10 Must See Gaudí Buildings in Barcelona
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Barcelona is not only one of Spain’s most popular cities, but also a well-known destination for travelers who wish to have a good mix of fun and culture in a modern setting.
Knitted in this unmistakable urban fabric you will see some unusual and well-known buildings designed by a single architect named Antoni Gaudí.
His unique approach to the Art Nouveau movement generated some of the most creative buildings you will see in this Spanish region known as Cataluña.
Even if you don’t know anything about architecture or Gaudí, when you walk the streets of Barcelona you will intuitively be able to identify a Gaudí building –they are unmistakable.
So, if you’re interested in experiencing an unusual “Gaudi Barcelona”, you should take a look at 10 of the most important buildings designed by the one and only, Gaudí:
1. Casa Vicens
Not only this is Gaudí’s first important building (and residence), but it is also considered one of the first Art Nouveau buildings in the world.
Built between 1883 and 1888, Casa Vicens is an imaginative residential project made for a wealthy family that owned a ceramic factory.
Gaudí expressed the client’s professional background through the use of ceramic tiles in the “trencadis” façade, which contains a significant variety of ceramic decorations.
Gaudí designed it as a reflection of Neo-Mudéjar architecture – a popular style that can be seen throughout Gaudí’s architecture, blending oriental and neoclassical design elements.
You can also see some Islamic architectural influences in its façade and some of its rooms.
What’s impressive about Casa Vicens is that it shows how Gaudí broke away from tradition and created his own language of architecture.
It represents a new chapter in Gaudí’s career as well as in the history of Catalan architecture.
This is the beginning of his famous “gaudi architecture.” (pun intended)
Today it is a museum showcasing Gaudí’s first masterpiece as well as other permanent and temporary exhibits.
Location: Carrer de les Carolines, 20-26, 08012 Barcelona
2. Casa Milá (La Pedrera)
Also referred to as “the stone quarry” due to its unusual rough-hewn appearance, Casa Milá is one of Barcelona’s most popular modernist buildings. UNESCO recognized this building as World Heritage in 1984.
Built between 1906 and 1912, this is not only Gaudí’s last private residential design but also one of his pain projects and one of the most imaginative houses in the history of architecture. It is more of a sculpture than a building.
The façade is a varied and harmonious mass of undulating stone that, along with its forged iron balconies, explores the irregularities of the natural world.
The entire building, both interior and exterior, are worthy of admiration, but one of its most iconic spaces is its spectacular roof terrace.
In it, you’ll see a series of sculpted and decorated skylights and staircase exits, chimneys, and vents. Typically these are unsightly elements required for the building’s functionality, but here they are a piece of art.
From the basement to the terrace, Casa Milá is a total work of art. I highly recommend visiting it on one of these tours.
Location: Passeig de Gràcia, 92, 08008 Barcelona
3. Parc Güell (Park Güell)
Parc Güell was commissioned to Gaudí by one of his biggest clients, Eusebi Güell i Bacigalupi, the count of Güell.
It was built between 1900 and 1914 and today is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. This is a garden complex that houses a series of dynamically designed buildings, including Gaudí’s house.
The Gaudí House-Museum (located at one of the Parc Güell’s entrances) houses a collection of furniture and objects designed by Antoní Gaudí himself. It was Gaudí’s house for almost 20 years, from 1906 until the end of 1925 (just months before his death).
It is here where Gaudí perfected his personal style, which was greatly inspired by organic shapes (his naturalist phase).
Most buildings have the “trencadis” (surfaces covered with irregular ceramic pieces) that are characteristic of Gaudí and Art Nouveau.
The colonnaded hall and the terrace with serpentine shapes are the most famous places in this park.
It is in front of the famous colonnaded hall where you see the iconic Gaudí dragon covered in mosaics. And from the terrace, you get one of the most beautiful views of Barcelona, with Gaudí’s work in the foreground, and the city in the background.
This park is the perfect place to take a peaceful stroll while enjoying nature and looking at Gaudí’s artwork. Don’t miss visiting the Casa del Guarda (Caretaker’s House) to see its exhibition on Gaudí and Barcelona.
While Parc Güell is almost on the city’s outskirts, it is relatively easy to reach with public transportation. Alternatively, you could reach it and skip the line with one of these tours.
