Barcelona and Gaudà go together like sangria and sunsets-both are vibrant, colorful and a little bit intoxicating. Visiting Antoni GaudÃ's masterpieces throughout Barcelona isn't just sightseeing; it's an art extravaganza with eccentric shapes and mosaics of color. Gaudà was heavily influenced by things he saw in nature. Because he observed there were no straight lines in nature, most of his designs include serpentine curves and brightly colored details replicating natural elements.
His fantastical designs are very distinctive and have become a trademark of Barcelona. You can't visit the city and not become enchanted with the mind and the magic of GaudÃ's art and architecture. This blog will highlight the local Gaudi sights you have to visit while exploring Barcelona.
La Sagrada FamÃlia-A Cathedral Still Under Construction
One of the most iconic landmarks in Barcelona is the Basilica de la Sagrada FamÃlia. This colossal structure is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has been under construction for over 140 years! The first cornerstone of the cathedral was laid on August 19, 1882. The goal is to finish the structural work in 2026, the 100th anniversary of GaudÃ's death.
The La Sagrada FamÃlia is dedicated to the Holy Family. The outside of the basilica is breathtaking and intricate. You have to walk around the whole cathedral to take in GaudÃ's masterpiece. The cathedral consists of three facades-the Nativity facade, the Passion facade and the Glory facade. The Nativity and Passion facades are completed, the Glory facade is under construction using plans, models and sketches that Gaudi made during his lifetime to make sure the work keeps with his vision for the structure. In addition to the facades, the finished basilica is going to have 18 spires or towers, each one representing an important figure in the Christian faith. Specifically, there is a spire for each of the 12 apostles,the 4 evangelists, the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ.
Here are some details about each of these important elements of the cathedral:
Nativity Facade: The Nativity facade is dedicated to the birth of Jesus and is meant to reflect the radiant joy of his arrival. It was constructed between 1894 and 1930 and was the only one completed during GaudÃ's lifetime.
Passion Facade: The Passion Facade is dedicated to Christ's Passion/death/resurrection and is meant to reflect the stark truths of his crucifixtion. It was constructed between 1954 and 1976 and was guided by drawings made by Gaudà before his death. He wanted the facade to be "hard, bare and as if made of bones."
Glory Facade: The Glory facade is intended to be the main facade and the entry into the basilica. The Glory facade will be dedicated to Jesus after death and the celestial promise of Christ's eternal glory. Before his death, Gaudà sketched out his vision of this facade to guide the future architects. It is not complete and is scheduled to be constructed by 2026.
The Spires: As noted above, the final construction will have 18 total spires representing the 12 apostles, the 4 evangelists, the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. They go in ascending order of height with the spire representing Jesus Christ being the tallest one. The evangelists are clustered around the Christ spire and the Virgin Mary spire is topped with a glass star which stands out in the Barcelona skyline. As of now 13 spires are complete. These are eight apostle spires, the 4 evangelist spires and the spire for the Virgin Mary.
What is amazing about the ongoing construction of the La Segrada Familia is you are never seeing the same basilica when you visit. My sister and her husband visited the basilica several years ago and it occurred to me that the basilica I was seeing was very different than the one she had seen. Several of the outside towers were just recently completed, so my sister wouldn't have had the chace to see that part of the masterpiece. There is work continuing, so if you visit in the next couple of years you will see a different building than I saw! Crazy!
As amazing as the outside of La Segrada Familia is, nothing prepared me for the sight that greeted me as I entered the cathedral. An insider tip, make sure to visit in the early morning or the late afternoon to get the full experience of Gaudi's design. You will see what I mean from the pictures below. We were there in the late afternoon so we got to see the cathedral with the sun setting. The reason this is important is the incredible floor to ceiling stained glass windows that line the walls. On one side, the stained glass is shades of blues and greens (the morning windows) and on the other side the stained glass is shades of red and orange (the afternoon windows). The designs that are created on the floor and ceiling of the basilica as the sun is rising and setting is magical. Here are some pictures, but understand these photos do not do it justice.
Although the stain glass show steals the attention, a walk around the inside of the basilica reveals many other magical elements incorporated by GaudÃ. The pillars inside resemble the structure of a tree from the broad trunk to the branches above. The very modern crucifix catches your eye in the middle of the cathedral. Some don't care for this interpretation of the crucifixtion. Even within our group opinions were split. What do you think?
Another insider's tip, this is the most popular attraction in Barcelona so you should definitely reserve your entrance ticket well in advance of your trip. Here is a link to the ticket page of the La Sagrada Familia website. However, I would suggest a "skip the line" tour package that also includes a trip to Park Güell. This gets you entrance into both sites with a guided tour, transportation between the cathedral and the park, and an ability to beat the long lines that are always an issue. I used Viator to book my tour in advance. Here is a link to the tour I took. I highly recommend it!
Park Güell
Originally desiged to be a luxury residential project by Gaudà and his patron Eusebi Güell, the idea never came to full fruition. The original plan included 60 homes, a market and gardens. Work stopped in 1914 with only two houses complete. After that, Park Güell became a public park that showcases some of GaudÃ's most creative work and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Walking into Park Güell is like stepping into a living, breathing fairy tale. The park is a colorful explosion of mosaics, serpentine paths, and whimsical sculptures set against the backdrop of nature. We entered the park through a back gate, walking through winding pathways and lush greenery. Gaudà was inspired by nature, and it shows-everything in the park feels organic, as though it's grown out of the earth itself. Even the viaducts and arches, made from rough stone, blend seamlessly into the landscape.
