Gaudí in Barcelona and why he became famous
Antoni Gaudi i Cornet was one of Spain and Catalonia’s most well-known architects. His personal touch made every single one of his works a monument on its own, and Barcelona wouldn’t have been the same city without him.
He was born in Reus in 1852, in south Catalonia. He always showed up proud of his Mediterranean heritage. He adopted vegetarianism because of its poor health as a kid. He was also very religious, something that inspired some of his works.
Please remember that if you would like to learn more about Gaudi, you can book our Gaudi Tour where our guide will take you to the most important buildings of this fascinated architect.
Enjoy Gaudi in Barcelona
Gaudí always investigated around different structures, combining them with cultures from countries like Japan, India, or Persia. He did a deep study of the architecture of these countries and the professionals that built those cities. What most influenced Gaudí was the Gothic Revival in the latter half of the 19th century. But he decided that Gothic was not perfect, so he decided to put in his very own touch and perfect it. He then moved to modernism, inspired by historic architecture.
What made Antoni Gaudí so famous was his study of nature, bringing geometrical forms into the buildings he designed.
But which are Gaudí’s most famous places in Barcelona? Have a look:
La Sagrada Familia: Sagrada Familia is Barcelona’s greatest monument. What makes it special, besides the greatness of its looks, is the fact that it’s still incomplete. Its construction commenced in 1882 and it’s expected to be completed by 2028. Anyway, that is not accurate, so it might be even later. Many Barcelona citizens wonder if they will live to see the Sagrada Familia finished.
Palau Güell: The Palau Güell is a mansion designed for Eusebi Güell. It was built between 1886 and 1888 and it is located in Barcelona’s heart, in the Raval district. As a curiosity, it was the background of the movie The Passenger, starring Jack Nicholson and Maria Schneider.
Park Güell: One of Barcelona’s most famous parks is the Park Güell. It is located on the upper side of the city, so besides the park being so well designed, the views from the city are spectacular. If you visit the park, don’t forget to take a picture of the multicolored mosaic salamander. And, again, enjoy the views from the main terrace. It’s totally worth the trip.
Casa Milá: Also known as La Pedrera, Casa Milà is the last civil work designed by Gaudí, between 1906 and 1910. You will see it undoubtedly at Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona’s main shopping street. The shapes of the walls and the dark balconies will surprise you. Since 1984 it’s a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO.
Casa Batlló: Very near to Casa Milà you can find Casa Batlló, one of Barcelona’s most renowned buildings. It is considered one of Gaudí’s masterpieces, and it was also called House of Bones. The roof is arched and colored as the back of a dragon or a dinosaur, and the little tower close to it represents the lance of Sant Jordi (Saint George), patron saint of Catalonia.
As we said earlier, Barcelona wouldn’t be the same without Antoni Gaudí and its masterpieces. His buildings give character to one of the most famous cities in the world