Location: Carretera del Carmel, 23, 08024 Barcelona
4. Palau Güell
Eusebi Güell, an industrial tycoon in the late 19th century, was not only one of Gaudí’s most important clients but also a good friend of his.
Not only did he commission the Park Güell, but also this palace and a few other works from now-renowned architect Gaudí.
Built between 1886 and 1888, the Palau Güell served as the palace residence of the Güell family. It is located in the Gothic Quarters, just off the popular La Rambla, which is one of the best areas to stay in in Barcelona.
The exterior shows a sober façade that doesn’t resemble other projects made by Gaudí, but it still gives us some hints of his style with the use of the parabolic arch entrance and mosaic figures on the roof.
Back then, guests entered the home in horse-drawn carriages through the front iron gates designed specifically for the unique parabolic arch.
While the exterior is quite sober, the interior and the roof make up for the lack of “Gaudiesque” elements on the façade.
The central living room has an unusual parabolic dome, and the lounge ceiling is perforated by circles that, under the daylight, give the ceiling a planetarium appearance.
The roof counts with chimneys and conical vents resembling fir trees.
Palau Güell, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, is open to visitors. You can visit it as you tour the Gothic Quarters. This walking tour combines Palau Güell with La Boqueria for a delicious culinary experience!
Location: Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3-5, 08001 Barcelona
5. Colonia Güell
Another Güell commission worth visiting. Colonia Güell is an unfinished building by Antoni Gaudí.
Gaudí designed this irregular oval church and crypt in 1898 as a place of worship for the residents in a suburb near Barcelona.
Unfortunately, after Güell lost profits from his business, construction was halted in 1914 with only the crypt completed.
The crypt is built in basaltic stone bricks with mosaics that give an archaic appearance.
Worth noting are the unique geometric columns often used by Gaudí, found on the interior and exterior of Colonia Güell.
The interior of the crypt has five aisles: a central nave and two aisles on each side.
The stained glass windows jut out over the walls to give them a stronger ornamental appearance, and on the upper part of the door, a ceramic composition shows the four cardinal virtues.
The interior’s intricate details, from the roof details to the playfulness of the columns, make this church worth visiting. In a way, it is an unfinished, rough precursor of the much bigger Sagrada Familia.
In addition, the construction techniques used here laid the foundation for the techniques employed in La Sagrada Familia.
Location: Carrer Claudi Güell, 6, 08690 Santa Coloma de Cervelló, Barcelona
6. El Drac de Gaudí at Finca Güell
Finca Güell is a significant property of Eusebi Güell, but what’s interesting is not so much the complex itself; is the iron gate at its entrance.
The buildings in this land were designed by other architects, but Gaudí was commissioned to remodel the house and build a perimeter wall with gates.
Gaudí proposed a wall with several gates in a Mudejar-like style. Its main gate, though, is a completely different monster – literally.
In it is a wrought-iron grille in the shape of a dragon spreading its menacing bat-like wings while showing its forked tongue coming out of its gaping maws.
This gate represents the mythical dragon from the Garden of the Hesperides, which commemorates Hercules’ daring feat. This stunning dragon was manufactured by the locksmith’s Vallet i Piquer.
The complex is composed of two buildings linked by a common monumental cast-iron gate adorned with Art Nouveau vegetal fantasies and a medallion with the “G” of Güell.
Location: Av. de Pedralbes, 7, 08034 Barcelona
7. Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló is the result of a total restoration in 1904 of an old conventional house built in 1877.
Gaudí used for it the typical constructive elements of the Modernisme (Catalan Art Nouveau) that include ceramics, stone, and forged iron.
Even though it was highly criticized by the city during construction due to its radical design that broke all the bylaws of the city, in 1906 the Barcelona City Council awarded it the recognition of being one of the three best buildings of the year.
The building is so irregular that there are few straight lines in it and much of the façade is decorated with a colorful mosaic, known as trencadís, made of broken ceramic tiles.
While officially known as Casa Batlló, the local name for the building is Casa dels ossos, or House of Bones, due to its visceral, skeletal organic design.
You can see some of the bone-like columns on the façade; specifically those in front of the irregular oval windows and playfully sculpted stonework on the first floor.
The roof is arched and “scaled” like the back of a dragon. A popular theory about this building is that the rounded tower crowned with a turret and cross represents the lance of Saint George plunged into the back of the dragon.
Saint George is the patron saint of Catalonia, Gaudí’s home.
