When you first see the architecture of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona, you might get the feeling that you’ve landed on a different planet…or at least a Star Trek set. After all, Gaudí’s most famous works involve a roof lined with multicolored dragon scales, vibrant fruit baskets atop cathedral towers, and chimneys disguised as knights in shining armor. His buildings line the busiest streets of Barcelona, standing out from the neutral-toned, red-roofed style of the Catalonian capital.
You might think that Gaudí’s work is a little out of this world. But in fact, it is quite the opposite: Mother Earth inspired nearly every element of Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces. Obsessed with nature from an early age, Gaudí incorporated the flora and fauna of Catalonia into all his works: palm tree bark, conch shells, alligator skeletons. A protégé of the famed Gothic Revival architect Joan Martorell, Gaudí began making his mark on modern architecture around 1878. His work evolved, ultimately taking on a style that was a combination of traditional and popular Catalan design, natural influence, strong religious beliefs, and a hefty dose of creativity. These elements all contributed to Gaudí’s role as the most prominent artist of Catalan Modernism, or Modernisme (in Catalan, the official language of Barcelona). Of all Gaudí’s works, the most well-known are centrally located in Barcelona: The Casa Milà, Park Güell, and, last but not least, the Sagrada Família.
Glancing at the Casa Milà across the street, you might wonder if you should have brought your climbing gear. Better known as La Pedrera, or the quarry, the complex is actually made up of two buildings, each built on a constant curve and looping around a small courtyard. Also vaguely reminiscent of a tortoise shell, the stone facade of the building is free-standing, which enables the buildings’ inhabitants to remodel their homes easily and frequently. The structure certainly is striking from a distance, but the real novelty lies above: dozens of what seem to be chess pieces, conch shells, and oddly angular knights line the steps of the rooftop, disguising chimneys and skylights to combine art and function in the buildings’ design.
Park Güell is one of Gaudí’s most famous creations, known for its iconic gingerbread houses, mosaic designs, and trademark lizard (also mosaic). Like Casa Milà, Park Güell was intended to include apartments in a multi-functional space. Gaudí himself even lived there for awhile; his one-time home now hosts the museum portion of the park. But, the use of this space as community living quarters did not take. Instead, the beautiful hilltop park was turned into a public garden and museum for all to enjoy. It serves this purpose beautifully, offering an oasis of silence and the best view of the city from its elevated roost. Find a seat on one of Park Güell’s curved mosaic benches, and take a snapshot of Barcelona framed by the work of its most famous artist.
Gaudí’s magnum opus was the Sagrada Família, started in 1882 and still under construction to this day. Even unfinished, the cathedral will leave you breathless. The 558-foot-tall structure features baffling detail, with intricate biblical scenes seemingly carved out of its walls, towers topped with stone baskets of Venetian glass fruit, and a jarringly modern (but still respectful) statue of the crucifixion adorning the entrance. One of Gaudí’s first large commissions, the artist continued to work on it until his death in 1926. Various architects have followed his designs ever since, and the estimated completion date of the cathedral is 2026. So if you want to see the finished product, start planning your next trip ten years in advance!
Everywhere you go in Barcelona, there pops up yet another surreal creation of Antoni Gaudí. Visit the Casa Vicens, one of Gaudí’s earliest works. Visit Casa Battló, nicknamed the Casa dels Ossos, or “House of Bones” in Catalan, and see the spooky skeletal structure with the aforementioned dragon-scale roof. Or even just stop by and see his very first project: the lamp posts at the Plaça Reial. After all, every great artist has to start somewhere.
