The unique architectural appearance of the capital of Catalonia was influenced by magical influence the work of the great master Gaudi. 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 masterly work of their hands in the manufacture of copper products. In love with nature and observant, Antonio was attracted by the perfection of forms, the play of colors and lines from childhood. The love for everything natural found a way out in Gaudi’s work - the master’s favorite materials were stone, ceramics, wood and wrought iron.
In total, Gaudí's architectural heritage includes 18 buildings, most of them are located in Barcelona, defining the entire appearance 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 Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona are the Casa Vicens, the Teresian School, the Bellesguard House, Palazzo Güell, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Park Güell and, of course, the Sagrada Familia.
The mysterious symbol of the city - the Church of the Holy Family
The temple is the “trademark” of Barcelona, a universally recognized symbol of the city. Its majestic towers make a truly unforgettable impression, the building itself is full of secrets and coded messages from Gaudí. But, perhaps, the main mystery of this masterpiece, which was conceived as a temple for the atonement of sins, is its incompleteness.
The building was designed in the Gothic style, traces of which can be seen 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 the work took a lot of time. The architect worked on the Sagrada Familia for forty-three years without completing the construction. In 1926, he died when he was hit by a tram at the intersection of Gran Via and Bailen streets.
In 1936, Gaudi's workshops were burned, and only 20 years later work on the construction of the temple was resumed, using small pieces of photographs and sketches and, of course, without that magical improvisation that was unique to Gaudi. Construction of the cathedral continues to this day, steadily overcoming financial and other difficulties. The Sagrada Familia, located in the very center of the city at 401 Mallorca Street, annually attracts thousands of tourists who, admiring the grandeur of Gaudí's project, try to unravel its secret...
Casa Batllo in Barcelona
Casa Batllo (“Battle”, "Batlio » ) - one of the many masterpieces of Antoni Gaudi, an elegant example of the Art Nouveau style, so widespread in Catalonia at the beginning of the 20th century. Casa Batlló was built between 1904 and 1906 at 43 Paseo de Gracia. Gaudi reconstructed the house using his signature style: multi-colored and sparkling mosaics, curved lines, expressive forms, fancy balconies, a fantastic roof with tiles in the shape of fish scales.
The local name for the house is Casa dels ossos (“House of Bones”). The images of bones and internal organs some giant 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, the rounded detail to the left of the center, ending in a turret with a cross, represents the sword of St. George (Saint George - the patron saint of Catalonia), stabbed into the back of the dragon.
Casa Mila, La Pedrera
Casa Mila in Barcelona is one of best examples architectural concept of Antonio Gaudi. To some, its façade resembles rolling waves, while to others, it resembles a stone mountain with caves. Barcelonans jokingly call it “La Pedrera” (“The Quarry”).
Gaudí, as usual, drew inspiration from nature when constructing this house on the corner of the busy Passeig de Gràcia and Provença. The concept of modernity here is something living, fluid, moving, you can distinguish caves, the sea, undersea world. The view of Barcelona from the roof is just as amazing; there are no guardrails, and the gardens and mysterious figures seem to hang over the abyss.
In 1984, Casa Mila was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and today the top floor houses a museum dedicated to Antoni Gaudi, while the remaining floors are dedicated to luxury housing.
Park Guell
Another famous Gaudí project is Park Güell, located behind Place Lesseps, on Rue Olot. The park was built from 1900 to 1914, but, unfortunately, like the Sagrada Familia, it was not completed.
The park, a joint project of Gaudi and the entrepreneur Güell, was a very promising idea: on the slope of one of the hills of the Barcelona plain, it was planned to build a green town for the relaxation 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 are greeted by two cozy “gingerbread” houses, modeled after 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 in mosaics, among them is Gaudi’s characteristic 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 also a winding balcony, and the cornice of the colonnade is the back of a continuous bench bordering the entire upper area. It offers one of the best views of the city.
Park Güell is considered one of Gaudí's works where his imagination was most evident. In the house where the architect lived in 1906–1926, a museum named after him is now open.
Casa Vicens
One of the first works of Antoni Gaudí is the Vicens House, which is located at 18–24 Caroline Street. In 1878, the young entrepreneur Manuel Vicens ordered the construction of his house from the then aspiring architect Antonio Gaudi. 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 quite narrow, and it was necessary to build in a row of almost “rubbed” together buildings.
As a result, Gaudi’s imagination was not able to run wild to the fullest; the house was built very simply, without frills or crooked lines. To revive the image, the architect decided to decorate the facade of the building using numerous bay windows and tiled decor. The natural stone wall base was complemented by raw brick trim. 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: Gaudi used techniques from different traditions, combining incompatible things, sculpting yellow flowers from tiles, installing Moorish turrets on the roof and decorating the garden with a wrought-iron fence in the art nouveau style. The result is a wonderful example of modernism and a testament to the eternal genius of Antoni Gaudi.
If you are going to Barcelona, be sure to visit these sights, priceless heritage of Antoni Gaudi. Contact us atphones Center for services for business and life in Spain “Spain in Russian” , and we will help organize interesting individual or group excursions tothe unforgettable creations of Antoni Gaudi.
Antonio Gaudi born June 25, 1852 in the small town of Reus, near Tarragona in Catalonia (Spain). Gaudi spent his childhood by the sea. He carried the impressions of his first architectural experiments throughout his life, which is why some of his houses resemble sand castles. Due to rheumatism, the boy could not play with children and was often left alone, spending a lot of time communicating with nature. Mobility limited due to illness sharpened the future architect’s powers of observation and opened up to him the world of nature, which became the main source of inspiration in solving both artistic, design and constructive problems. Antonio loved to spend a long time watching the mountains, clouds, flowers, and snails. Gaudi's mother instilled in the boy a love of religion. She inspired him that since the Lord had left him alive, Antonio must definitely find out why.
In the seventies of the 19th century, Gaudí moved to Barcelona, where, after five years of preparatory courses, he was accepted into High school architecture, graduating in 1878. It was an educational institution of a new type, in which teachers did everything to ensure that learning did not turn into a routine. At the School, students were encouraged to have the opportunity to participate in real projects, and practical experience is always very valuable to an architect. Antonio studied with pleasure and enthusiasm, spent evenings in the library, learned German and French languages, in order to be able to read literature on the profile. Antonio was one of the best students, but was never loved.
