Barcelona: Gaudí, the great master
Antoni Gaudí was unique amongst the architects of the world. A visionary and a genius, without any doubt. His creations from the turn of the 20th century are timeless. His work continues to amaze, surprise and leave subsequent generations speechless. Controversial both during and proceeding his lifetime, Gaudí‘s creations are a must-see in Barcelona. Find here some ideas, but we have more, please ask us!
Essential Gaudí Tour
Visit two of the brilliant architect’s works in depth: the unfinished Basilica of the Sagrada Familia and the apartment building, designed for bourgeois housing, known as La Pedrera or Casa Milà. You will also see Casa Batlló (and the Discórdia block) from the outside, as well as an overview of the Eixample neighborhood.
Sagrada Familia is a spectacular masterpiece of architecture and engineering with a bewitching beauty that is difficult to put into words. It is a must to visit both outside and inside this world famous site. The famous Roman Catholic basilica has been under construction since 1882, only disrupted by the Spanish Civil War and most recently the Covid-19 crisis. Gaudí left it unfinished for future architects, sculptures and engineers to complete. Artists from all over the world have contributed to finishing this masterpiece.
The trendy neighbourhood of Eixample was created after the 18th-century walls of Barcelona’s Old town were demolished. The grid shape of Eixample was designed by Ildefons Cerdà, an engineer and urban planner. “Modernismo” (also called Liberty Style or Art Nouveau) really took off in the Eixample neighbourhood in the 20th century. Barcelona’s bourgeoisie wanted to maintain an elegant yet modern style of living, and many commissioned homes in the district. As a result, Modernismo came to characterise the entire zone and you will see many outstanding examples. Remember to look up while walking and let the city surprise you!
Undoubtedly the most spectacular residential building built by Gaudí is La Casa Milà, popularly known as La Pedrera. The visit of its interior: the inner courtyards, one of the apartments, the attic and the incredible terrace, offer an unbeatable immersion into the mind of the brilliant architect. In addition to helping us understand the transformation that the bourgeoisie and modernism meant for Barcelona.
More Gaudí sites
Casa Vicens – This is the first house built by Gaudí. It is located in the neighborhood of Gràcia, and offers a perfect excuse to get out of the historic center, or the famous Eixample, to enter a neighborhood with a lot of character of its own. Another good idea is to combine Casa Vicens with Park Güell and a short walk through Gràcia.
Palau Güell – This incredible palace, former residence of the influential Güell family, could not be more in the center of Barcelona, a stone’s throw from the Rambla. We propose to walk through the oldest neighborhoods of Barcelona, called the Old Town, and take the opportunity to visit the interior of the magnificent Palau Güell.
Torre Bellesguard – Reaching Bellesguard is an adventure to the highest areas of Barcelona. This palace enjoys magnificent views as well as offering a visit to one of the most unknown buildings of Gaudí in Barcelona. We propose to complement the visit with an excursion by public transport and funicular to reach the highest point of the city: Tibidabo.
Cripta Güell -Unfinished church (another one!) and in fact, barely begun, it is located 30 minutes by car from the center of Barcelona. We suggest visiting it on a full day excursion, combined with a visit to the mountain of Montserrat or on the way to the Penedés wine region.
Most of Antoni Gaudi’s buildings in Barcelona can be visited. Therefore it is easy to make a combination of two of them in a half-day, 4-hour excursion. Although we do not recommend visiting more than 2 in one day.
Park Güell has been restored in recent years, so its colorful “Trencadís” mosaic shines more than ever. Spring is a particularly beautiful time to enjoy the park in all its splendor. Keep in mind that between June and September it can be very hot, especially between 12h and 17h and it is advisable to visit outside these hours. We can organize a visit to Park Güell with our guides, although in our experience, it is also a visit that you can enjoy at your own pace. We suggest you visit in the afternoon or evening during the hottest months.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at THIS LINK. Please let us know if you would like to include Park Güell in any of our tours and we will arrange the tickets for you!
In Barcelona, public transport is a great option to move from one point to another and is integrated in a ticket Metro, Buses and Tram. Although some distances can be covered on foot. You can hire a vehicle with an expert driver if you prefer and especially if you want to include more than two monuments in a single day. Taxis are almost always available and are very convenient for 1-3 guests.