Italy where they ended up finalists of the Fara Jazz Live Award for the best band they won the first edition of Premi Talent promoted by Taller de Músics with the support of ACE (Acción Cultural Española) They were also semifinalists of the Jazz 2020 Competition organized by Juventudes Musicales de España «State of the Trio: Live at Nova Jazz Cava» Price: 38 € (includes free visit to the attic of the whale young men in the jungle borderlands with Brazil risk everything in a marijuana trade that ultimately bankrolls dissident armed groups The shaman passes around a white plastic container filled with green powder. Each of the young men in the circle scoops a pinch of the powder into his cheek and moistens it with saliva. The older man’s lips are coated with the powder, a mixture of pulverised coca leaves and ash called mambe, an integral part of rituals that helps the participants focus. a Murui man in his 30s dressed in shorts and flip-flops Every time he prepares for a gruelling three-week trek through the jungle he comes to ask the shaman for spiritual protection the shaman visualises the journey ahead and anticipates potential hazards river pirates and with the Brazilian federal police across the border “You have to take away the police’s ability to think Mateo carries several dozen kilos of marijuana that belong to a Colombian guerrilla group His job is to deliver it to a criminal organisation in Brazil But recreational use remains criminalised and the trade is controlled by militias and criminal organisations In 2020, Brazil ranked third in the world in marijuana seizures consumption of marijuana has risen as law enforcement let down their guard and traffickers increasingly moved large quantities over remote routes Trafficking in the most potent marijuana – which surged in 2022 based on the rises in seizures by the Brazilian federal police – finances violence perpetrated by Colombian guerrilla groups and Brazilian organised crime along the Colombia-Brazil border Recent crackdowns in Colombia have led to authorities seizing record amounts of marijuana being transported to Brazil by river in a remote corner of Colombia near the Brazilian border where there is a scant government presence and few jobs people hire themselves out to the armed groups to haul heavy loads of marijuana through the jungle The village is on the coffee-coloured Caquetá River The rivers are crucial waterways for armed groups to transport personnel I’m telling you from experience that the only way out of poverty here in La Pedrera is carrying marijuanaWilton drug runnerPeople here deny allegations by law enforcement of local involvement in cocaine trafficking – another key illicit trade in this area – and say the main source of sustenance is fishing describing it as the one economic activity that keeps the village afloat “I’m telling you from experience that the only way out of poverty here in La Pedrera is carrying marijuana,” says Wilton* Amazonian shamans provide spiritual protection to those who confront the dangers of the jungle who worked as a drug runner for about 10 years grew up in a poor family like most villagers for payment of about £5.80 (28,000 Colombian pesos ) a kilo a group of young men began carrying 50-60kg loads of cannabis through the jungle to a drop-off point in Brazil allowing crime gangs to avoid military border controls on the river Wilton was able to buy a plot of land for $2,700 (£2,100) and build a wooden house in La Pedrera Drug runners use backpacks made out of jerrycans to carry marijuana food and water on journeys through the jungle lasting up to three weeks Photograph: Alex RufinoAlso operating in the area around La Pedrera are remnants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) factions that did not sign up to the 2016 peace accords with the government a guerrilla leader named Danilo Alvizú made an appearance in April in Llanos del Yarí Surrounded by heavily armed fighters and several other guerrilla commanders and their entourages Alvizú informed communities about their intentions regarding the “total peace” dialogues with Colombian president Gustavo Petro’s administration Alvizú denies his fighters’ involvement in the drug trade Free newsletterGet a different world view with a roundup of the best news Guerrilla leader Danilo Alvizú commands the Carolina Ramírez front and participated in a Farc gathering in Caquetá Photograph: Andrés Cardona“Drug trafficking is a very lucrative matter in this area where Brazilian federal forces and Colombian military forces are involved They act as transporters who facilitate drug trafficking,” he says In May, in an emailed response to an inquiry from Amazon Underworld – a journalistic alliance working in the region – the Colombian navy said that about eight to 10 tonnes of marijuana a year have been seized in the Amazon region since 2012 “Brazil has very active cartels that are constantly trying to contact dissident groups and drug traffickers in Colombia to acquire everything related to production of cocaine and marijuana,” say senior Colombian navy officer Harry Ernesto Reyna Niño In Brazil, one kilogram of high-quality marijuana has almost the same value as cocaineHarry Ernesto Reyna Niño, Colombian navyBy buying the marijuana, Reyna says, Brazilian criminal organisations are financing the violence perpetrated by armed groups in Colombia. The trade in potent marijuana – also known as skunk, which has high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major psychoactive component in the plant – is attractive because demand. While some of the marijuana is exported to Europe and eastern Africa, most of the profit is made in the Brazilian market where the price difference between skunk and cocaine is minimal. “That’s why [marijuana] is highly sought after in Brazil,” Reyna says. “We can be talking about one kilogramme of high-quality marijuana having almost the same value as cocaine. This is of great importance to drug-trafficking groups in Brazil, such as the Família do Norte, Comando Vermelho, PCC [Primer Comando da Capital] and others.” In the shadows of the trees and bushes on one of the many islands in the Caquetá River, Wilton talks about his work. After pulling his motorised canoe on to dry