In 1870-1882, Antonio Gaudi worked under the supervision of architects Emilio Sala and Francisco Villar as a draftsman, unsuccessfully participating in competitions; studied crafts, performing many small works (fences, lanterns, etc.), and also designed furniture for his own home.
In Europe at that time there was an extraordinary flowering neo-gothic style , and young Gaudi enthusiastically followed the ideas of neo-Gothic enthusiasts - the French architect and writer Violet le Duc (the largest restorer of Gothic cathedrals in the 19th century, who restored the Cathedral Notre Dame of Paris) and English critic and art critic John Ruskin. The declaration they proclaimed “Decorativeness is the beginning of architecture” was fully consistent with Gaudi’s own thoughts and ideas, whose creative style over the years becomes completely unique, architecture is as far from the generally accepted one as Lobachevsky’s geometry is from classical Euclidean.
During early creativity, marked by the influences of the architecture of Barcelona, as well as the Spanish architect Martorell, his first, richly decorated, early Art Nouveau projects are being built: “stylistic twins” - elegant House of Vicens (Barcelona) and the whimsical El Capricho (Comillas, Cantabria):
In accordance with the owner’s desire to see a “kingdom of ceramics” in his country residence, Gaudi covered the walls of the house with multi-colored iridescent majolica tiles, decorated the ceilings with hanging stucco “stalactites,” and filled the courtyard with fancy gazebos and lanterns. The garden buildings and the residential building formed a magnificent ensemble, in the forms of which the architect first tried out his favorite techniques:
● abundance of ceramic finishes;
● plasticity, fluidity of forms;
● bold combinations of different style elements;
● contrasting combinations of light and dark, horizontals and verticals.
El Capricho (Comillas, Cantabria):
The outside of the building is faced with rows of brick and ceramic tiles. The first floor is faced with wide rows of multi-colored bricks alternating with narrow strips of majolica tiles with relief casts of sunflower inflorescences.
The compromise pseudo-baroque dates back to the same period. House Calvet(Barcelona) - the only building recognized and loved by the citizens during his lifetime:
Also during these years the following projects appeared:
● School at the monastery of St. Teresa (Barcelona) in a restrained Gothic, even “serf” style:
● Neo-Gothic Episcopal Palace in Astorga (Castilla and Leon):
● Neo-Gothic Botines House (Leon):
However, his meeting with Eusebi Guelem . Gaudí later became a friend of Güell. This textile magnate richest man Catalunya, no stranger to aesthetic insights, could afford to order any dream, and Gaudi received what every creator dreams of: freedom of expression without regard to the budget. Antonio carries out designs for the pavilions of the estate in Pedralbes near Barcelona for the Güell family; wine cellars in Garraf, chapels and crypts of Colonia Güell (Santa Coloma de Cervelho); fantastic Park Güell (Barcelona). In these works, Gaudi goes beyond the dominant historical styles within the eclecticism of the 19th century, declaring war on the straight line and forever moving into the world of curved surfaces to form his own, unmistakably recognizable style.
One day Güell conceived the idea of reconstructing his summer country residence. For this purpose, he expands his holdings by acquiring several more plots. He gives the order for the reconstruction of the country house to Antonio Gaudi, instructing him to remake the park, reform Vacation home, erect a fence with a gate, build new pavilions at the entrance to the estate, and the architect was also commissioned to build a stable with an indoor arena. Now this complex is called Park Guell .
Like all subsequent works of Gaudí, these buildings are deeply symbolic; there are no random details here. The architect's plan was based on the myth of the magical garden of the Hesperides. This myth was reflected in the poem “Atlantis” by the Catalan author Jacinta Verdaguer, who often visited the Guell estate. The poem describes one of the labors of Hercules, who was ordered by the king of Mycenae, wanting to test the strength of Hercules, to get golden apples from the garden, which was carefully guarded. The most interesting, preserved part of the estate is the gate in the shape of a dragon. According to legend, the bloodthirsty dragon Ladon guarded the entrance to the garden, where there grew a tree with golden apples that bestow eternal youth and immortality.
Another Gaudí building for his philanthropist and friend is the manufacturer’s house in Barcelona, the so-called Palace Guell :
With the completion of the palace, Antoni Gaudí ceased to be an anonymous builder, quickly becoming the most fashionable architect in Barcelona, soon becoming an "almost unaffordable luxury".
At that time, Antonio Gaudi was still working as a draftsman in the architectural bureau of his former teacher at the Higher School of Architecture, Villar. This also played an interesting role in Gaudi’s later life. The point is that construction Temple of the Holy Family (Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família) has been going on in Barcelona for several years. And when the question arose about replacing the architect, Villar proposed the candidacy of Gaudi. Oddly enough, the Church Council accepted it. Antonio founded his own architectural bureau, recruited a staff of assistants and plunged headlong into work ( )
The clients, who were ready to spend half a fortune on construction, initially believed in the genius of the architect, who was effortlessly paving a new path in architecture. For the bourgeoisie of Barcelona, he built houses one more unusual than the other. One of these houses was the house Casa Mila - space that is born and develops, expanding and moving like living matter. The house is better known as La Pedrera, which translates as the quarry. The project was commissioned by entrepreneur Pedro Mila y Camps. He needed a house whose apartments he could rent out. Gaudí planned a wavy façade. The iron structures were faced with cut stone, which was cut down nearby in the province of Barcelona:
Design began in 1906, and the architect, with his characteristic scrupulousness, verified all the lines. He designed the space so that the neighbors felt as isolated as possible from each other, and besides, if the owner of the house decided to turn it into a hotel, then no problems should arise either. Nevertheless, Pedro Mila expressed impatience and urged him in every possible way. But obstacles arose at every step. Thus, the regulatory authorities were unhappy with the column, which protruded half a meter onto the sidewalk. They demanded that it be removed. Gaudi fought for every detail of his project. He threatened that if he still had to remove the column, then in the place where it should have been, he would write who exactly was guilty of its absence.
Then there were sizing issues. The height of the structure was four meters higher than permitted. There was a requirement to cut down the attic. In case of failure to comply with the requirement, the owner was subject to a fine that corresponded to a fifth of the entire project. A commission was created that recognized the building as of great value and thus all this disagreement with the law was resolved.
