Tracing Antoni Gaudí’s Impressive Architectural Works in Barcelona

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is a cosmopolitan Mediterranean city with a rich heritage. The blend of medieval districts with modernization is often an interesting sight. There are many designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the city is particularly renowned for the architectural works of Antoni Gaudi. There are too many of his works for me to cover during my trip to Barcelona, so these are the 3 popular works I checked out.

#1 : Sagrada Família

Antoni Gaudí, best known as an architect, produced works which have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. It’s impossible to miss out on hearing his name when you’re visiting Barcelona. Pop by the city’s most incredible attraction, Sagrada Família, which has been under construction since 1882, and is still financed by private donations.

Gaudí’s work was influenced by his passions in life – architecture, nature, and religion. He considered every detail of his creations and integrated crafts such as ceramics, stained glass, wrought ironwork forging and carpentry into his architecture. Gaudí rarely drew detailed plans of his works, instead preferring to create them as three-dimensional scale models and moulding the details as he conceived them. Besides his masterpiece, the immense but still unfinished Sagrada Família, there are other beautiful works which you should check out too.

Sagrada Família Details
Address: Mallorca Street 401, 08013 Barcelona
Directions: Alight at Sagrada Família Station if you are taking the metro Line 2 and Line 5. Buses 19, 33, 34, 43, 44, 50, 51, B20, and B24 also bring you directly to Sagrada Família.
Opening Hours:
Nov-Feb 9am to 6pm
Mar & Oct 9am to 7pm
Apr-Sep 9am to 8pm
25 & 26 Dec and 1 & 6 Jan 9am to 2pm
Contact: (+34) 932 080 414
Website: http://www.sagradafamilia.org/en/
Entrance Fees: There are many categories of tickets. Check the website for more information.

#2 : Park Güell

Park Güell is a perfect reflection of Gaudí’s artistic plenitude. The unique shape of the serpentine bench enables the people sitting on it to converse privately, although the square is large. Gaudí also installed small bumps in order for the tiled bench to dry up quickly after it rains. You will notice many uniquely tiled mosaics on the ceiling which are also Gaudí’s works.

Despite its hill top location, many tourists still insist on making their way to Park Güell. These are the 4 transportation options you can consider.

(a) Riding the bus to Park Güell is the easiest way to get there. Hop onto Bus 24 which starts at Plaza Catalunya, and alight at the Ctra. de Carmel – Park Güell stop, and you’ll find yourself at the more tranquil back entrance of the park. It costs €2.15 for a one-way ticket, and takes about 40 minutes, depending on the bus schedule, and traffic condition.

(b) The closest you can get to Park Güell by the metro is via the green line. Alight at Lesseps, and you’ll have to cover half the distance on flat ground, and another half uphill to get to Park Güell. You can also choose to alight at Vallcarca where you have the option of taking an escalator up to the park. Just follow the crowds and you’ll get there just fine. A one-way ticket costs €2.15, and it takes around 30 to 45 minutes from Plaza Catalunya.

(c) For convenience’s sake, you can take the taxi.

(d) Or, if you are a little more adventurous (and don’t mind exploring Park Güell with jelly legs afterwards), you can rent a bicycle and cycle your way up. Depending on the type of bicycle you rent, it costs approximately €12 to €30 for a three-hour rental. Biking to Park Güell from the city center can take anywhere between 30 to 45 minutes, depending on your fitness level.

Park Güell Details
Address: Carrer d’Olot, 7, 08024 Barcelona
Opening Hours: The hours differ from season to season. Check the website for more information.
Contact: (+34) 934 091 831
Website: https://www.parkguell.cat/en/
Entrance Fees: There are many categories of tickets. Check the website for more information.

#3 : Casa Milà

Casa Milà, which was the last private residence designed by Gaudí, boasts an unconventional rough-hewn appearance. It was built between 1906 and 1910. The building was commissioned in 1906 by businessman Pere Milà and his wife Roser Segimon. At that time, it was controversial because of its undulating stone facade, twisting wrought iron balconies and windows designed by Josep Maria Jujol. In 1984, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Casa Milà Details
Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 92. 08008, Barcelona
Directions: Alight at estació Diagonal if you are taking the metro Line 3 and Line 5. Buses 7,16,17, 22, 24, and V17 also bring you directly to Casa Milà.
Opening Hours: 9am to 8.30pm and 9pm to 11pm daily
Contact: (+34) 902 202 138
Website: https://www.lapedrera.com/en/

Be marvelled by many other works of Antoni Gaudí if you have a longer time to explore Barcelona. Furthermore, this lively city offers visitors a wide array of food and spectacular sights, and it never gets boring here!