As we continued on the path we came upon a fairytale pink house that was apparently GaudÃ's last residence in Barcelona. He moved into the house in 1906 at the age of 54 and lived there for nearly 20 years until his death. The house is called Casa Rosada and now houses the Gaudà House Museum that contains furniture and objects designed by Gaudà over his lifetime.
As we meandered further on the winding paths up to the top of the hill, we came upon the heart of Park Güell. A terrace that offers amazing views of the Barcelona skyline as well as an amazing display of GaudÃ's artwork. At this spot, the Serpentine Bench, a sinuous, colorful seating area wraps around the terrace like a vibrant snake. Covered in broken-tile mosaics (a technique called trencadÃs), the bench is both functional and fantastical. Not only is the bench beautiful, but it is comfortable as Gaudà made sure to structure it to provide great back support while you are lounging soaking up the sun and the views.
As you descend down the stairs from the bench terrace, you come upon Hypostyle Hall, a forest of 86 Doric colums that feel like they have been plucked from an ancient Greek temple and given a playful twist. The ceiling is just as fascinating as it is adorned with mosaic medallions that sparkle in the sunlight. It is a space that is in equal parts grand and whimsical. Our tour guide informed us that events had been held in the space over the years and I can only imagine how spectacular they were with that setting!
Down the stairs from Hypostyle Hall, is the iconic lizard sculpture known as "El Drac". This mosaic-covered lizard has become a mascot for Park Güell and a symbol of Barcelona in general. You have to be patient to get a selfie with El Drac as everyone is looking to snap a photo with this little cutie.
Past El Drac, are two houses that look straight out of Hansel and Gretel (which frankly scared me just a bit!). One of the houses contains the gift store where you can find all things GaudÃ. The public restrooms are also in this area (just fyi).
Park Güell isn't just another tourist attraction-it is an experience where art, architecture, and nature come together in perfect harmony. One word of caution (from my bad experience), make SURE you know where your meeting point is if you sign up for a tour. We weren't exactly sure and our taxi driver dropped us off on the WRONG side of the park and we had to take another taxi and run up a STEEP hill to get to our tour group who almost had to go in (due to timed entry tickets) without us! We NEARLY missed the chance to see this amazing place. I would have been soooo upset. Learn from my mistake and confirm exactly where you need to meet!
Casa Batllo
Located on the bustling Passeig de Grà cia, Casa Batlló (pronounced "Casa Bat-yo") is another masterpiece by GaudÃ, renowned for its organic shapes and vibrant colors. The facade, with its distinct mask-like balconies and dragon-like roof, is a feast for the eyes. To me it is reminiscent of Claude Monet's Water Lilies painting, but it was apparently designed to look like a house of bones (not exactly the same aesthetic). Looking at the picture more closely, you can see bone like structures and dragon inspired scales for the roof. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
Guided tours are available to see the inside of this magnificent home, but we did not have a chance to do that. Our tour guide did say it was interesting to see inside because there are no corners (due to the lack of straight lines mentioned above), so furniture had to be designed to fit into the space. There is also supposed to be an incredible view of the city from the terrace. So, if you have time to do the tour it would probably be interesting. Again, this Gaudi masterpiece is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Casa MilÃ
Also located on Passeig de Grà cia, you can find another famous Gaudà struture known as La Pedrera (the Stone Quarry) or Casa Milà . This building is famous for its wavy stone facade and wrought-iron balconies. The building was built between 1906 and 1912 and resembles a massive wave. It is renowned for its innovative structure and design. We just walked by the unique building, but did not go inside. Visitors can explore the rooftop terrace, which features chimney sculptures that look like warriors, for a stunning view of the city. Inside, the Espai Gaudà exhibition offers insight into GaudÃ's creative process and techniques.
Palau Güell
Palau Güell is located near La Rambla and is a lesser known Gaudà attraction. It is one of GaudÃ's early works commissioned by Eusebi Güell (the subsequent patron of the Park Güell project). The palace showcases GaudÃ's early exploration of space and light. Visitors can marvel at the elaborate iron gates, the stunning arches and the intricately desgined rooms. The rooftop is decorated with colorful chimneys and offers another perspective of GaudÃs unique architectural style. Again, we were on a limited time schedule and did not have a chance to visit Palau Güell, but our tour guide highly recommended it as a hidden Gaudà gem in Barcelona that doesn't have the crowds of the other attractions. If you are an achitecture fan, I think you should include this on your itinerary. Our tour guide had the insider info!
A New Gaudi Fan
Before visiting Barcelona I didn't know much about Gaudi...actually nothing. But after seeing all of his amazing creations throughout Barcelona, I have become a huge fan. I love how his building and structures almost feel alive like the nature that inspired them. I love his use of bright colors and broken tiles to create fantastical pieces that inspire. Getting to know Gaudà and his work was one of my favorite things about Barcelona!