House Mila took three years to build. While the work was going on, the rich Pere Mila became poor, since he had already paid 100 thousand pesetas for the architect’s violation of all construction standards. Therefore, towards the end, he could not stand it and said: “I won’t pay.” Gaudi replied: “Well, then finish the construction yourself.” After which they dispersed, patting their empty pockets, vilifying each other and taking the case to court. But subsequent generations can now be inspired and enjoy the beautiful architectural monument.
A similar project by Gaudi - Casa Batlló - a living, trembling creature, the fruit of a bizarre fantasy that has an unusual origin: it has a developed plot - St. George kills the dragon. The first two floors resemble the bones and skeleton of a dragon, the texture of the wall resembles its skin, and the roof of a complex pattern resembles its spine. Above the roof rises a tower in the form of a spear piercing the dragon's body. Casa Batllo is also known as the "House of Bones":
WITH Church of the Holy Family - Sagrada Familia - became the most famous work of Antoni Gaudi, although he did not start building it and he did not finish it. But for the architect himself, this work became the culmination of his life and work. Attaching particular importance to this building as a monumental symbol of the national and social revival of Catalonia, Antogio Gaudí focused entirely on it from 1910, placing his workshop here.
According to Gaudí, the Sagrada Familia was to become a symbolic building, a grandiose allegory of the Nativity of Christ, represented by three facades. The eastern one is dedicated to Christmas; the western one - the Passion of Christ, the southern one, the most impressive, should become the facade of the Resurrection. The portals and towers of the Sagrada Familia are richly sculpted to resemble the entire living world, with a dizzying complexity of profiles and detailing that surpasses anything Gothic has ever known. This is a kind of Gothic Art Nouveau, which, however, is based on the plan of a purely medieval cathedral.
Despite the fact that Gaudi built the Sagrada Familia for thirty-five years, he managed to build and decorate only the Nativity façade, which is structurally the eastern part of the transept, and the four towers above it. The western part of the apse, which forms the largest part of this magnificent building, is still unfinished. More than seventy years after Gaudí's death, construction of the Sagrada Familia continues today. Spiers are gradually being erected (only one was completed during the architect’s lifetime), facades with figures of the apostles and evangelists, scenes of the ascetic life and atoning death of the Savior are being decorated. Construction of the Church of the Holy Family is expected to be completed by 2030.
The model of the future Temple of the Holy Family (Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família) in Barcelona, made up of suspended bags of sand, could only be “read” by modern computers! By connecting the bag dots, the researchers obtained a spatial model of the cathedral. In addition, in order not to “cut” the room into pieces, Gaudi came up with his own unsupported ceiling system, and only 100 years later it appeared computer program, capable of performing such operations. It was a NASA program that calculated space flight trajectories.
Last years the architect spent time as an ascetic hermit, completely devoting all his strength and energy to creating the immortal Cathedral of the Holy Family - Sagrada Familia, which became the highest embodiment of not only his unique talent, but also his devout faith. He decorated the tops of the temple towers so carefully that the angels would be pleased to look at them.
At the end of lifeAntonio Gaudi became very ill. I caught brucellosis or Maltese fever, which is still difficult to diagnose today. Doctors believe that “brucellosis is characterized by sudden changes in mood, leading to suicidal depression. Interspersed with outbursts of anger and periods of distraction, this depressed mood is accompanied by physical exhaustion, excruciating headaches and painful arthritis.” There was no cure for this disease. Perhaps this can explain why Gaudi has changed so much for the worse. He walked around in saggy jackets, and his trousers hung around his legs, which he wrapped in bandages because of the cold... And no underwear! However, he did not change his outer clothes until they turned into rags. The great architect ate what was put into his hand while walking - a piece of bread, for example. If nothing was shoved in, I didn’t eat anything. When he didn’t eat anything for a very long time, he lay down and began to die. But one of the students came, changed his clothes, fed him...
On June 7, 1926, 73-year-old Gaudi was hit by a tram and lost consciousness. Cab drivers refused to take an unkempt, unknown old man without money or documents to the hospital, fearing non-payment for the trip. Gaudi soon died from his injuries.
Watch a video presentation of Gaudi's most famous works:
While studying at school, Gaudi showed artistic talent. He paints the backstage of the school theater. And in 1867, the school weekly “El Harlequin,” published in a circulation of only 12 copies, published several drawings of the genius. In 1968, the architect graduated from school.
From 1869 to 1874, Gaudí moved to Barcelona and took architectural preparatory courses at the University of Barcelona at the Faculty of Natural Sciences.
Learning and becoming
In 1870, the restoration of the Poblet monastery, which Gaudi dreamed of, is planned. The architect develops a sketch of the coat of arms for the rector.
In 1873, Gaudí entered the Provincial School of Architecture in Barcelona. In 1876, the architect's elder brother and mother died. By the time he graduated from the school of architecture in 1877, a huge number of sketches and projects had been created: a pier for ships, the Central Hospital of Barcelona, the cemetery gates.
Until 1882, while Gaudí worked as a draftsman under the supervision of Francisco Villar and Emilio Sala, he studied crafts, created furniture for his own home and did other small work. During this time, participation in competitions did not bring results.
In 1878, Gaudí was finally noticed and received his first public commission - a street lamp for Barcelona. Already in 1879 the project was implemented.
Gaudi pays attention to the study of old architectural monuments in the vicinity of Barcelona. The architect attends excursions with the Catalan “Excursion Center,” members of the Catalan Association of Architects. At this time, the first major order for the construction of a mansion was received from Manuel Vicens y Montaner.
In 1879, Gaudi's sister, Rosita Gaudi de Egea, died, leaving behind a daughter. The architect takes his niece to live in Barcelona. He himself was never married, and, according to contemporaries, due to his unsuccessful personal life in his old age, he became a misogynist. The master had no children.
Recognition and the most significant buildings
In 1881, Gaudí's only journalistic work was published in the newspaper La Renaixenca, it was dedicated to the exhibition applied arts. The project “Obrera Mataronense”, a workers’ settlement, has been completed and is being printed in the Hepus printing house.
IN late XIX century, the neo-Gothic style flourished in Europe, and the architect became delighted with new ideas. The handwriting was strongly influenced by the work of Viollet-le-Duc, who restored Notre-Dame de Paris, and the English art critic John Ruskin.
