Top 10 For Architecture Lovers
Barcelona is known for its rich architectural heritage and is home to some of the most iconic and innovative buildings in the world. The architecture of Barcelona is special for a number of reasons, including its unique blend of historical and modern styles, its use of light and color, and its emphasis on functionality and innovation. One of the most notable architectural movements in Barcelona is the Art Nouveau style, also known as the Catalan modernism or modernism, which was developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This style is characterized by its use of organic forms, intricate decoration, and bold use of colour and light. The most famous examples of this style in Barcelona include the works of Antoni Gaudí, such as the Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera and Park Güell. In addition to the Art Nouveau style, Barcelona is known for its modernist architecture, which emerged in the 20th century and was characterized by the use of new materials and techniques, as well as a focus on functionality and simplicity. These buildings, such as the former Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Norman Foster's Torre de Collserola and Calatrava's Torre Telefónica, are considered to be some of the most innovative and influential works of modern architecture.
Logan Armstrong/UnsplashLa Sagrada Família
Antoni Gaudi's ambitious project remains, as of today, unfinished, which by no means takes away its massive popularity, receiving nearly 4.5 million visitors every year. The Basílica de la Sagrada Família, or simply La Sagrada Família, is a large unfinished Roman Catholic minor basilica, considered the best example of Modernist architecture. Meticulously crafted to embody the Christian faith through composition, sculpture, and individualistic, offbeat design, this masterpiece is the kind of attraction that has to be experienced to be believed. Guided and audio tours are available in several languages.
basiczto/Shutterstock.comPark Güell
Park Güell is one of the most impressive public parks in the world, a complex garden with architectural elements situated on a hill in the Gràcia district. In this park with stunning views over the city, you can admire several impeccable works of Gaudí. Actually, the entire park was designed by the artist himself. Statues and buildings in different colors and shapes stand side by side, and the park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Vladitto/Shutterstock.comCasa Batlló
Once Gaudi got his hands on this previously unremarkable building in Passeig de Gràcia, it was never to be simply passed by again. Fascinatingly idiosyncratic and almost beast-like on the outside, it continues to amaze from within, with twisted lines and elements that could only be thought up by the genius of Gaudi.
altafulla/Shutterstock.comCasa Milà — La Pedrera
Built between 1906 and 1912, Casa Milà, commonly known as La Pedrera ("The stone quarry") is a modernist building in Passeig de Gràcia and the last private residence designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Its interior is even more striking than its wrought-iron, stone-carved facade, especially the rooms displaying where people actually lived. So get inside Casa Milà to diskover another one of Gaudí's unconventional architectural creations.
Arnau Miguel/Shutterstock.comCasa Vicens
The more recent of Gaudí's many projects to be opened to the public is the Casa Vicens. Built between 1883 and 1885 and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005, Casa Vicens was the first house designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Situated in the bohemian district of Gràcia, this bold project, commissioned as a summer house, combines elements of nature into a chaotic yet peaceful retreat.
OnedayPix/Shutterstock.comBasilica de Santa Maria del Mar
One of Barcelona's most beautiful churches is probably the best existing example of Catalonian Gothic, with a cleaner style than what is normally associated with Gothic architecture. Construction of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar began in 1329 and finished in 1383, a record time considering this type of construction. The church has an incredible feeling of spaciousness and weightlessness emphasized by slender pillars and very sparsely decorated chapels. Three naves of the same height, supported by very tall pillars, are the main features of the structure. The splendid rose window on the main façade allows for the illumination of the church together with the beautiful stained glass windows.
TTstudio/Shutterstock.comPalau de la Música Catalana
This sublime concert hall designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner and built between 1905 and 1908 is not quite as wacky as some of Gaudí's architecture, but it is still equally impressive. The Palace of Catalan Music not only pays tribute to the musical heritage of the Catalans but to all music, as well as beauty, colour, and joy.
jiawangkun/Shutterstock.comCathedral of Barcelona
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Santa Eulàlia, or simply the Barcelona Cathedral, is the Gothic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona. Its construction began in 1298 on the site of an ancient Roman temple and took more than 150 years to be completed. Located in the center of the historic Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, the cathedral is dedicated to the martyr Santa Eulàlia – the patron saint of Barcelona – who was tortured to death in late Roman times. Her corpse is buried under the main altar. Be sure to climb to the roof for a nice view of the city, and don't forget to visit the serene and beautiful courtyard, which is occupied by thirteen white geese representing the years of Saint Eulalia's life before she was martired.
Héctor J. Rivas/UnsplashPlaça Reial
Plaça Reial, a beautiful square in the Gothic Quarter and one of Barcelona's busiest, most vibrant spots (especially so at night), is known for its many outdoor venues, restaurants, and nightclubs. During summertime, it becomes an even more popular meeting place when open-air concerts take place. Stroll around or sit down with a tasty drink at one of the bars and just enjoy the moment.
Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock.comPoble Espanyol
Situated in one of the most emblematic areas of Barcelona, within walking distance from the Montjuïc Fountains, Poble Espanyol reveals the essence of Spanish culture where history meets culture and leisure through a pleasant and quiet open-air walk. With the mission of representing the essence of life in the towns of Spain, Poble Espanyol boasts more than 100 full-scale architectural constructions, buildings, squares, and streets from various areas of the country spread out through its more than 40,000 m2 of outdoor enclosure. Take a stroll around Poble Espanyol to discover a variety of restaurant offers with typical products of Spanish gastronomy, shops where you can buy local products, and audiovisual spaces representative of different peninsular areas. At the Fran Daurel Museum, you can admire works by great artists such as Miró, Picasso, Dalí, and many others under the same roof, plus a Sculpture Garden, a space where nature and art merge in one. Poble Espanyol is also synonymous with craftsmanship, a sustainable, quality, local, and handmade art. Declared in 2003 as an Artisan Zone by the Generalitat of Catalonia, it is undoubtedly one of the best concentrations of crafts in Barcelona and the country, offering the possibility of buying or creating a unique, unrepeatable and personalized piece.
Catarina Belova/Shutterstock.com