You can visit Casa Battló and get a more in-depth experience with this intelligent audio guide tour.
Location: Passeig de Gràcia, 43, 08007 Barcelona
8. Casa Calvet
Casa Calvet was built between 1898 and 1900 for the Calvets, a family of textile industrialists.
Architects and scholars agree that this is the most conventional of Gaudí’s works. This is due to the fact that it had to be squeezed in between older structures and because it was located in one of the most elegant sections of Barcelona.
The stone facade reflects Baroque influences, along with its bay windows, sculptural decoration, and interior decorations.
Its balance, symmetry, and orderly rhythm are unusual for Gaudí’s style. Still, you can see a bit of his design language in certain details.
The shape of the balconies can be seen as a forerunner to shapes used at Casa Batlló, where Gaudí turned much more to the inspiration of nature.
The roof is topped with two pediments, each supporting a wrought iron cross. They are surrounded by various pieces of stone ornamentation and crowned with statues of San Genis and Saint Peter – Calvets saints.
Location: Carrer Sant Marc, 57, 08253 El Calvet, Barcelona
9. La Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia is the most famous of Gaudí’s works. It is his masterpiece; the very definition of Gaudí’s architecture.
This church has been in construction since 1892, and it’s not expected to be finished until 2026 — to commemorate the centenary of Gaudí’s death.
Sagrada Familia is deeply associated with Gaudí, but one of the fun facts about Barcelona is that Gaudí was not the original architect.
Construction of Sagrada Familia started in 1882 under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar, but by 1883 Villar resigned, giving Gaudí the opportunity to take over as chief architect.
With his own design language, Gaudí transformed the project from a typical cathedral to the masterpiece we know today.
He combined Gothic with curvilinear Art Nouveau forms and his own geometric style.
Gaudí devoted the remainder of his life to the project. In fact, he lived in the workshop of the Sagrada Familia for several months, until his untimely death.
At the time of his death, less than a quarter of the project was complete. Gaudí died at age 73 in 1926, when he was run down by a tram. He is buried in Sagrada Familia’s crypt.
After Gaudí’s death, construction progressed slowly and was halted several times by events like the Spanish Civil War and revolutionaries partially destroying Gaudí’s original plans, among others.
While construction is now going at a faster pace, ten more spires are still to be completed, each symbolizing an important Biblical figure in the New Testament.
The central spire is the tallest of all, representing Jesus Christ. It is to be surmounted by a giant cross, reaching a height of 170 meters (560 ft), standing at just one meter less than the height of Montjuïc hill in Barcelona.
Gaudí believed that his creation should not surpass God’s creation.
The church presents an excellent depiction of the relationship between man, nature, and religion through its architecture and façade sculptures.
The way light bathes and plays with the interior space with various hues of colors is one of the most impressive aspects of this building. It is quite an inspiring space.
Climbing one of its towers on the Nativity and Passion Façades will give you a unique view of Barcelona.
Take the audio tour, is very informative and it’s well worth it. Also, due to its popularity, long queues are to be expected, so I highly recommend skipping the line with this tour.
Location: Carrer Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona
10. Cascada Fountain at Parc de la Ciutadella
Last but not least, is one of Gaudí’s very first projects – the fountain located at the Parc de la Ciutadella, one of Barcelona’s most famous parks.
The Cascada was designed by Josep Fontseré in 1881, specifically for the universal exhibition in 1888, with young Gaudí as an assistant.
The inspiration for the Cascada was the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy.
The fountain counts with several sculptures of horses and mythical creatures. Among these sculptures is also that of Venus standing on an open clam – designed by Venanci Vallmitjana.
Location: Parc de la Ciutadella, Passeig de Picasso, 21, 08003 Barcelona
As you can see, Gaudí’s architecture is full of unusual and unexpected characteristics that are not seen in other buildings, let alone other cities in the world.
It’s no surprise why this architect’s works make great sightseeing destinations that without any doubt will create an impression on you.
If you’re interested in seeing several of his buildings, I recommend taking any of these Gaudí-focused tours to save money and time.
Below is a map with the location of each of Antoni Gaudí’s works mentioned here:
Want More Gaudi?