With no less interest, Gaudí studied the architecture of Barcelona, especially the neo-Gothic works of Joan Martorell. They met in 1882; the genius remained under the influence of the famous Spaniard for a long time. It was under the patronage of Martorell that Antonio Gaudi was approved in 1883 (November 3) as the architect of the Sagrada Familia (Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família), after the departure of Francisco del Villar. In parallel with this, the first project for Güell is being developed - the Hunting Pavilion near Sitges.
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In 1884-1887, Gaudí designed and implemented the equestrian yard and entrance gate to Les Corts, Güell's estate. The order is truly of great importance and the results only confirm the industrialist’s desire to cooperate.
Convinced of Gaudi's talent, in 1886 Guell ordered him to build the Palace in Barcelona. It is the Güell Palace (Palau Güell) that brings the master fame among the bourgeoisie. He transforms from an ordinary builder into a fashionable architect, who has become a symbol of “unaffordable luxury.” Playing with space, behaving like living matter, impressed the customer. During the construction period, Gaudi traveled through Andalusia and then Morocco in the retinue of the Margrave of Comillas. Work on the Palais Güell was completed in 1889.
From 1887 to 1893, the master was involved in the construction of the Bishop's Palace in the neo-Gothic style in the city of Astorg in Castile. But the building remained unfinished until 1915, since the architect, due to disagreements with the chapter, refused to lead the project in 1893.
In parallel, in 1888-1889, Gaudi worked with the Gothic-fortress project of the monastery School of St. Theresa in Barcelona. Around the same period, from 1891 to 1892, the Casa Botines in León was built under his leadership.
Finding time between visits to the construction site, the architect manages to visit Tangier and Malaga to get acquainted with the site where construction was to be carried out for the Franciscan Mission. But the project remained unfulfilled.
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Contemporaries note that Gaudi was a devout Catholic and strictly observed fasting. It was this reason, coupled with poor health, that caused a serious deterioration in my general condition. The recovery process was difficult and greatly affected the architect's inner world.
From 1895 to 1901, Gaudí built many buildings for Eusebio Güell. For a long time, his involvement in the outbuildings and wine cellars in Garraf remained unknown. It was believed that only his friend Francesc Berenguer i Mestres worked on them.
In 1898, Gaudí created a design for the Church of Colonia Güell, but built only the staircase complex and the Crypt. The building stood unfinished for a long time, and was completed only in 1917. At the same time, in 1898, the Calvet House (Casa Calvet) was built in a pseudo-baroque style for the industrialist Pere Martir Calvet i Carbonell. The house was completed in 1900 and received a municipal prize as the best building of the year. This award was the only one during Gaudí's lifetime.
The year 1900 was significant for the architect, and he designed a sculptural ensemble for the Catalan shrine - the Monastery of Montserrat. The hand of the master is visible in the design of the altar chapel.
Still in 1900, an order was received from Maria Sages to build a country house on the site of the royal residence of Marty I. An unusual solution was chosen for the project - a medieval castle. Since the construction was carried out on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and on top of a hill, the house was called “Bellesguard”, which translates as “ beautiful view" The work was completed in 1909. At first glance, the building seems very simple, but in fact Gaudi combined the surrounding landscape and a dead structure in it. The mixture of Mudejar and neo-Gothic echoes the House of Vicens and El Capriccio.
The year 1900 was truly eventful. Güell ordered Gaudi to create a huge park in Gràcia, which at that time was a suburb of Barcelona. According to the industrialist's plan, it was supposed to be an English park, an outlet from industrialization, and at the same time a spontaneous romantic garden. The architect himself and his niece subsequently settled on one of the plots. The grandiose work on Park Güell was completed in 1914, along with the design of the area at the main entrance, alleys and large terrace. However, it was not possible to realize Güell's large-scale plan to build a new green residential area.
Gaudi simultaneously worked on several projects at once. So, in 1901, an order was received from the manufacturer Miralles to design the walls of the estate and the entrance gate. From 1903 to 1914, the architect led the reconstruction of the cathedral in Palma de Mallorca and created its interior.
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As mentioned earlier, the architect moved to one of the houses in Park Güell in 1906, but not because of vanity, the master was very modest, but because of his father’s illness. Yet on October 29, 1906, Gaudí’s father dies.
From 1906 to 1910, work was carried out on the Casa Milà, another unusual project. The architect wanted to build a house similar to a living creature, in which the space would not be static, but would develop and be reborn. Gaudi's plan was quite a success, although it was received with hostility by his contemporaries.
The fame of the Catalan architect went far beyond the country. In 1908, an order was received from New York for the construction of a hotel. But the work ended at the stage of drawing sketches offering a bold and extraordinary solution. At the same time, Gaudi was designing a chapel at the School of St. Theresa, but the leadership educational institution rejected the project. Also in 1908, construction of the Crypt of Colonia Güell in Santa Coloma was resumed.
All this time, starting in 1882, the construction of the Sagrada Familia has been going on. In 1909, the master decided to create a temporary school for the children of the temple parishioners. A feature of the structure was the abundance of curvilinear forms and the absence of partitions.
In 1910, under the auspices of the National Society of Fine Arts, the only major lifetime exhibition in Paris was held, at which Gaudí's various projects were presented.
In 1912, the architect's niece, Rosa Egea i Gaudi, died in poor health; she was 36 years old. In 1914, a close friend and ally, Francesc Berenguer i Mestres, died. After a break, construction of the Sagrada Familia resumed.
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Today it is impossible to imagine Spain without the works of Antoni Gaudi. Its fantastic Art Nouveau buildings have become a symbol of Barcelona. Each of them seems to be a living being with its own character. Gaudi drew his inspiration from the nature of his native Catalonia. He was not afraid of bold experiments. Gaudi's brilliant legacy belongs not only to his homeland, but to the whole world.
early years
The future great architect was born on June 25, 1852, the fifth child in the family of a coppersmith in the suburbs of Barcelona. The boy grew up weak and sickly. After suffering from pneumonia, Antonio developed rheumatoid arthritis. As a child, he could hardly walk. However, he managed to outlive all of his brothers and sister.
Origins of creativity
Due to illness, the boy was deprived of the childhood joys of playing with peers. But he liked walks by the sea. Antonio could spend hours watching the waves, looking at the coastal rocks or trees. He also loved to watch his father’s work in the workshop. Later, these childhood impressions will be reflected in his work.