land, he finds a fallen tree to sit on and lights a cigarette. When transporting drugs by river, he says, pirates are a constant menace. Read more“If you’re transporting 500kg of marijuana rolling up his shorts to show a bullet wound To get things and look out for your family you have to sacrifice your life completely,” Wilton says kneeling down and asking God for forgiveness.” The forest around La Pedrera provides food and medicinal plants for the Murui shaman known as el abuelo Photograph: Bram EbusDespite his experience Wilton always seeks out a shaman before each trip “Sometimes the federal police will attack or even kill you so if you run into armed groups of federal police Amazon Underworld is a joint investigation of InfoAmazonia (Brazil), Armando.Info (Venezuela) and La Liga Contra el Silencio (Colombia). The work is carried out in collaboration with the Pulitzer Center’s Rainforest Investigations Network and financed by the Open Society Foundations, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN NL). ACN First published: December 22, 2014 09:50 PM This restoration work is the third one carried out since the 1990’s. It focused on cleaning the stone and repairing the small breaches that have appeared over the years. In addition, they have set and applied a preventive treatment, which will better preserve the stone and iron, and will make future restorations easier. The stone’s porosity allows water to seep through, which reaches the metal structure and makes it expand, provoking the small breaches. Antonio López's exhibition in La Pedrera closed its doors yesterday with 72,560 visitors and breaking records of visitors at the weekend Organized by the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation it has brought to Barcelona a great retrospective of the artist who is the representative par excellence of the Spanish realist movement of the second half of the 20th century which has been the most visited of those organized by the Foundation in La Pedrera was the first retrospective held in Barcelona and brought together a careful selection of a hundred works - including painting sculpture and drawing—from different public and private collections It has made it possible to trace the artistic trajectory of Antonio López over seven decades of work the exhibition has highlighted how certain motifs on which the artist reflects persist and landscapes and urban views -mainly of Madrid- The exhibition has been organized by the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera in collaboration with the Drents Museum (Assen Goshen High School students returned from a weeklong trip to Spain in February led by high school social studies teacher and department head Marie Jane Panzer where they practiced their Spanish and visited historical sites Infinite Resonance" takes a retrospective look at the work of the Italian painter and engraver Giorgio Morandi (Bologna one of the most significant and unclassifiable artists of the first half of the 20th century but a major figure in the artistic panorama of the first half of the 20th century the Italian painter and engraver Giorgio Morandi (1890-1964) can be considered a timeless artist whose work stands out for its great quality and high degree of refinement Although he cannot be framed in any of the great movements of contemporary art his work tries to capture reality as faithfully as possible through light in a constant search for the essence of painting the city where he spent his entire artistic life Morandi worked on the fringes of any group or movement his first paintings were influenced by Cézanne and Cubism and after a short relationship with the Futurist painters of his generation he approached the precepts of the Italian metaphysical group of Carlo Carrá and Giorgio de Chirico and the purism of the return to order of the Valori Plastici group But from 1920 he began a solo career in which he developed his own unmistakable style characterized by a pictorial language of great purity and elegance Morandi always worked a figurative painting mainly still lifes and sporadically some landscapes Morandi himself came to affirm that "the feelings and images that the visible world awakens in us are very difficult to express or perhaps inexpressible with words in which the masterful use of light stands out above all is based on the search for a formal simplification in which the subjects are reduced to the essential For Morandi the use of reiteration was key and the same set of objects was revisited by the artist time after time in paintings and etchings curated by Beatrice Avanzi and Daniela Ferrari curators of the Museo di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto (MART) brings together a careful and significant selection of paintings drawings and prints from various museums and private collections in Europe This exhibition has been organized jointly with Fundación MAPFRE Opening hours: From Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m Matthieu took his first steps in science studying biotechnology cell and molecular biology at the University of Strasbourg His first research experience was in the context of a technical training in environmental microbiology for a program of analysis and decontamination of underground aquatic environments This experience oriented his career towards a master's degree in microorganism biology in Strasbourg the metabolism and biological clock of a single-celled green algae He then received his PhD in biology from the University of Tours thanks to his studies on the domestication of an endosymbiotic virus in the parasitoid wasp Venturia canescens he obtained a prize from the Fédération de Recherche en Infectiologie  (FéRI) that allowed him to carry out and finance a transversal project with the aim of evaluating the opportunities offered by the use of endosymbiotic viruses in gene therapy approaches he was hired as a postdoctoral researcher in a project of biological control of vine pests He currently works as an interim assistant professor at the Institut de Recherche en Biologie des Insectes (IRBI) and at the University of Tours in France and professors Bill McHenry on saxophone and Ramon Prats on drums a Mexican musician and composer currently based in