If you’d like to learn more about Gaudí or Barcelona’s Architecture, I recommend checking out these books:
- Gaudí: The Complete Buildings (Architecture & Design)
- National Geographic Walking Barcelona: The Best of the City
- Gaudi: A Biography
- Antonio Gaudi: Master Architect
Essential Info: Logistical Tips and Tricks to Book your Trip to Barcelona
BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION
If you’re traveling to Barcelona and you’d like to stay in the center, near all these beautiful buildings by Gaudí, then I recommend checking the best-reviewed hotels on TripAdvisor to pick the best one for your trip.
I also recommend checking out these hotel deals in Barcelona with Booking.com, or hunting for some cute, well-located apartments with Airbnb.
FIND THE BEST TOURS AT THE BEST PRICES
For activities, Viator offers dedicated tours of Gaudí’s buildings in addition to tours covering all the highlights in the city. Not to be missed!
BOOK YOUR FLIGHT
If you still have to book your flights, I recommend checking Skyscanner and Kayak as they usually come out with the cheapest flights.
DON’T FORGET YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance with comprehensive coverage will protect you against unexpected events like theft, cancellations, injury, and illness. I use World Nomads and highly recommend it.
If you’re a nomad and travel often or long-term, then SafetyWing could help you save a lot of money on travel insurance.
BOOK YOUR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION AHEAD OF TIME
Bookaway offers the easiest and most accessible way to book overland transportation with local operators; be it by bus, train, ferry, plane, mini-van, or even private transfers.
OTHER TRAVEL AND MONEY-SAVING TIPS?
Lastly, check out my resources page for some of the best products and companies to use for your trip. If you like saving money (like I do!), then this page will help.
Images 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 from Flickr’s Creative Commons.
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A Complete Visitor’s Guide (Updated 2023)
Last Updated: 11/7/20 | November 7th, 2020
You can’t visit Barcelona without seeing Gaudi’s influence everywhere you go. He’s the city’s most famous architect and helped shape the design of the city during its booming 19th and early 20th century. His influence still shapes the city today.
Born in 1852, Anton Gaudí belonged to the Art Nouveau movement, with his first designs being centered around Gothic and traditional Catalan architectural styles.
However, it wasn’t long until he developed his own style that has set him apart from all others.
Referred to as “God’s Architect” for the religious themes in his work, several of Gaudi’s creations have actually been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. His most famous work, La Sagrada Familia is not only the most popular attraction in Barcelona but the most visited monument in all of Spain.
Gaudi died tragically in 1926 after being hit by a streetcar on his way to church. He was knocked unconscious and, because he didn’t have any identification on him, people assumed he was a beggar and just left him there (nuts, huh?). He was eventually taken to a hospital but, by the time people realized who he was, it was too late. He died of his injuries shortly thereafter.
Since then, his influence on the city’s landscape has continued with many of his pupils making buildings in his style and the work at the Sagrada Familia continuing on to this day.
No visit to Barcelona is complete without taking a tour of his work.
It will give you insight into the history and growth of the city and just help you understand just how important this man is to Barcelona. Barcelona is simply not Barcelona without Gaudi.
Here is my guide to visiting all of Gaudi’s best sights in Barcelona:
La Sagrada Familia
The most famous of Gaudí’s work….and the one that seems to never be finished. The church has been under construction for over 100 years (the groundbreaking was in 1882 and is supposed to be done in 2030!). Gaudí was a devout Catholic and spent the last 10 years of his life working on this project. The church blends influences of man, nature, and religion in its detailed architecture. The audio guide is worth purchasing as it covers the history of the church in great detail. Try to visit mid-morning to late afternoon so you can witness the sunlight cascade throughout all the stained glass.
For in-depth paid tours, check out Get Your Guide. They offer skip-the-line tickets so you can beat the crowds!
Carrer de Mallorca, +34 932-080-414, sagradafamilia.
org. The church is open daily from 9am-8pm in the summer, 9am-7pm in the spring/autumn, and 8am-6pm in the winter. Admission is 15 EUR, 22 EUR for a ticket and audio guide, 24 EUR for a guided tour, and 29 EUR for a self-guided tour with an audio guide and access to the tower.
Gaudi Lampposts: Placia Real and Pla del Palau
The first commission that Gaudí received after graduating from school was to construct street lamps for the city. At the request of the city council in 1878, he designed lamps with three and six arms and crowned by a winged helmet. They were symbolic of the commercial power of Barcelona, made of cast iron and marble. They’re all gone now except for the ones left in Placia Real and Pla del Palau.