At school, the boy loved geometry most of all, but monotonous cramming was difficult for him. Antonio was a good drawer, and his drawings were published by the school magazine “Harlequin,” and he was also entrusted with making scenery for a children’s play.
Study and first orders
After graduating from school, in the fall of 1868, young Gaudi moved to Barcelona to study as an architect. After 5 years of preparatory courses, he managed to enter the Higher School of Architecture. In order for his son’s dream to come true, the father of the future great architect had to sell his lands and forge.
During his studies, Gaudi worked as a draftsman, while simultaneously studying carpentry, glass making, and metal forging. At the age of 26, Antonio received a diploma in architecture.
Carier start
After completing his studies, Gaudí opened an architectural office. His first orders were projects for a textile factory and a workers' settlement, churches and monasteries, lanterns for the city, and the interior design of a pharmacy.
Despite the fact that in his youth Antonio was quite attractive and dressed in the latest fashion, he spent his entire life alone. He never started a family, devoting himself entirely to work.
Meanwhile, Barcelona needed serious changes. The city began to grow and rebuild. At this time, wealthy industrialists appeared who were ready to invest their capital in the new look of the city.
Temple of the Sagrada Familia
It was a great success for the young but talented architect to meet Joan Mortarel.
Antonio supplemented the original project in the form of a cross with three facades with bell towers. The eastern façade is dedicated to the Nativity of the Savior, the western façade to the Passion of Christ, and the southern façade to the Glory of God.
During the construction of the cathedral, Gaudi used inclined supports and parabolic arches. He planned a huge vault and a tower rising above it. At the top there should be a cross illuminated by spotlights - a symbol of the Savior’s sacrifice.
The architect wanted to make the temple the apotheosis of medieval Gothic. He was inspired by the ancient cathedrals of Spain, their symbolism and style. In the design of the facades, Gaudí used images of his contemporaries as Christian characters, as well as images of animals and plants of Catalonia.
Work on the cathedral completely absorbed Antonio Gaudi. After 1914 he refused other orders. During his life, the master managed to complete the façade of the Nativity, leaving a model for posterity. The temple is still being built with the money of the townspeople.
Now the Sagrada Familia is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world and the main attraction of Barcelona. In 2010, the temple was consecrated by the Pope, and services began to be held there.
It became the first private building designed by Gaudi. The house was built in the Gràcia quarter as a summer residence for the brick manufacturer Manuel Vicens y Montaner. The building project was created back in 1878, at the very beginning of the architect’s career.
The house is built of brick in the Moorish style, its facade is richly decorated with oriental ornaments made of tiled tiles. Adjacent to the house was a garden with an artificial waterfall and a rotunda, which have not survived to this day.
The building occupies 3 floors, the interior decoration was also made in oriental style. Gaudi himself thought out to the smallest detail how the house would look inside and out.
The house has a simple layout, but thanks to the abundance of decorative elements in the decoration (turrets, ledges, bay windows, balconies) it seems like a complex structure. In 2017, a museum was opened in the house.
Eusebi Güell was a wealthy industrialist, philanthropist, and politician. But above all he is known for his acquaintance with Antoni Gaudi. For a long time they had strong friendships. Thanks to Güell's support, Gaudí was able to bring many of his projects to life.
Palais Güell was one of the young architect's first major commissions. Construction began in 1886 and took 5 years. Palau Güell is located in the very center of Barcelona.
The building is reminiscent of the Doge's Palazzo in Venice. The walls are lined with gray marble, which gives the facade a strict and solemn appearance. Noteworthy are two large arches with metal gates with the owner’s initials.
Between them there is a forged sculpture - the flag of Catalonia with a phoenix. Through the gate, carriages could enter the stables located in the basement. At the second floor level there is a gallery designed in the style of the Italian Renaissance.
The interior of the interior with elements of oriental style, neo-Gothic and art nouveau amazed with its luxury and sophistication of decoration.
The center of the house is the hall, rising to the top floor. At the top it is closed by a huge dome with holes for sunlight, reminiscent of a starry sky.
Chimneys on the roofs, lined with ceramics or natural stone, resemble fancy fairy mushrooms.
Behind the house there is a courtyard - an atrium. On this side the facade is decorated more modestly than on the outside. There is a small covered terrace and balcony adjacent to the back wall.
The palace was the main residence of the industrialist's family. Concerts, receptions, exhibitions were held here, and art collections were also stored here. The Güell family owned the house until 1936. It was taken away by the revolutionary authorities and given over to police housing. In 1945 it became the property of the Barcelona municipality, and now it houses a museum.
Park Guell
Located in the upper part of Barcelona on Carmel Hill, created in 1900 - 1914. Initially, on this site, bought by Eusebi Güell, it was planned to build a garden and mansions for rich people. However, the distance from the city center did not allow the plan to come true - wealthy citizens did not want to live on the outskirts. A total of 3 residential buildings were built. One was bought by the lawyer Trias i Domenic, the architect Gaudi himself lived in the second, the third was bought by the owner Eusebi Güell and became his residence.
When creating the park, Gaudi showed himself to be a talented landscape designer. The park consists of green spaces, architectural structures and residential areas. Gaudí's buildings follow natural forms. He created a comprehensive road system using the local landscape.
At the entrance to the park, visitors are greeted by fairy-tale houses where the administration is located.
On the middle platform there is a mosaic medallion with the flag of Catalonia. Having gone upstairs, the visitor finds himself in a hall of 100 columns, reminiscent of a Greek one.
Business card parka - a long bench writhing in the shape of a sea snake, decorated with a mosaic of colored shards. In the design, Gaudi used broken dishes that were brought to him from all over the city. The bench has an anatomical shape, making it comfortable to sit on. To do this, Gaudí forced a worker to sit on a mock-up of a clay bench and measured the imprinted curves of his body.
Since the area was originally deserted, many plants and trees were planted in the park. Walking paths pass through quaint galleries in the shape of bird's nests and caves, where you can relax on benches and hide from the sun. All architectural objects are close to natural and form a single whole with the park complex.
Subsequently, Güell's heirs transferred the park to the city hall. Gaudí's former mansion is now home to his house museum.
Mature years and death of Gaudi
During his life, Antonio Gaudi created many masterpieces of architecture that decorated Catalonia. Unfortunately, some of them have not reached us, and those that have survived are now under the auspices of UNESCO.
