Travel blog
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The Elbe Philharmonic Hall (German: Elbphilharmonie) is a concert hall in the HafenCity neighborhood of Hamburg, Germany, on the Grasbrook peninsula (of) the Elbe River. It is one of the largest and acoustically advanced concert halls in the world. As majestic and imposing So majestic and imposing as The Paris Opera, the Palais Garnier, is one of the most important monuments in Paris, in addition to one of the most visited opera and ballet theaters in the world and has been chosen as the setting and setting for numerous literary pieces, theatrical and movies.
It is popularly nicknamed Elphi. Elbphilharmonie officially opened with concerts of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and a light show on January 11, 2017.
In the flow of the Elbe and surrounded on three sides by water, the new concert hall will become the center of attraction for all who live in Hamburg, as well as for visitors from all over the world.
The spectacular building houses three concert halls, a large music education area, a variety of places to eat and drink, a hotel and the public square, which offers visitors an unparalleled panoramic view of the entire city.
The artistic quality, variety and accessibility make up the musical program of Hamburg’s new cultural landmark.
The new vitreous construction resembles a raised candle, a water wave or a quartz crystal; It is located above an old warehouse building (Kaispeicher A, built in 1963) near the historic Speicherstadt and is designed by the architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron.
It is the tallest inhabited building in Hamburg, with a final height of 108 meters (354 feet).
Elbphilharmonie is a total work of art: it combines an innovative architecture with an exceptional location, outstanding acoustics and a visionary concert program.
The building is designed as a cultural and residential complex. The original 1966 brick facade of Kaispeicher A, formerly a warehouse, remained at the base of the building.
In addition to this, a superstructure that combines with the footprint rests on its own base, exhibiting a glassy exterior and a wavy roof line. Around a thousand glass windows are curved.
The building has 26 floors with the first eight floors inside the brick facade. It reaches its highest point with 108 meters on the western side. The footprint of the building measures 120,000 m2.
A curved escalator from the main entrance on the east side connects the ground floor with an observation platform, the Plaza, on the 8th floor, the top of the brick section.
The Plaza is accessible by the public. It offers a view of Hamburg and the Elbe. From the Plaza you can reach the lobby of the concert hall.
The design of the Herzog & de Meuron architects office provided the then existing structure of the 1966 Kaispeicher A brick before a glass-clad structure with a strikingly curved roof shape, which was also called a «glass shaft.» The objective was a characteristic feature of the building to form an unmistakable silhouette in Hamburg.
The users of the concert halls are HamburgMusik gGmbH. Even before the opening ceremony, the so-called “Elbphilharmonie concerts” were organized, both in Laeiszhalle and elsewhere in Hamburg. Managing Director of Elbphilharmonie and Laeiszhalle since 2007 Christoph Lieben-Seutter.
There is a large concert hall with 2100 seats, a small hall with 550 seats and a third hall, the Kaistudio 1, with 170 seats. The lobby of the great room is designed with oak parquet.
Between the brick base and the glass structure, 37 meters away, there is a public space that serves as the access level for the lobby of the concert halls and the hotel.
The Plaza is accessed through an escalator approximately 80 meters long and 21 meters high (the so-called tube) and a second shorter escalator. Part of the Plaza is an outdoor tour around the entire building.
The Elbphilharmonie Hamburg was already announced at an early stage by HafenCity Hamburg GmbH, which is responsible for the development and commercialization of HafenCity, together with the International Maritime Museum Hamburg and the Science Center previously planned as one of the central cultural centers, institutions of HafenCity.
In addition to its use as a concert hall, the Philharmonic Senate also expected the creation of a landmark for Hamburg and HafenCity, especially with regard to the international representation of the city.
The reason for creating a benchmark was resumed early for official advertising and image campaigns.
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The Temples of Angkor or Angkor Wat as they are popularly known, are one of those things to visit when one is traveling through Cambodia and Southeast Asia in general.
Stone vestiges of one of the most important cultures in Asia, the Angkor Wat Temples allow us to know part of the Khmer Empire’s culture.
Today they continue to maintain their importance, formerly political and economic, now simply tourist. Just as the Daigo-ji temple has an important influence as it is the main temple of the Onoryu sect of Shingon Buddhism, but it also extended its influence in politics with some members of political power holding important positions in the temple.
To know the history of the Temples of Angkor, we have to go back to the moment of maximum splendor of the Khmer Empire, when Angkor was the capital and the borders of the empire reached as far as Myanmar.
At this time, the city of Angkor was one of the great and modern cities in Asia, being an economic, cultural and military reference equivalent to other empires and societies throughout the world (Mayan, Inca, Roman, Greek and Arab).
As such the Khmer Empire came to a dusk during the invasions from present-day Thailand in the late 16th century with the fall of and abandonment of Angkor.
Over the centuries, the complex went unnoticed and forgotten, the jungle being its only main inhabitant, along with monks and pilgrims who continued to frequent the remains of Angkor Wat.
The Origin of the city (Angkor Thom or the Great City) must be sought in the Hindu and Sanskrit roots of the region, influenced by migratory and cultural currents from India.
This explains that many of the temples that are preserved show us all the typical details of this religion, many of them being dedicated in their beginning to the different deities (Shiva) and Hindu mystical conceptions (Mount Meru).
After the final abandonment of the city during the French colonial era when the famous Alexandre Henri Mouhout reunites the city and begins its studies and restoration.