Placia Real, just off La Rambla. They are located in a public square so are accessible 24/7 and free.
Casa Batllo
Casa Batllo is a building restored by Antoni Gaudí in the early 1900s.
He spent 2 years on the project completely revamping the exterior, main floor, patio, and roof. With its undulating shape, it’s definitely one of the more eye-catching of his creations. Located in the Eixample district of Barcelona, it (like everything Gaudí designed) was heavily influenced by the Art Nouveau style. The facade was decorated with a mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles that he collected from the trash of a nearby glass shop. The roof is arched and has been likened to the back of a dragon. It’s one of my favorite Gaudí buildings.
Passeig de Gràcia 43, +34 932-160-306, casabatllo.es. Open daily from 9am-9pm. Tickets are 24.50 EUR if you buy them online or 28.50 EUR in person. Skip the line tickets are available for 29.50 EUR (or 33.50 EUR at the office).
Palau Guell
Located off La Rambla, Palau Guell (Guell Palace) building doesn’t jump out at you like other Gaudí structures. Built from 1886-88, it was designed for one of Gaudi’s patrons, Eusebi Güell.
The home is centered around the main room used to entertain high-society guests. The main party room has a high ceiling with small holes near the top where lanterns were hung at night from the outside to give the appearance of a starlit sky. There are colorful tree-like chimneys on top. It’s a bit creepy and gothic to me. One of my favorites too!
Carrer Nou de la Rambla 3-5, +34 934-725-775, palauguell.cat. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-5:30pm. Admission is 12 EUR in person or 11 EUR online with discounts available for students, seniors, and children.
Park Guell
Park Güell is a 45-acre garden complex designed and built between 1900 to 1914. It’s since been converted into a municipal garden and is now a World Heritage Site. The focal point of the park is the main terrace, which is surrounded by a long bench in the form of a sea serpent. Known for incorporating various themes into his work, Gaudí incorporated artistic elements of Catalan nationalism as well as ancient poetry and mysticism into this work.
The park is right near La Sagrada Familia so it’s easy to visit both. I like how colorful everything in the park is!
Carrer de Larrard (main entrance), +34 934-091-831, parkguell.cat. Open daily from 8am-9:30pm. Admission is 10 EUR.
Casa Calvet
Built between 1898-1900, Casa Calvet was built for a textile manufacturer in the Eixample district of Barcelona. This building is the most conventional of his works, partly because it had to be squeezed in between older structures and partly because it’s in one of the nicest sections of Barcelona. The house’s symmetry, balance, and orderly rhythm are unusual for Gaudí’s works. The curves and double gable at the top and the projecting oriel at the entrance are modernist elements. He also incorporated mythological and natural motifs, which helped him win the award for the best building in 1900 from the Barcelona City Council.
Carrer de Casp 48. You can only stop by to take pictures of the outside of the building as you aren’t allowed into this private residence.
Casa Vicens
Casa Vicens was Gaudí’s first important work. The house was constructed between 1883-1888 and is made of undressed stone, rough red bricks, and colored ceramic tiles in checkerboard and floral patterns. The client was the owner of a brick and tile factory, so the ceramic tiles pay tribute to his employment. This is one of Gaudi’s works that falls into his “orientalist” period, as his work has more Middle Eastern/Far Eastern influences. It’s very different from his other sites (and often has the shortest line).
Carrer de les Carolines 20, +34 935-475-980, casavicens.org. Open daily from 10am-8pm. Admission is 16 EUR.
Casa Mila
From 1906 to 1910, Gaudi work on Casa Mila, also known as “La Pedrera” (the stone quarry) as the building has a facade of limestone. The goal was to evoke the sense of a snowy mountain. Gaudí, himself a Catholic and a devotee of the Virgin Mary, also planned for the Casa Milà to be a spiritual symbol and included many religious elements like an excerpt from the rosary prayer on the cornice and statues of Mary, St.
Michael, and St. Gabriel. Casa Milà became run down and partially abandoned until it was restored in the late 1980s to its original form.
Provença 261-265, +34 902-202-138, lapedrera.com/en. Open daily 9am-8:30pm (6:30pm during the winter). Night tours are available from 9pm-11pm. Standard admission (which includes an audio guide) is 24 EUR. A combination ticket for the day tour and a guided night tour is 43 EUR.