The great architect devoted the second half of his life entirely to the construction of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. He became very religious. The former dandy and gourmet began to dress poorly and carelessly, and stopped taking care of himself. Gaudi was a vegetarian and ate very sparingly. Often on the street he was mistaken for a tramp.
Death of Gaudi
On June 7, 1926, an accident occurred - Antonio Gaudi was hit by a tram. At first, the master was mistaken for a tramp and taken to a hospital for the poor. Gaudi suffered broken ribs and a traumatic brain injury. After two days, the architect was found by his friend, the chaplain of the Sagrada Familia, and he was transferred to a separate room. On June 10, Gaudi died and was buried in the crypt of the unfinished temple.
Canonization
Since 1992, there has been a campaign in Spain for the canonization of Gaudi. He is called an architect from God. It is believed that during the construction of the Sagrada Familia, higher powers directly gave ideas and inspired the master. In 2003, the Vatican began the official process for Gaudí's canonization. However, this process is hampered by an insufficient number of miracles. Perhaps the architect will be declared blessed, but so far this issue has not been resolved by the Vatican.
In any case, the memory of the great Antonio Gaudi lives on in the form of his amazing buildings, which transformed not only Spain, but also world architecture.
Barcelona is a city of eternal smiles, sun and unique architecture. The sights of Antonio Gaudi are a separate chapter in the endless list of must-see places in the capital of Catalonia, and we will introduce them in our article.
The famous Catalan architect Antonio Placid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet was born in 1852 into the family of a blacksmith in the small town of Reus, Catalonia. Continuing the family business, the father of the future architect made a living in forging and chasing copper, and from an early age instilled in his son a sense of beauty, drawing and depicting buildings with him.
Antonio grew up as a smart boy who excelled at school without much effort. His favorite subject was geometry. Even during his school years, the young man began to think about his purpose and felt that his life would be somehow connected with art. One day, during a school play, Antonio tried himself as a theater artist and it was then that he realized what he wanted to devote his life to - “painting on stone,” which in subsequent generations would be described as Gaudí’s architecture.
After graduating from school, Gaudi went to a city that is now impossible to imagine without the creations of the Catalan genius - Barcelona.
Architect Antonio Placide Guillem Gaudí i Cornet is the creator of the most significant landmarks that Catalonia is proud of. Having entered an architectural bureau here as an entry-level position, the young man does not give up his dream of one day starting work on his own project and building his own building.
After four years of living and working in the capital of Catalonia, Gaudí finally entered the Provincial School of Architecture, where he took up his studies with desperate zeal. Already from the first year, teachers noted Antonio, noticing both his talent and his amazing stubbornness, unconventional vision and audacity. Even the rector of the educational institution speaks about these qualities when presenting 26-year-old Gaudi with an architect’s diploma.
Already in his final years, the ambitious Catalan worked on serious projects and did not give up his work until the end of his life. In the summer of 1926 in Barcelona, the famous architect was hit by a tram on his way to church. Mistaking the artist for a homeless man, witnesses to the incident sent him to a hospital for the poor. Only a day later the exhausted old man was recognized as a famous architect, but his condition at that time worsened, and he soon died.
Style
From the moment he graduated from the school of architecture, Antonio's artistic search began. At first he turns to the neo-Gothic style, which was then popular in the south of Europe, then changes course to more intimate modernism, “pseudo-baroque” and gothic. Almost all of Antoni Gaudi's attractions, and there are 17 of them, are located in Catalonia.
Subsequently, each of these directions will leave its mark on Gaudí’s work. However, it is impossible to characterize Gaudi’s style with just one movement: from the first independent buildings of the artist, it becomes clear that their creator is a man outside the rules and time. The concept of “Gaudi decor”, whose style is recognizable always and everywhere, has forever been assigned to him.
Smooth lines and unusual construction of space can be conditionally attributed to modernism, which is either approaching or moving away from neo-Gothic.
The buildings
Fountain in Plaza Catalunya – Fuente en la Plaza de Cataluña
(Catalan name -Font a la Plaça de Catalunya)
The fountain in Plaza Catalunya is considered the first independent work of Antoni Gaudí Antonio's first independent work is recognized as a fountain in the central square of Barcelona - Plaza Catalunya, designed and built in 1877. Now every guest of the capital of Catalonia can admire it when they come to the main square of the city.
Free admission.
Address: Plaza de Catalunya.
How to get there: by metro, the nearest stations are Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia.
Mataronin Workers' Cooperative
(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Cooperativa Obrera Mataronense)
The first building Gaudí built independently is located near Barcelona, in the town of Mataro. The aspiring architect received the order to design the cooperative in 1878, and worked on it for about four years. The complex was originally planned to include residential buildings, a casino and other ancillary buildings, but ultimately only the factory and service buildings were completed.
Mataronin workers' cooperative, whose building was designed by an architectural genius Now access to the building is open, and everyone can look at it, but it can only be of interest to true fans and researchers of the architect’s history. After all, the cooperative, although it inevitably reminds of its creator in every detail, does not represent such artistic value as the other buildings of the genius.
The building is now used as an exhibition space.
Opening hours:
- From July 15 to September 15 – from 18:00 to 21:00, closed on Mondays.
All other months:
Free admission.
Address: Mataro, Carrer Cooperativa 47.
How to get there:
- by train from Barcelona Stants station to Mataro station;
- by bus from stop Pl Tetuan to Rda. Alfons XII – Camí Ral (stops 3 minutes walk to the Workers' Cooperative);
- by car - drive along the coast to the north, the journey will take no more than half an hour.
House of Vicens
(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Casa Vicens)
The Vicens House is the fateful brainchild of the great architect. Thanks to his bold design, Antonio was noticed by his future patron, philanthropist Eusebio Güell In 1883-1885, Gaudí designed a building that largely determined his fate. Manufacturer Manuel Vicens orders a summer residence project for his family from an architect who has just received his diploma. A young artist decides to build a building from rough stone and colorful ceramic tiles.
The building itself is an almost perfect quadrangle, but the simplicity of the form was transformed with the help of decorative elements. Facing the east, he decorates the building in the Mudejar style. Here he is helped by both colored tiles (which the customer of the house specializes in) and the bold decision to lay them out in a checkerboard pattern.
Interior of the Vicens house inside Attention to the smallest details and the desire to maintain one’s work in a single style were already defined as distinguishing feature Antonio Gaudi.
