Hammered Dulcimer Player on Portal del Angel, Barcelona

I am no music expert but after some research I would say this is a modest variant of a hammered dulcimer or psaltery (salterio in Spanish). There is some confusion about the terms dulcimer and psaltery whether the strings are plucked or hammered but experts say both words have been used indistinctly through history. As you can guess this is a very old instrument. It appeared in Persia about 2000 years ago and our modern piano evolved from this peculiar wooden box. This woman was in the middle of Portal del Angel flooding the place with sweet melodies that evoked ancient times. If you want to feel the same take a look at this marvelous video: Mermaid Medieval Hammered Dulcimer.

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Antiques Market, Barcelona: Virgin

This is a small antiques market that is temporarily set along Portal del Angel street, near El Corte Inglés building. Although there are bigger and more interesting markets selling these articles in Barcelona, some of the objects caught my attention during a recent walk. Remember I showed you a vintage phone, well now you can admire this beautiful image of the virgin whose facial traits and garments evidence the skill and creative talent of the original artist.

Water Spouts, Portal del Angel, Barcelona

Water spouts near Pignatelli Palace at Portal del Angel, Barcelona. On the tap, you can see the city coat of arms. There many in the city but these in particular I find extremely attractive. Check the place on my Google map. Here are two other previous posts showing spouts: Old Lady and Fountain and Boy Holding Frog.

Reial Circle Artistic in Pignatelli Palace, Carrer dels Arcs 5, Portal del Angel, Barcelona

Walking down Portal del Angel street you get to the intersection with Carrer dels Arcs. There is a small building over there called Palacio Pignatelli which holds the Reial Circle Artistic (Royal Artistic Circle). This entity was founded in 1881 although its royal category was granted by Alfonso XIII in 1926. The aim of this non-profit organization is to gather all those persons interested in Fine Arts and support them in their creative experience. The place has held many important exhibitions in Barcelona. But I only wanted to show you a detail of the beautiful figure on its facade.

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Portal del Angel: Can Cottet Thermometer

Back in 1956 a big thermometer was hung on the façade of Can Cottet building at Portal del Angel avenue (the most expensive street in Barcelona). It was customary in the fifties to boast about "new technologies" in public spaces.

Cottet was a famous optician selling specs and shades and I still don't understand what the thermometer had to do with them. But before you leave maybe you would like to know the whole story about Can Cottet thermometer.

The measuring instrument was designed by Rolando Cottet and was installed in 1955, but would not be operational until February 25, 1956. The project was carried out by the architect Pedro Ricard Biot. This thermometer is inspired by a similar luminous thermometer in Copenhagen.

The thermal range of the thermometer goes from 5 degrees below zero to 40 degrees Celsius. The thermometer is placed 4 meters above the ground and rises up to 24 meters . The device weighs two tons.

The Can Cottet thermometer has undergone some remodeling, but always trying to maintain the original external appearance. In 1998 it was renovated, taking advantage of the rehabilitation of the facade of the building. In 2009, its neon tubes were replaced by low-power led lamps. In July 2011 it was granted a "Little landscape of Barcelona" distinction by the Municipal Institute of Urban Landscape and Quality of Life.