Artistic Cities Around The World
A common phrase is “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” That is eminently true in the world of art. Certain cities from around the world have gained a reputation as magnets for talented artists, whether they wield a paint-laden brush or play a bit of jazz on a mellow voiced guitar. In fact, some cities have been welcoming those with an artistic bent for centuries.
Paris, France
Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin and Claude Monet are just a few of the artists that travelled to Paris to perfect their craft. This decadent city is also home to the Louve, a museum that holds many of their masterpieces, as well as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Modern artists still flock to Paris, some leaving behind colourful murals spanning entire buildings. Artists have also taken their street art underground. Underneath the city's streets are the Catacombs. These were once used to hold the bones of dead Parisians. Today the bones are still there, but some parts have been transformed into an underground art gallery. Most of the 180 miles worth of tunnels are officially off-limits, but those in the know find their way in and paint the walls every colour under the sun, or in this case, under the street.
Barcelona, Spain
In Barcelona the art is in the architecture. Antonio Gaudi's fluidic forms dot the city. The unfinished Sagrada Familia is one of the city's most visited attractions. The cathedral's construction is an ongoing labour of love that began in 1882. Until Gaudi's death in 1926, the artist supervised the construction, often changing the design of the many towered structure. Casa Batllo is another of his creations; now an apartment building with a facade that looks like it was crafted of bones and skulls. Park Guell, created for Barcelona's well-to-do, is now a public park. Gaudi once lived on the grounds of this open space filled with wandering, colourfully tiled walls, a walkway seemingly built out of tree trunks and a bright blue dragon that serves as a fountain.
Montreal, Quebec
The French-flavoured city of Montreal is known for its stunning architecture, reverence for history and its love of the arts. The Place Jacques-Carter, in Old Montreal, closes to vehicular traffic every summer. Pedestrians have full run of the cobblestoned streets, lined with artists creating and selling their wares. Street musicians hold impromptu mini-concerts and performers demonstrate everything from mime to death-defying feats of sword swallowing and juggling with fire. Sidewalk cafes line the street, making sure you can still watch the show while enjoying French onion soup or a bold glass of wine. Take a horse drawn carriage tour to get your bearings and then head back to the spots that interest you most.
No matter what city you choose for your holiday, check to see if your credit card provider offers any experiential benefits such as free or reduced entry in to galleries during the time of your travel. If that fails, you could enjoy other forms of art such as shows, for which you can often get reduced tickets should your card offer those benefits.
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