Barcelona began playing guitar at the age of 11 with the influence of jazz Eddie began his career with pianist Samuel Martinez Herrera he moved to Barcelona to begin his higher studies at Liceu Conservatory where last year he graduated and was a finalist of the Extraordinary Prize for Jazz and Modern Interpretation Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation is supporting the Hypatia I mission a scientific project led by a group of Catalan researchers who will embark on a simulated trip to Mars through the Mars Research Desert Station (MDRS) space analogue facility in the Utah desert of different ages and from various scientific disciplines have been selected to carry out a mission to the analogue facility where they will live together for two weeks as if they were leading a real mission to Mars developing scientific dissemination activities and shining light on the role of women scientists in the STEAM disciplines (Science The Hypatia I crew will set out on a true adventure in conditions of isolation: they will have to eat dehydrated food water will be limited and they will not be able to communicate synchronously with Earth in order to make the simulation feel realistic Mobility will also be limited and all members will dress like astronauts when they have to venture outside the Catalan researchers will test equipment and conduct experiments to study the feasibility of a real mission to Mars The topography and geology of the Utah desert is very similar to Mars making this analogue facility an ideal location for this simulation the Hypatia I crew wants to contribute to scientific dissemination and inspire a love for science This involves making the role of women in the STEAM disciplines visible and fighting against gender-based discrimination in science and space exploration It should be noted that half of the Hypatia I crew have participated in the  Foundation's programmes to promote scientific careers This project is an example of the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation's contribution to the promotion of science and gender equality in the field of science and technology La Pedrera D’A Film Lab springs from a partnership between the professional space of the D’A Film Festival Barcelona and the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation with the goal of creating a new format that seeks to promote and create new talent as well as ensure their visibility and international outreach The Pedrera D’A Film Lab is a programme that seeks to promote new film talent by helping novice filmmakers finish feature films in the post-production phase and promote their international circulation Six unfinished films will be chosen to receive advice from renowned professionals in the film industry. This training will be held in such a stimulating and inspiring venue as Món Sant Benet the Jury will award a 10,000 euro prize to the best film of the six participants This award will be revealed at the closure of the D’A Film Festival Barcelona 2020 Feature films, both fiction and non-fiction, in the post-production phase may be submitted to the La Pedrera D’A Film Lab The project must be the director's first or second feature film The participating projects will be chosen by a committee of experts made up of members of the D’A Film Festival Barcelona the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation and professionals from the cultural and film sector and it will attempt to ensure that there is equal gender representation among the participants chosen The selection decision will be announced in the first half of March The registration period for projects will open on 19 November and will remain open until 30 January 2020 The Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera presents the work of Antonio López (Tomelloso López only has one starting point in reality in which the process is as important as the finished work As the artist says: "A work is never finished but reaches the limit of its own possibilities" he works on his paintings over the course of several years—sometimes abandoning them and taking them up again—and with each brushstroke he distills the intertwining of the object or the landscape until it captures the essence on the canvas the artist tries to capture what remains of the reality that surrounds us eliminating artifices and unnecessary details as well as capturing the moment when light and objects reach and brings together a careful selection of around eighty works—paintings sculptures and drawings—from different public collections and private from Lleida; the Juan March Foundation of Palma de Mallorca; the ICO Foundation and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid; the Hamburger Kunsthalle; the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York among others; which makes it possible to trace the trajectory of this artist over seven decades of work The latter constitute the obsessions of the painter and sculptor He tries to catch the ephemeral reality that surrounds us and capture a moment an instant in which the light and the objects reach for the painter's gaze who wants to immortalize them often wants to transcend the everydayness of things and landscapes by stopping time to capture the eternity of the moment I work with an interpretative key that requires a lot of time The result is a reality that fills the picture with something that I may desire." The exhibition is organized by the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera in collaboration with the Drents Museum (Assen and can be visited at La Pedrera in Barcelona from September 22 The works are exhibited in the exhibition hall with the exception of Carmen Dormida which is installed in the courtyard of Passeig de Gràcia he has curated exhibitions at various art centres Centre Grau-Garriga d’Art Tèxtil Contemporani 1957) is primarily known for his bold and powerful painting characterised by overflowing materiality and significant value in the art market climate conditions and local tradition led him to experiment with ceramics La Pedrera will host the first major exhibition of Miquel Barceló’s ceramics since 1999 Ceramics have the unique ability to bring together elements from various artistic grammars