(English) Gaudí’s Barcelona – your route through all the main attractions

It’s hard to imagine what Barcelona would look like without the legacy of one of the city’s most influential and important architects, Antonio Gaudí. The most significant and prolific maestro of Catalan modernism designed some of the city’s most fundamental and symbolic buildings throughout his career, and Barcelona can hardly be understood or appreciated to its fullest without exploring the works of the Reus-born architect. Here, we’ll introduce you to our tour of Gaudí’s Barcelona, helping you discover all the beautiful treasures he left behind in the city, perfectly encapsulating his love for Catalonia and all the different stages of his artistic career.

Gaudí and Barcelona began their relationship as the architect started his training here in 1846. One of his first commissions coincided with the 1888 Universal Exhibition, when he was tasked with reforming the Hall of Hundreds at Barcelona’s Ayuntamiento (City Hall). From then on, he received a number of significant commissions in the city that would go on to create the Gaudí trail in Barcelona.

Sagrada Familia

Without doubt his most famous work, even though he would never see it completed, the original idea actually came from the mind of Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano, but the changes Gaudí introduced to the plan helped turn this sacred place into the most visited monument in Spain. The beauty of the cathedral isn’t just seen in its façades, which incorporate architectural ideas never before seen at the time, but also in the magic of its interiors, which take visitors on a journey through a forest of light and shadow and creating a whole host of different sensations.

Palacio Güell

Located near Las Ramblas, this building was one of the first major commissions Gaudí received in his career from the Güell family. In this work, you’ll see Gaudí’s most oriental and obviously Mudejar style.

Casa Vicens

Also part of Gaudí’s eastern period, this manor house can be found in the Gracia quarter and was first designed in 1883.

Casa Calvet

Gaudí was already an established artist when he started work on this manor house in the Ensanche quarter, a work that truly depicts the fundamental elements of his naturalist period.

Torre Bellesguard

At first glance, you might not instantly identify this as a work of the Reus-born architect, since the building stands in neo-Gothic style and has the distinct feel of a castle, owing to Gaudí’s attempts to preserve some elements of the original building. But the most Gaudí-esque feature of all can be found on the roof where, once again, the world-famous architect took care of even the smallest details and introduced his renowned brick archways.

Casa Batlló

Inspired by the shapes and colours of a calm sea, here Antonio Gaudí created a symbol of Catalan modernism. Standing testament to the economic splendour of the Catalan bourgeoisie who turned to the key architects of the time to design their fabulous homes, this manor house is one of the flagship buildings on Paseo de Gracia.

Casa Milà

Also known as La Pedrera, this impressive manor house on Paseo de Gracia gives us an insight into one of Gaudí’s most vigorous challenges. Its impressive stone façade and wrought-iron balconies have always impressed passers-by, and continue to do so to this day.

Parque Güell

This natural garden designed by Barcelona’s most famous architect is, without doubt, the most symbolic park in all of the city. Initially drawn out as an urbanisation, it went on to become a place where artificial artwork integrates seamlessly with nature. This perfect harmony could only be achieved by a genius like Gaudí thanks to his careful combination of shapes, colours and materials.

Gaudí’s influence continues to extend well beyond his principle works. In the city, you’ll be able to appreciate lots of other elements, such as the lampposts inPlaza Real, but above all, Gaudí, together with the other modernist architects of his day, worked tirelessly to create the perfect image of Barcelona by leaving their own unique touches in and around the region for you to discover.

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