exploring the Incredible Architecture of Antoni GaudÍ in Barcelona
- Lisette Ortiz
- Jan 31, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: May 3, 2024
I went on a four-day trip to Barcelona, Spain in 2023. Like a tourist, I visited most of the top things to do and see. I found the crowds mainly at the Basílica de la Sagrada Família. The architecture of the Basílica is amazing! You cannot capture all the details in one visit. The Basílica is still under construction adding elements and details each day. The cornerstone was laid in 1882 and in 1883 Antoni Gaudí took over the design of the Basílica until he died in 1926. After 142 years it remains incomplete. They hold masses and other religious events despite the ongoing construction. There’s a nice park with benches across the street from the Basílica and plenty of restaurants and shops to take a break.
If you want to spend a day outdoors head over to Parc Güell. Like the basílica, you will encounter an architectural and artistic beauty designed by Gaudí for Eusebu Güell. The park is eclectic showing Guadí’s organic style with mosaics in the architecture, sculptures, and decorative art. Every design element has a purpose and function with an artistic twist. There are plenty of spots to relax. You may also catch a performance by street musicians playing and singing in the park. Wear comfortable shoes because the park is about 45 acres with hills and stairs. Once you reach the top, El Calvari you will see stunning views of Barcelona.
I could not leave without a tour of Casa Batlló. Guadí was given full creative freedom to reform the house. The house is a true modernist artistic gem with an iconic facade. The inside has a marine inspiration evoking fantasy and nature. Guadí used recycled materials and decontextualized objects to convert them into art with functionality, sparkle, and glow that evokes motion for a sea-like living experience. This is a joyful house inspiring an imagination. It’s a must-see unique masterpiece just like Gaudí’s other works.
The three gems: Sagrada Família’s Nativity facade and crypt, Park Güell, and Casa Batlló are included in the UNESCO World Heritage sites. They bear witness to Gaudí’s majestic creations in Barcelona, Spain along with the other four Gaudí sites I did not have time to visit. Apart from the other architectural sites, the beach, paella, and sangria do not leave without exploring the incredible architecture of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona.
~lo
