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for the glowing review! "Go ask Alice ... where all the best vineyard gardens are. She's an erudite charmer; you'll have fun!"
Historic Gardens

Barcelona - Gaudi, Güell & Ciutadella

Parc Guell – Designed by Antoni Gaudi

Parc Güell  © Alice Joyce

Brilliantly expressive, the Modernist art and architecture of Antoni Gaudi is reason enough for an admirer to plan a pilgrimage to Barcelona.

A good part of a day in Barcelona may well be devoted to taking in the ambiance of Parc Guell. At the entrance, the artistry of a mosaic dragon arguably merits the city’s prime photo op for tourists. The masterfully sinuous configuration of the balcony terrace affords far-reaching views that are not to be missed.

Parc Güell Dragon from Wickipedia

Barcelona’s city center, Parc de la Ciutadella boasts natural science and zoology museums, historical buildings to delight architecture buffs, a lake with pleasure boats, and great grassy expanses for relaxation and people-watching.

The late 19th century park features a baroque fountain known as ‘the great cascade’ – a stunning centerpiece.

Barcelona’s most magnificent secret garden!

Barcelona Parc de la Ciutadella Fountain © Alice Joyce

The Ciutadella’s verdantly rich flora emerges in contrast to more formal areas, providing a landscape well worth exploring, with sculptures appearing throughout the landscape.

I found two shade or palm houses intriguing. Referred to as umbracle in Catalan, one ancient edifice built in the late 1800s was closed to the public; the other, a greenhouse structure of iron and glass – the Hivernacle – appeared welcoming.

6 comments - (Comments are closed)   Historic Gardens, Spain   , , , ,  
Garden Travel

Alhambra & Generalife Gardens, Spain

Alhambra Palaces & Generalife Gardens .. Highlights

Generalife ROSE Arches © Alice Joyce

An unforgettable profusion of roses and refreshing water features appear at every turn when you experience the beauty and brilliance of the Alhambra palaces and Generalife gardens on a Spring day.

Generalife Gardens  © Alice Joyce

The wonders of this world heritage site are the high point of a journey to Granada, the magnificent capital city of Andalusia, overlooking the Sierra Nevada mountains, some 40 miles inland from the Spanish coast. In May you can expect the days to be wonderfully warm, with clear azure skies.

Generalife The Patio de la Acequia © Alice Joyce

Patio de la Acequia – El Generalife: The presence of water – so integral to Islamic garden design – represents a life source, nourishing the body and the spirit. The Patio de la Acequia, as shown, is named for the acequias or channels for the irrigation system, which supplied water from outside the walls to the palaces and gardens.

Muqarnas are the unique tiered ornamentation mentioned in a previous feature exemplifies the exceptional craftsmanship which emerges in the architecture of the Alhambra.

Granada Alhambra Modernist Arena © Alice Joyce

A fascinating example of a modernist architectural addition to the ancient monument, the new Teatro or concert arena is a space composed of hard-edge forms and stark planes. The Generalife’s lush arrays of evergreen trees, clipped shrubs, imposing sculpted hedging and garden rooms overflowing with scented roses tend of soften the effect of the contemporary layout.

9 comments - (Comments are closed)   Garden Travel, Historic Gardens, Islamic Gardens, Spain   , , ,  
Desert Travel

Rancho La Puerta - A stunning setting for a Spa

Rancho La Puerta : The setting … simply stunning.

Rancho La Puerta Sunset  

It’s true, guests are served divine meals with a Mediterranean flair during a stay at Rancho La Puerta. Certainly the full schedule of classes and presentations offers an opportunity to arrive a peaceful center after enjoying one perfect day after another. Finding balance might begin with an early-morning hike, and breakfast at the Rancho’s cooking school, La Cocina que Canta. That invigorating experience may be followed with a yoga or tai chi session; perhaps an art workshop or an informative lecture about sleep after dinner.

RLP Dining Terrace Fountain detail Photo

The beauty of the landscape itself can be transformative. Majestic evergreen live oaks offer shade and shelter throughout the Rancho’s gardens, while succulents such as cacti and aloes, native and Mediterranean species, and drought-tolerant flowering perennials and shrubs add beautiful punctuation to the terrain’s natural rock formations.

RLP cart and cacti Vignette 

And then there is the birdsong…

enlivening every pathway, patio, and passageway during daylight hours. Art emerges at every turn, from mosaics & metalwork to stained glass embellishments:

RLP Entryway Ironwork Gate 

An exceptional collection of bronze sculptures appears amid grassy clearings, or as focal points all round the property: Works by Mexican artist, Víctor Hugo Castañeda.

RLP hardscape bench

Rancho La Puerta Stonework Bench

The presence of Mount Kuchumaa – “the exalted high place” of the Kumeyaay Indians – has remained with me since returning home, leaving me with a sense of nourishment and fortitude. Whether one is inclined toward spiritual pursuits or not, I would guess that the scenery’s powerful energy is felt by all who have walked the Rancho’s pathways over the course of a week. The stunning setting has that effect on people.

The Kitchen That Sings!

La Cocina que Canta © Alice Joyce

5 comments - (Comments are closed)   Desert Travel, Landscape Architecture, Mexico   ,  
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