In 2005, the building was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
It was after the construction of the House of Vicens that Antonio Gaudi was noticed by the philanthropist Eusebio Güell, who later became the main customer and patron of the young architect.
Private building, closed to the public until 2017. In October 2017, the house was opened for tours.
Address: Carrer de les Carolines, 22-24.
How to get there: by metro to Fontana station (L3).
El Capriccio
(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Capricho de Gaudí)
The summer mansion of the Marquis Masimo Diaz de Quixano, created by an architectural genius, still amazes with its originality and uniqueness The Catalan genius is building the next structure by order of the Marquis Masimo Diaz de Quixano, who was distantly related to the architect’s friend Guell. The quaint summer mansion was created in 1883-1885 in the town of Comillas and is still one of its main attractions. The building is now open to the public.
Opening hours: 10:30-17:30, with an hour break from 14:00 to 15:00.
Ticket price – 5 €.
Address: Comillas, Barrio Sobrellano.
How to get there: From Barcelona, the fastest way is to fly to the city of Santander (SDR airport) and from there by bus to the city of Comillas (the Comilias stop is a five-minute walk from El Capriccio).
Pavilion of the Güell Manor – Pabellones Güell
(Catalan name -Pavellons Gü ell)
The beautiful and unique design pavilion of the Güell estate is another work of Gaudí The first order Gaudí received directly from Güell was a project for a complex of two pavilions and a gate, which were supposed to be the main entrance to the magnate’s country estate. Initially, the complex also included a gatekeeper's house and stables, but they did not survive to this day.
The pavilion is located in Barcelona, near the Palau Reial metro station on line L3, and you can visit it by purchasing a ticket for 6 €.
Address: 7, Av. Pedralbes.
How to get there: by metro to Palau Reial station (L3).
Sagrada Familia – Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia
(Catalan Name– Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia)
The beginning of the construction of the most famous long-term construction is considered to be March 19, 1882. It was then that the first stone was laid in the foundation of the Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family. The basilica began to be built under the leadership of the then famous Spanish architect Francisco del Villar. A year later, he left the project due to disagreements with the church council, and the young Gaudí was entrusted with continuing construction.
Antonio Gaudi devoted 42 years of his life to the construction of the Sagrada Familia, tirelessly improving the project, adding new details and gradually modifying the plan. The artist filled each new column, statue or part of the bas-relief with symbolism and sacred meaning, being a true Christian.
Its fundamental innovation was the 18 pointed towers, each of which had a special meaning. The central and highest among them (still unfinished) is dedicated to Christ.
Nativity facade The three facades of the building also bear sacred semantic load, which is expressed by sculptures and images on it. The main façade is dedicated to the Nativity, the other two are dedicated to the Passion of Christ and the Resurrection. According to the Spanish government, the construction of the temple will be completed approximately in 2026 (which is not certain), but now you should definitely visit the Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi when you are in the capital of Catalonia.
The building is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can learn more about Gaudi’s brilliant creation in a separate article at the link.
The Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Familia is a unique creation of the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. The temple has become a symbol not only of Barcelona, but of Spain as a whole. Opening hours:
- November-February – 9:00-18:00;
- March and October – 9:00-19:00;
- from April to September – 9:00-20:00.
The price of the simplest entrance ticket is from 17 €.
Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 401.
How to get there: to Sagrada Familia metro station (L2 and L5).
Palace Güell – Palacio Güell
( Catalan name -Palau Gü ell)
Palace Güell not only attracts the attention of numerous tourists, but is also duly recognized by UNESCO The residential building, built by a Catalan master commissioned by Güell's friend and patron, became his only building in the Old Town of Barcelona. Antoni Gaudi took five years to build Palace Güell, and it was during this time that his personal style, which became recognizable throughout the world, was formed.
A non-standard approach to decorating the facade, an appeal to Byzantine motifs and the statics of Venetian palazzos - each line of the building loudly declares its creator.
The interiors of the palace are also worth a look: fancy fireplaces, wooden ceilings, bright stained glass windows and huge mirrors are definitely worth your time. Palace Güell is another building by Antoni Gaudi, included in the UNESCO list.
Opening hours:
- from April 1 to September 30 – 10:00-20:00;
- From October 1 to March 31 – 10:00-17:30;
- Mon and Sun are days off.
Free admission.
Address: Carrer Nou de la Rambla.
How to get there: by metro to Drassanes station (L3).
College of Saint Teresa – Colegio Teresiano de Barcelona
(Catalan Name – Col legi de les Teresianes)
In 1888, Antoni Gaudí began to continue the construction of the College of St. Teresa. It is still unknown which of the architects of that time started this project and why he did not continue it.
Working on the building turned out to be difficult for the architect, because he constantly had to coordinate his ideas with the client and work with rather “boring” material, trying not to dilute it with decorative elements. Constantly arguing with Ossie's father, who supervised the construction, the architect found justification for his decisions in biblical symbolism.
College of Saint Teresa is another popular attraction in Barcelona Thanks to Gaudi’s persistence and his categorical reluctance to adhere to absolute asceticism, the college building turned out to be restrained, but not without recognizable author’s features. The shape of the building was complicated, decorative arches were placed along the perimeter of the roof, and the facade was decorated with unique elements.
You can get inside the school during excursions, which are held on weekends from 15:00 to 20:00.
Address: Carrer de Ganduxer, 85.
How to get there: by bus 14, 16, 70, 72, 74 to the Tres Torres stop.
Bishop's Palace in Astrog
(isp. Palacio Episcopal de Astorga,cat. Palau Episcopal d'Astorga)
The bishop of Astroga (province of Leon), Jean Batista Grau i Vallespinosa, was well acquainted not only with the work of Antoni Gaudi, but also with the architect himself personally. It is no wonder that it was him who the priest ordered the design of his new residence. Focusing on the Gothic style characteristic of Leon, Gaudi created a small castle with narrow windows, towers and pointed roofs.
Bishop's Palace in Astrog The building's unique porch and entrance portico with recessed arches are the architect's find. In order to create the impression of “elongation” and unreality, to dilute the usual Gothic style, the master decided to use solid elongated stone blocks in the installation.
On this moment the palace is open to visitors, ticket price is 2.5 €.
Address: Plaza de Eduardo Castro, Astroga.
How to get there: The easiest way from Barcelona is by train to Astroga station (the Palace is a 10-minute walk from the station).