Cascada Fountain in Parc de la Ciutadella
Gaudí helped design this while he was still a student. He was responsible for the design of the fountain, the bandstand, and the park’s entrance gate, a project that stretched from 1873 to 1882. Baroque in style, the fountain is massive, intricate, and awe-inspiring. I loved sitting in the park and just staring at it. If you visit most of the sites on this list, you’ll see the evolution of his style and how different this is from his other works.
Passeig de Picasso 21. The park is open daily from 10am-10pm.
Admission is free.
College of Saint Teresa
The building looks like a fortress, this is a convent school that Gaudí designed for The Order of Saint Teresa of Jesus. The project was already underway when Gaudi became involved, but he made some changes to the plans to better reflect his personal style and vision.
Carrer de Ganduxer 85-105, +932 123 354. The interior is not open to the public.
Bellesguard Tower
The Bellesguard Tower, also known as Casa Figueras, was built by Gaudí between 1900-1909. It was built as a second house for Figueras and meant to feel like a medieval fortress with sporting towers and battlements. There are some Art Noveaux elements mixed in here that give it a modernist take on a classic Gothic structure.
Carrer de Bellesguard 16-20, +932 504 093, bellesguardgaudi.com. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-3pm. Tickets are 10 EUR and include an audio guide.
Gaudí was a prolific architect and wandering around Barcelona, you’re sure to bump into many of his major and lesser works.
More than that, you’ll see his influence throughout the city as other architects and his students copied his style in their own work. I often look at buildings and go “Ahh that must be by Gaudi too” only to find out it’s not. That’s how strong of an influence he has on Barcelona.
As I love traveling with a theme, searching out Gaudi’s works is a great theme to explore with when you’re in Barcelona.
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Barcelona is the cradle of the architectural genius Antonio Gaudí. Spain in Russian
The unique architectural appearance of the capital of Catalonia was magically influenced by the work of the great master Gaudí.
Architect Antoni Gaudi i Cornet was born on June 25, 1852 in the city of Reus in the Catalan province of Tarragona. His parents were boilermakers, and the young genius often helped his father and grandfather, admiring the virtuoso work of their hands in the manufacture of copper products. In love with nature and observant, Antonio was attracted from childhood by the perfection of forms, the play of colors and lines. Love for everything natural found a way out in the work of Gaudi – the master’s favorite materials were stone, ceramics, wood and wrought iron.
In total, there are 18 buildings in the architectural heritage of Gaudí, most of them are located in Barcelona, defining the entire look of the city. He was in love with this city, spoke Catalan and drew inexhaustible inspiration for creativity from the culture of his people. Among the most famous works of Antonio Gaudí in Barcelona are the House of Vicens, the Teresian School, the House of Bellesguard, the Guell Palace, the Batllo House, the Mila House (La Pedrera), the Guell Park and, of course, the Sagrada Familia.
The Sagrada Familia is the “brand name” of Barcelona, the universally recognized symbol of the city. Its majestic towers make a truly unforgettable impression, the building itself is full of secrets and encoded messages of Gaudí. But, perhaps, the main mystery of this masterpiece, which was conceived as a temple of atonement for sins, is its incompleteness.
The building was designed in the Gothic style, traces of it can be traced in the crypt and apse, but then the genius of improvisation changed the idea, experimenting with styles and creating his own unique architectural style. When creating the temple, Gaudi almost did not use drawings, he made sketches with his own hands, and therefore it took a lot of time to work. The architect worked on the Sagrada Familia for forty-three years without completing the construction. At 19In 26, he died when he was hit by a tram at the intersection of Gran Via and Bailen streets.
In 1936, Gaudí’s workshops were burned down, and only 20 years later, work on the construction of the temple was resumed, already in small pieces of photographs and sketches and, of course, without that magical improvisation that was inherent only to Gaudí.
The construction of the cathedral continues to this day, steadily overcoming financial and other difficulties. Sagrada Familia, located in the heart of the city at 401 Mallorca Street, annually attracts thousands of tourists who, admiring the grandeur of Gaudí’s project, are trying to unravel its mystery…
Casa Batllo (“Batlo” , “Batllo ” ) is one of the many masterpieces of Antonio Gaudi, an elegant example of Art Nouveau, so common in Catalonia at the beginning of the 20th century. Casa Batlló was built between 1904 and 1906 at 43 Paseo de Gracia. Gaudí reconstructed the house using his signature style: multicolored and sparkling mosaics, curved lines, expressive forms, whimsical balconies, a fantastic roof with fish scale tiles.