Today the Angkor Temples, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992, are one of the main cultural attractions in Southeast Asia and are visited by thousands of tourists a year.
The Angkor Wat Historical Park has an extension of almost 200 km² which makes the visit have to be divided into several days if you really want to appreciate all its beauty. The historical complex consists of the remains of Angkor Thom or the Great City, the most important temples being the following.
Angkor or Angkor Temple
Without doubt the most important of the whole complex and that has made it known to the whole world. Built as the mausoleum of King Suyavarman II and dedicated to the god Vishnu (Hindu) Angkor Wat or The Temple of the City was the most important religious site of the city and the empire.
Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom or the Big City is another must-see. As such they are the remains of the city and allow us to get an idea of how big it should have been.
Of what was the city, only the remains of the fortified wall and some of the most important temples of the historic complex remain, with their entrance doors and areas known as the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King.
Bayon Temple
This Temple is another of the most important monuments of the entire complex. Famous for its towers and faces, it is one of the most visited and photographed places in Angkor.
Its 54 towers and more than 200 faces make it unique in the whole enclosure. Its reliefs also stand out, in which we can see how the day-to-day life of the Angkor inhabitants of the time was.
Baphuom Temple
Pyramidal, it is another of the most prominent buildings. Apart from the incredible views it has, it is famous for hosting the only large reclining Buddha in the entire complex of which only the remains remain.
Pre Rup Temple
Located relatively close to Angkor Wat, the Pre Rup Temple is believed to have been the royal crematorium. Pyramid-shaped with 3 floors also offers incredible views of the entire complex from its highest part.
Ta Prohm Temple
Another of the most important temples in the entire complex. More than ceremonial importance, Ta Prohm became one of the most visited temples thanks to the movie Tomb Raider, from which some scenes were recorded here. The Temple above offers us incredible images of the jungle by literally eating the building.
The Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park is one of the most famous on the island and travel to Madagascar, sculpting around the gorges of the Manabolo River an impressive stony forest of huge and pointed calcareous needles, the Tsingy , local word meaning pinnacle. These …
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The Sagrada Familia is the best known and characteristic monument of Barcelona. As the greatest exponent of the modernist architecture created by Gaudí, thousands of tourists come every day to contemplate the curious but unfinished temple.
Construction began in 1882 with a neo-Gothic style. A year later, the project was put in the hands of Gaudí, who completely rethought it. Gaudí designed an exceptional and innovative temple that was to be composed of 18 towers, although he finally only had time to create one of them before his death.
Gaudí died in 1926 leaving unfinished the project that occupied the last years of his life but, thanks to the plans that are preserved, his dream comes true little by little thanks to the work of other artists and the money obtained from donations and the visits.
Although not yet finished, the Sagrada Familia is a lush temple full of religious symbolism. These are some of the most important points:
The towers
So far 8 of the 18 towers designed by Gaudí have been erected. The architect decided that twelve of them were dedicated to the Apostles, four to the Evangelists, one to Mary and one to Jesus. Each of them will be endowed with a different height depending on the religious hierarchy they represent.
It is possible to access to the top of some of the towers to contemplate the city from the heights and see some details of the exterior of the temple at a short distance.
The facades
The basilica has 3 symbolic facades:
Facade of Birth: Dedicated to the birth of Christ, it is a profusely decorated facade full of life.
Facade of the Passion: Something more austere and simplified than the other facades, aims to reflect the suffering of Jesus during the Crucifixion.
Facade of Glory: The main facade, much larger and monumental than the rest, will represent death, the Last Judgment, Glory and hell.
Aware that he was not going to have time to build it, Gaudí left sketches made so that his successors could finish the job.
To design the interior, Gaudí was inspired by the forms of nature, creating columns shaped like a tree trunk that turn the interior of the temple into a huge stone forest.
The question about when the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona will end is very common, and it is a very difficult question to answer. Since its inception in 1882 the basilica has been an atoning temple, that is, built from donations. This is why the end date of the Sagrada Familia could still be quite far.
To get to know the Sagrada Familia in depth, nothing better than to hire our guided tour, you will enjoy an hour and a half of a hand in hand with a guide in love with Barcelona and you will save yourself the endless queues. You can also book the visit with the climb to the towers.
Although the building is unfinished, it is worth visiting; There are many people who enjoy the contemplation of such a huge building while it is still being built. The actuality of the Sagrada Familia makes it very special because, while so many religious buildings seek to pay tribute to the ancient architecture, the Gaudí Basilica is so special for being part of our time, and the opportunity to see how it is being built should not be left happen.
The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia has become the symbol of Barcelona and your visit is essential. Since there is always a lot of queue to visit it, you can buy tickets online so you don’t waste time.
Location
C / Marina, 41.
Schedule
From November to February: from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
March: from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
From April to September: from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
October: from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Price
Sacred Family:
Adults: € 17 (with audio guide € 25).
Students and children under 30 years: € 13.
Senior citizens: € 11.
Children under 10 years: free admission.
Holy family + towers: € 32
Sagrada Familia + Gaudí House-Museum: € 16.50.
Skip-the-line Sagrada Familia ticket € 20
Transport
Metro: Sagrada Familia, lines 2 and 5.
Bus: Temple Expiatori de La Sagrada Família, lines 19, 33, 34, 43, 44, 50, 51, B20 and B24.
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