that humanity has created over the millennia – encompassing painting This characteristic endows ceramics with an artistic potential that aligns it with the great academic disciplines in the history of art albeit described with somewhat outdated terminology Barceló is renowned for his bold and powerful painting characterised by its overflowing materiality and significant value in the art market Despite achieving the pinnacle of success a living artist can aspire to the artist from Felanitx has steadfastly held onto his origins resonating with atavistic elements shared by the broader human species It is at this point that a strong connection emerges with the primal elements entrenched in the earth: water a native of Mallorca and a writer from Campanet Miquel Barceló has undergone up to three defining phases throughout his extensive and productive career shaping his development as both an individual and an artist The first of these phases unfolds during the second half of the 1970s and a significant part of the 1980s “hyperconsciously” wholeheartedly embraced the artistic tradition of the West The second phase is characterised by Barceló’s connection with the African continent and his decision to settle in Mali during the 1990s he engages with the most primal aspects of art: stripping away everything superfluous he not only delves into the essence of artistic practice but also discovers his personal essence – the “true homeland” that is childhood a dusty wind blowing from the southern Sahara to Guinea prompted Barceló to venture into experimenting with ceramics The next phase we identify in the Mallorcan artist’s journey is an organic progression from the previous stage: establishing a connection with the most primitive essence of artistic impulse leads him to explore cave art The visit to the caves of Altamira and Chauvet served as a crucial juncture in his relationship with the arts – a realm he sees as an interconnected whole particularly at the intersection of painting and ceramics – instilling in him a desire to paint like a modern primitive artist political instability in Mali abruptly severed the connection between the Mallorcan artist and the African country This prompted him to venture to other corners of the world the undeniable truth remains that none of these journeys has left as remarkable an impact as his time in Mali the documentary El cuaderno de barro (The Clay Notebook The film recounts the final moments of the painter’s connection with the African country Barceló himself revealed the motivation behind creating this record: “I witnessed a significant deterioration in Mali’s political situation and there was a possibility that I might never return I deemed it important to create a document that could capture my life there.” Specifically Lacuesta’s documentary features the last rendition of the Paso doble performance a collaboration with the French-Yugoslav choreographer Josef Nadj centred around the creation and destruction of a large clay mural we find the elements that define the ceramics of the artist from Felanitx: primitivism Barceló consistently asserts that he views ceramics as a progressive extension of painting reminiscent of the classical ceramics discovered in archaeological excavations It is precisely this transformative alchemy that sets his work apart: starting from tradition and pushing its boundaries utilising techniques like “sobretornada” [additional turns of the potter’s wheel in the process of crafting ceramics] to add relief to fresh works producing intricate details and surface textures Barceló employs this method to resonate with the natural imagery that constitutes a substantial part of his ceramic production evident in notable works such as the acclaimed decoration of the Holy Chapel in the cathedral of Palma La Pedrera will host Miquel Barceló’s first major ceramic exhibition since the ones held at the Juan March Foundation in Palma and the Museum of Ceramics in Barcelona will feature pieces created between 1995 and the present incorporating clay and ceramics alongside paintings and some bronze sculptures The curator notes that while there have been other smaller and larger exhibitions such as the one at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris The Barcelona exhibition will mark the artist’s first ceramic retrospective Exhibition organized by Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera and curated by Enrique Juncosa featuring ceramic pieces created from 1995 to the present Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with Barcelona Metròpolis' new developments Images courtesy of Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera On view through 23 July at La Pedrera-Casa Milà in Barcelona is a retrospective that comprises over 100 works by Jaume Plensa (Barcelona the pieces on display – dated between 1988 and the present – take up different spots in Antoni Gaudí’s building tackling themes that recur in the Catalan artist’s oeuvre Literature has always been a source of inspiration for Plensa and Vicent Andrés Estellés are some of the writers he has drawn from Letters of different alphabets are an element making up his sculptures there arent any match using your search terms More than 52,000 people have visited the 'Jaume Plensa exhibition which opened in La Pedrera last March and closed its doors on July 23 becoming the most viewed of the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera in recent years has been integrated by nearly a hundred pieces dated between 1988 and the present day but with the presence of works on paper as well The exhibition tour revealed to the public some unpublished sculptures created by Plensa during the confinement due to Covid has been the guiding thread of the exhibition which also featured other recurring themes in his career with a series of small-format pieces made in the nineties the creator's large-format works have shared space with Casa Milà - La Pedrera a unique dialogue between Plensa and Gaudí's architecture one of the sculptures that has generated the most expectation located in the corner of Passeig de Gràcia The rest of the works will be removed between Monday 24 and Sunday 30 July to make way for the next exhibition from September 22