Bring Great Writers to Life on a School Trip to Barcelona
Barcelona is the capital of the Catalonia region of Spain. This city holds many symbols of the independence of the people and their fight to retain this independence. The history of this wonderful city has been written about by many of the world's greatest writers; those born here or in other parts of Spain and newcomers to the city are amongst them.
A school trip to this region will open up a world of history, literature and culture for students. History has proved to be a fertile source of inspiration from the 14th century right through to the 20th century and many writers have been on hand to document events. The birth of modernism, the Spanish Civil War and Franco's dictatorship have all been written about.
Spanish Writers
Probably the best-known writer to come from Spain is Miguel Cervantes, who is best known for his masterpiece Don Quixote. Although he was a Castilian, he visited Barcelona and honoured the city when after the battle of Le Panto he wrote: €Barcelona, honour of Spain, alarm and terror of enemies near and far, luxury and delight of its inhabitants, refuge of foreigners, school of chivalry, and epitome of all that a civilized and inquisitive taste could ask for in a great, famous, rich and well-founded city. School of courtesy, travellers' rest, protector of the poor, home of the brave, vengeance of the injured and happy meeting-place of close friendship.€ What a wonderful and evocative description that was.
Another Castilian who loved the city was the poet Federico Garcia Lorca, who was murdered by fascists in 1936. Local writers who have documented the history of the city include Joan Maragall, who won all three prizes in the Catalan poetry competition Jocs Florals in 1904, and Merc Rodoreda who wrote a wonderful account of life during the Civil War. La Placa del Diamant (translated to The Time of the Doves) was described by Gabriel Garcia Marquez as "the most beautiful novel published in Spain since the Civil War."
British Writers
Many British writers have spent time in the city, too. A school trip is sure to take students to the iconic Gaudi masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia, which has always divided opinions - many British writers have recorded their thoughts on the building. When it looked as if funding for the project would run out, Evelyn Waugh made an appeal for the continuation when he wrote, "I feel it would be a graceful action on the part of someone who was a little wrong in the head to pay for its completion." Another great writer, George Orwell, was scathing in his remarks about the building and called it €one of the most hideous buildings in the world€. But whether one likes the building or not, it cannot be denied that it is a spectacular sight.
George Orwell spent a lot of time in Barcelona during the Civil War fighting against the fascists. He was present at many of the major battles for the city, including the Battle for Barcelona in 1936. Any school trip to the city will take students into areas where these battles were fought; evidence of the fighting can still be seen in places such as Pla«a Sant Felip Neri. Orwell documented his experiences in his book Homage to Catalonia, which is a wonderful account of the real events that took place at this time in Barcelona's history. The city has honoured him by naming a square after him: the Pla«a de George Orwell.
The literary connections students will find on a school trip to Barcelona are too numerous to mention in their entirety. However, you can be sure wherever you walk in this great city a writer will have visited that place before, and quite possibly have written about it.
A school trip to this region will open up a world of history, literature and culture for students. History has proved to be a fertile source of inspiration from the 14th century right through to the 20th century and many writers have been on hand to document events. The birth of modernism, the Spanish Civil War and Franco's dictatorship have all been written about.
Spanish Writers
Probably the best-known writer to come from Spain is Miguel Cervantes, who is best known for his masterpiece Don Quixote. Although he was a Castilian, he visited Barcelona and honoured the city when after the battle of Le Panto he wrote: €Barcelona, honour of Spain, alarm and terror of enemies near and far, luxury and delight of its inhabitants, refuge of foreigners, school of chivalry, and epitome of all that a civilized and inquisitive taste could ask for in a great, famous, rich and well-founded city. School of courtesy, travellers' rest, protector of the poor, home of the brave, vengeance of the injured and happy meeting-place of close friendship.€ What a wonderful and evocative description that was.
Another Castilian who loved the city was the poet Federico Garcia Lorca, who was murdered by fascists in 1936. Local writers who have documented the history of the city include Joan Maragall, who won all three prizes in the Catalan poetry competition Jocs Florals in 1904, and Merc Rodoreda who wrote a wonderful account of life during the Civil War. La Placa del Diamant (translated to The Time of the Doves) was described by Gabriel Garcia Marquez as "the most beautiful novel published in Spain since the Civil War."
British Writers
Many British writers have spent time in the city, too. A school trip is sure to take students to the iconic Gaudi masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia, which has always divided opinions - many British writers have recorded their thoughts on the building. When it looked as if funding for the project would run out, Evelyn Waugh made an appeal for the continuation when he wrote, "I feel it would be a graceful action on the part of someone who was a little wrong in the head to pay for its completion." Another great writer, George Orwell, was scathing in his remarks about the building and called it €one of the most hideous buildings in the world€. But whether one likes the building or not, it cannot be denied that it is a spectacular sight.
George Orwell spent a lot of time in Barcelona during the Civil War fighting against the fascists. He was present at many of the major battles for the city, including the Battle for Barcelona in 1936. Any school trip to the city will take students into areas where these battles were fought; evidence of the fighting can still be seen in places such as Pla«a Sant Felip Neri. Orwell documented his experiences in his book Homage to Catalonia, which is a wonderful account of the real events that took place at this time in Barcelona's history. The city has honoured him by naming a square after him: the Pla«a de George Orwell.
The literary connections students will find on a school trip to Barcelona are too numerous to mention in their entirety. However, you can be sure wherever you walk in this great city a writer will have visited that place before, and quite possibly have written about it.
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