House Botines
(Spanish: Casa Botines, cat.. Casa de los Botines)
Not far from Astroga, in Leon there is another attraction associated with the name of the Catalan master. The rich people of Leone, having seen the new residence of Bishop Astroga, decided that their new apartment building should be built by the same architect. The main customer was one of them, Joan Botines, founder of the commercial union.
The house, like the Jean Baptiste Palace, was designed with an eye to local color. Turning again to the Gothic style, Gaudi erects a rather restrained building with a small number of decorative elements.
House Botines - the legendary creation of Gaudí outside Catalonia Address: Leon, Plaza del Obispo Marcelo, 5.
How to get there:
- by train to Ponferrada station;
- by bus (from the station) to the Ponferrada stop (a five-minute walk from Casa Botines).
Güell Wine Cellar
(Spanish)Bodegas Guell,cat. Celler Guell)
The Güell Wine Cellar is one of the most original wine cellars in the world In the suburbs of Barcelona there is another Gaudí building, commissioned by Eusebio Güell. The master worked on it in 1895-1898. The single complex included a wine cellar, a residential building and a gatekeeper's house. They are all united by a recognizable style, as well as a common idea of building roofs - they resemble either tents or oriental pagodas, attracting all attention to themselves.
Entrance to the complex costs 9 €.
Address: El Celler Güell, Sitges.
How to get there: By train to Garaff station.
House Calvet
(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Casa Calvet)
In 1898-1890, Gaudí was busy with construction apartment building on Casp Street (Carrer de Casp) in Barcelona, commissioned by the widow of a city rich man, which later became a private residential building. In the style of the building, the maestro adhered to the neo-baroque style, abandoning medieval motifs. It was this creation of the architect that received the Barcelona Municipal Prize for the best building of the year in 1900.
The building can only be viewed from the outside. 
Address: Carrer de Casp 48.
How to get there: by metro to Urquinaona station (L1, L4).
Colony Güell Crypt
(Spanish and Catalan names are identical:Cripta de la Colò nia Gü ell)
Gaudi began building another church in the suburbs of Barcelona in 1898 as part of a project to build a colony - a small complex provided with everything necessary for the life of a micro-society.
The Crypt of Colonia Güell is one of the most original buildings in Catalonia Due to the protracted construction process, the architect was able to build only the crypt, and all other parts of the project remained unfulfilled.
The building is lined with multi-colored glass, and its windows are decorated with needles from the looms of the Guell factory. The building is decorated with bright stained glass windows dedicated to church motifs.
The crypt is open from 10:00 to 19:00, tickets cost from 7 €. The attraction is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 
Address: Colonia Guell S.A., Santa Coloma de Cervello.
How to get there: Take buses N41 and N51 to the Santa Coloma de Cervello stop.
House Figueres
(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Casa Figueras)
One of the most recognizable houses of Antoni Gaudi is located on Bellesguard Street and is often named after it. The architect worked for three years only on the design of the house, which was commissioned by the widow of a wealthy merchant Maria Sages in 1900, and its construction continued until 1916.
Forming the style of the building, Gaudi returns to oriental motifs and combines it with neo-Gothic. As a result, he gets a very light structure, soaring into the sky, decorated with intricate stone mosaics and graceful broken lines. 
Casa Figueres is open to the public from 10:00 to 19:00 in summer and until 16:00 in winter. Ticket costs from 7 €.
Address: Carrer de Bellesguard, 16.
How to get there: by metro to Vallcarca station (L3).
Park Guell
(Spanish: Parque Güell, cat. Parc Güell)
A huge park with an area of 17.18 hectares, Parque Gaudi Barcelona was built in the upper part of Barcelona in the years 1900-1914. Together with the customer Güell, they conceived a recreational space, a “garden city,” that was fashionable at that time among the British. The designated area for the park was divided into 62 plots for the construction of mansions.
It was never possible to sell them to wealthy Catalans, so they began to develop the territory as an ordinary park, and then sold it to local authorities.
Nowadays the house-museum of Antoni Gaudi is located here (his mansion was one of three purchased in the park). Besides it, there is a lot to see in the park: the famous mosaic sculptures, the Hall of a Hundred Columns and, of course, the curved bench and the famous Gaudí tiles with which it is lined.
A ticket for an adult visitor costs from 22.5 €.
Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 43.
How to get there: by metro to Passeig de Gràcia station (L3).
House Mila
(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Casa Milà)
The famous Casa Mila has long become almost the same symbol of Barcelona as the Sagrada Familia. This is the last “secular” work of the architect. After its completion, he finally plunged into the construction of the Church of the Holy Family, sometimes mistakenly called the CATHEDRAL. Gaudi, again, gravitating towards smooth and curved lines, creates an amazing and memorable facade.
Casa Mila is one of the symbols of Barcelona By the way, the residents of Barcelona did not like it right away, and for its heavy appearance the building was nicknamed the Quarry. However, this did not prevent Casa Mila from becoming the first building of the 20th century to be included in the UNESCO List.
The fact is that Gaudi, acting in accordance with his principles, thought through the smallest details, not only decorative, but also functional. In Casa Mila, Antonio Gaudi thought out the ventilation in the rooms in such a way that to this day it does not require air conditioning. And the owners can move the interior partitions in each apartment at their discretion.
And, of course, the main innovation of that time was the underground parking, also designed by the famous architect.
Interior inside Casa Mila Casa Mila has been on the World Heritage List since 2005.
Address: Provença, 261-265.
How to get there: by metro to Diagonal station (L3, L5).
Buy skip-the-line tickets to Casa Mila with an audio guide.
Sagrada Familia School
(Spanish: Escuelas de la Sagrada Familia, cat. Escoles de la Sagrada Familia)
Built as part of the Sagrada Familia complex, the school amazes with its simplicity and elegance at the same time. This is probably one of the most inconspicuous attractions of Antoni Gaudi at first glance. Its design amazingly harmoniously combines beauty and functionality.
Thus, a fancy roof not only serves as decoration, but also drains rainwater without leaving a trace. In addition, the building fully complies with church requirements.
The Sagrada Familia school can claim to be the most original in the world in its design A few years after the construction of the school was completed, Gaudi himself moved here to live in order to be as close as possible to the main work of his life - the Cathedral of the Sagrada Familia.
Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 401.
How to get there: by metro to Sagrada Familia station (L2 and L5).