Antoni Gaudí’s architectural creations remind us that cities and buildings can also be works of art rather than “machines where to live” as conceptualized by modern architecture. Barcelona expanded rapidly throughout the mid-1800s, particularly in the area surrounding the Eixample district, which became a favorite neighborhood of the city’s wealthiest families.
The economic and cultural dynamism of the Catalan capital boosted at that time a new artistic language and new references to urbanism, portrayed by the Modernist movement (Modernisme in Catalan) and by architectural works such as those of Gaudí.
From a family of coppersmiths, Gaudí stood out for his bold architecture marked by a combination of shapes and colors inspired by nature, whose creations have become icons of Barcelona. Curiously, he died when he was hit by a tram while walking toward the Sagrada Familia Cathedral.
Since you can’t visit Barcelona without exploring the sites designed by Gaudí, here I list 5 buildings where every traveler should go to get in touch with a remarkable time in the city’s history: Casa Batllò, Casa Milá (La Pedrera), Park Güell, La Sagrada Familia and Casa Vicens. For a panoramic view of the city, it is essential to include Casa Milà and Park Güell in your list, where you can have interesting sights of Barcelona.
Casa Batlló
What became Casa Batlló was built in 1877 by Emilio Sala Cortés, who was one of Gaudí’s professors in the Architecture course. Renovated by Gaudí between 1904 and 1906 for textile industrialist Josep Batllò i Casanovas, whose family lived in the house until the mid-1950s, the building’s facade has been converted into a work of art inspired by the calm of the Mediterranean Sea and the marine ecosystem. After having belonged to different companies and individual owners, Casa Batlló currently belongs to the Bernat family, who restored the building and opened it to the public in 1995. On the same street, you can already visit Casa Milà.
You can immerse yourself in the Casa Batlló 10D Experience to learn about Gaudís’s masterpieces and the Modernism art movement.
📍 Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 43.
Ⓜ️ Metro station: Passeig de Gràcia (L2, L3 e L4).
⏰ Opening hours: From Monday to Thursday (9:30h -18:30h) and from Friday to Sunday (9:00h – 20:00h).
Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
Casa Milà, known as La Pedrera, was the last civic architecture project led by Gaudí. It also houses the only Interpretation Center for Gaudí’s works in Barcelona, where his drawings, architectural models, objects, and works are displayed over 5 floors. It is close to Casa Batllò.
Built to be the Milà family’s new home, the name La Pedrera lives up to the spectacular stone facade that resembles a quarry, in a wave shape 30 meters high by 80 meters wide, highlighted by wrought iron railings that give a sculpture appearance. From the top of the house, you have access to a panoramic view of Barcelona.
The construction of Casa Milà defied all aesthetic and legal standards of the period between 1906 and 1912, in addition to giving rise to discussions and even legal proceedings by the Milà family regarding Gaudí’s fees. In the end, the architect won the case, the owner of the house mortgaged the property to pay for it and Gaudí donated the money earned to a convent of nuns. It was restored and opened to the public in 1996.
You can save time on the skip-the-line audio tour of the Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and see Gaudi’s work exhibition. Or experience a spectacular night show on a 2-hour semi-guided tour of La Pedrera (Casa Milà).
📍 Address: Paseig de Gràcia, 92.
Ⓜ️ Metro station: Passeig de Gràcia (L2, L3 e L4).
⏰ Opening hours: 9:00h – 18:30h.
Park Güell
More than a monument or an attraction, Park Güell is one of the best places for a panoramic view of Barcelona and has one of the largest green areas in the city with 17 hectares. At the behest of businessman Eusebi Güell, Gaudí began developing Park Güell in 1900 in parallel with a history of friendship between the two. The Güell family lived in the big house where a school is now located and, since that time, the park was already one of the main tourist attractions in Barcelona, where traditional events such as the Sardana dance also took place.
You can save the hassle of printing and queues by buying Park Güell Admission Ticket.
📍 Address: Carrer d’Olot,13.
Ⓜ️ Metro stations: Vallcarca (L3) e Lesseps (L3).
⏰ Opening hours: 9:30h -18:00h. Visits are closed to tourists on the holidays Bon Dia Barcelona and Bon Vespre Barcelona.
La Sagrada Familia
Designed in 1882 by Francisco de Paula del Villar, the Sagrada Familia came to be worked on by Gaudí, who shaped the project into a proposal for a futuristic church while working on other buildings. From 1914 onwards, Gaudí began to work exclusively with the Sagrada Familia until his death in 1926. Vandalized in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, it was only in 1939 that construction of the cathedral was resumed thanks to materials that could be saved from Gaudí’s collection. Still, under construction, it is expected that in 2022 the Towers of Evangelists Lucas and Marcos will be completed, in addition to the addition of 3 levels to the Tower of Jesus Christ.
⚠️ Important to remember that at Sagrada Familia there are security checks, which may take 20-30 minutes. It’s not allowed to enter wearing shorts, sandals or flip flops, short skirts, sleeveless shirts, neither luggage nor large bags.
You can save time by buying Sagrada Familia Fast-Track Access Ticket to explore this impression icon of Barcelona. Or combine Sagrada Familia and Park Güell in one tour.
📍 Address: Carrer Mallorca, 401.
Ⓜ️ Metro station: Sagrada Familia (L2 e L5)
⏰ Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday (9:00h – 18:00h). Opening hours may change when special events take place at the Basilica.
Casa Vicens
Casa Vicens was Gaudí’s first architectural project, built between 1883 and 1885 to be the Vicens family’s summer home in the old village of Gràcia. Nowadays, the house functions as a museum to promote awareness of the architectural language of Gaudí and the Modernist Movement (Modernisme) in Barcelona.
You can admire the first house of Gaudi at your own pace by buying Casa Vicens Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket. Even better discovering Casa Vicens savoring a raspberry and yogurt cake from Hoffmann.
📍 Address: Carrer de les Carolines, 20-26.
Ⓜ️ Metro stations: Fontana (L3) e Lesseps (L3).
⏰ Opening hours: from Monday to Friday (10:00h – 15:00h), on Saturdays and Sundays (10:00h -19:00h). From April to October, it usually opens from 10:00h to 20:00h.
For more tips on what to do in Barcelona, you can check out a list of 5 places where you can eat tapas at affordable prices, in establishments that are heritage sites in the city. An interesting option to buy your tickets for the places you want to visit in Barcelona is to buy a Go City pass, with options for choosing how many places to visit and unlimited attractions, including Gaudí’s architecture.
Originally posted 2022-04-11 03:07:57.