The local name for the house is Casa dels ossos (“House of Bones”). It really recognizes the images of the bones and internal organs of some gigantic mysterious animal.
The roof of the house is covered with arches, which creates associations with the back of a dragon. According to the generally accepted opinion, a rounded detail to the left of the center, ending in a turret with a cross, represents the sword of George the Victorious (Saint George is the patron saint of Catalonia), stuck in the back of a dragon.
House Mila (Casa Mila, La Pedrera)
Casa Mila in Barcelona is one of the best examples of Antoni Gaudí’s architectural concept. To some, its facade resembles incoming waves, and to others, a stone mountain with caves. The Barcelona people jokingly call it “La Pedrera” (“The Quarry”).
Gaudí, as usual, drew inspiration from nature when working on the construction of this house on the corner of the busy Passeig de Gracia and Provence. The concept of Art Nouveau here is something alive, fluid, moving, you can distinguish caves, the sea, the underwater world.
The view from the roof of Barcelona is just as amazing, there are no protective railings, and the gardens and mysterious figures seem to hang over the abyss.
In 1984, Mila House was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and today the top floor houses a museum dedicated to Antoni Gaudí, while the rest of the floors are given over to luxury housing.
Parc Guell
Another famous Gaudí project is Park Güell, located behind Lesseps Square, on Olot Street. The park was built from 1900 to 1914, but, unfortunately, like the Sagrada Familia, it was not completed.
The park, a joint project of Gaudí and businessman Güell, was a quite promising idea: on the slope of one of the hills of the Barcelona plain, it was planned to build a green town for the rest of wealthy citizens. However, the economic crisis struck, and construction had to be frozen. Gaudi managed to only partially realize his dreams – one wall of the proposed park was built.
At the entrance to the park you will be greeted by two cozy “gingerbread” houses, made after the example of fortress towers, separated by spectacular iron gates (Gaudi himself later settled in one of these houses). A staircase leads up, decorated with sculptures of phantasmagoric animals covered with mosaics, among them is the characteristic Gaudi lizard, a symbol of good luck and prosperity, found in almost every work of the master. The staircase leads to the spacious “Hall of a Hundred Columns”, the highlight of which is that the roof is at the same time a winding balcony, and the cornice of the colonnade is the back of a continuous bench that borders the entire upper area. From here you have one of the best views of the city.
Parc Güell is considered to be one of Gaudí’s most imaginative works. In the house where the architect lived in 1906-1926, a museum named after him is now open.
Casa Vicens House
One of the first works of Antoni Gaudí is the house of Vicens, which is located at Carolinas street 18-24.
In 1878, a young entrepreneur, Manuel Vicens, ordered the construction of his house by the then novice architect Antonio Gaudí. For reasons beyond his control, construction was delayed for 5 years, and this was a salvation for the young Gaudi, who simply did not know how to design a house: the construction site was rather narrow, and it was necessary to build in a row of almost “lapped” to each other buildings.
As a result, Gaudí’s imagination could not run wild, the house was built very simply, without frills and crooked lines. To revive the image, the architect decided to decorate the facade of the building using numerous bay windows and tiled decor. The base of the natural stone walls was complemented by raw brick finishes. However, the main attraction of the house was given by the colorful tiled decoration of the walls and windows and the crazy mixture of styles: Gaudí used the techniques of different traditions, combining the incompatible, sculpting yellow flowers from tiles, installing Moorish turrets on the roof and decorating the garden with an art nouveau wrought-iron fence.
The result is a wonderful example of modernism and evidence of the eternal genius of Antonio Gaudí.
If you are going to Barcelona, be sure to visit these sights, the priceless heritage of Antoni Gaudí. Call Center for Services for Business and Life in Spain “Spain in Russian” , and we will help you organize interesting individual or group excursions to the unforgettable creations of Antonio Gaudi.
Related links:
Offers for free admission to Barcelona museums: where and when
Barcelona walking tours
Tourist bus around Barcelona
Map of Barcelona
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Gaudí and Barcelona | spain.info
Park Güell in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona
It’s almost impossible to talk about Barcelona without mentioning some of Gaudí’s work. Just like thinking about this genius without associating his talent with any of the cityscapes of the capital of Catalonia. The recognizable style of Gaudí is part of the city’s identity. Decorative elegance and multicolored mosaics, which are called 9 in Catalan0017 “trencadis” , appear in front of you even when you do not expect it at all. Barcelona and Gaudí are inseparable.
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Panoramic view of Plaza Real and Gaudí’s six-armed street lamps, Barcelona
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Josep Renalias
Lanterns in the Plaza Real
In the Plaza Real in the Gothic Quarter is one of the first works of Antoni Gaudí, commissioned by the city council of Barcelona (1879).
year). These are two six-arm street lamps. Lanterns illuminate the square’s bustling nightlife, with some of the city’s liveliest bars and restaurants under its porticos. -
Palau Güell, Barcelona
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Jun Seita
Palau Güell
Stone, wood, wrought iron, ceramics, glass… These are the main noble materials used by Gaudi to create the architectural and decorative style of the residential palace building (1890 year) declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The palace is located on Carrer Nou de la Rambla, in the Raval district, just over 10 minutes’ walk from Barcelona’s port. The visit to the palace is free on the first Sunday of every month.
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Casa Calvet, Barcelona
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Cary Bass Deschenes
House Calvet
At the beginning of Paseo de Gracia, turn right onto Calle Caspe and you will find yourself in front of another residential building. It was built in 1899, made from stone quarried from the Montjuic mountain, which is a real symbol of Barcelona.
Although the building is closed to the public, with the exception of the restaurant on the ground floor, you can admire the decorative details on the façade, typical of Gaudí. -
Casa Batlló, Barcelona
Casa Batlló
House number 43 on Paseo de Gracia boulevard surprises pedestrians with its incredible geometric shapes. This is one of the undisputed standards of modernism. Here, Gaudi masterfully achieved the interaction of light and color with wood, iron, glass, ceramics and stone – these were the materials used in the construction of the building. The building recreates a fairy tale universe full of natural details and fantasy. Casa Batlló (1906) is open to the public every day. The tour, which includes elements of virtual reality, 360º projections and immersive rooms, provides an opportunity to get acquainted with the work of Gaudí, experiencing a unique and innovative experience. The Interactive Journey to Casa Batlló has received numerous international awards, winning the Best International Exhibition award at the Museums and Heritage Awards 2022, among other important awards.
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Casa Mila, Barcelona
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Tyler Hendy
House Mila (La Pedrera)
This residential building, located at number 92 on Paseo de Gracia, once again shows us the personal style of the great Spanish architect. Looking at its facade, we imagine the movement of sea waves and even see algae – wrought iron balcony railings. In the Mila house, also known as “La Pedrera”, you can visit the attic – a room with brick parabolic arches. In addition, you can see the roof of the building with warrior-shaped chimneys among the desert dunes and visit the apartment with furnishings corresponding to the era in which the building was built.
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Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
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Jace Grandinetti
Sagrada Familia
If there is a work that brought Gaudi worldwide fame, then this is undoubtedly the Sagrada Familia. The architect radically changed the original Neo-Gothic design in order to turn the temple into a monumental structure. What areas of the temple are open to the public? You can see two of the three facades, the naves, the apse.
A visit to the museum will help you understand the whole evolution of temple construction. -
Casa Vicens in Barcelona
Casa Vicens
This was the first house built by Gaudí (1885). The building was used as the summer residence of one of the families of Barcelona entrepreneurs. The style of the building includes Arabic, Oriental and neoclassical features. The design is filled with colors and natural motifs.
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Teresian School, Barcelona
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Enfo
Teresian School
The austerity that characterized this project from the beginning became a real challenge for Antoni Gaudí. The main materials used were limited to brick and stone. The religious complex (monastery and school) was built in 1890 and is still used for education, so it is closed to the public. Gaudi, the genius of modernism, created a project that allows light to penetrate from the top floor to the ground floor. This is facilitated by two large courtyards and corridors with parabolic arches.
year). These are two six-arm street lamps. Lanterns illuminate the square’s bustling nightlife, with some of the city’s liveliest bars and restaurants under its porticos. 
Although the building is closed to the public, with the exception of the restaurant on the ground floor, you can admire the decorative details on the façade, typical of Gaudí. 
A visit to the museum will help you understand the whole evolution of temple construction. 