Gaudi / His Art, Barcelona

Favorite thing: This picture does not do it justice at all!!! The glass on the facade was like glitter and diamonds in the sunlight. You must see this for yourself! See the balconies inspired by Venetian masks?? Do not miss.

Favorite thing: Enjoy Catalan Art noveau or Modernisme. Why don't you buy the Gaudi pass for all the modernistic buldings? You can go walking or by bike. Sagrada Familia is the famous one but ALL are mythical and unreal! I recommend that the visit star in Palau Güell, where you can get the tickets for all Modernisme buildings. Palau de la Musica Catalana ,don't miss Casa Batlló, Casa Amatller and Casa LLeó Morera. La Pedrera, Casa de les Puntxes. Finally, Parc Güell, quite crowded so leave it for the end. Visit the Olimpic Villa, listen to the sea, nice drink in Plaça Reial, enjoy El Born shops and bars, admire gotic churches and buildins in Barri Gotic, visit Museu Picasso and MACBA.

Fondest memory: I went to BCN in 1989 first time, since then i love it! at the beggining I thought it was a grey city(it was all in construction because of the Olimpics Games)it was in winter and it was cloudy and wet. After seeing the city, I thought it was open and nice , organize and different. Lots of cultural activities and always Gaudi. then in Madrid, I started to learn Catalan!

Favorite thing:

Gaudi was an innovative leader of his generation. Some catalogue him in the Nouveau movement, but for many he created a new style.

His art challenged the norm and pattern with sensous and seductive curves. Some say that his loved for nature was reflected on his monuments and constructions..... His work went in harmony with the the surroundings.

Favorite thing: Visit the Gaudi buildings. Seeing these amazing creations is a marvel, and most are fully accessible. The Modernista architecture tour is also fascinating: a great tour to take on your own and still get lots of information.

Fondest memory: The first look at the Sagrada Familia from the rooftop of Casa Mila. After having only seen it in books and on film, the actual view from the distance was amazing.

Favorite thing: The colorful Casa Batllo (Batllo House) is an apartment building located at No. 43 Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona. It was totally renovated by Gaudi from 1904 to 1906 on a commission from the textile industrialist Josep Batlla i Casaanovas. Along with two Modernista works, the Casa Amatller by Puig i Cadafalch (1900) and the Casa Lleo Morera by Domenech i Montaner (1905), the Casa Batllo makes up the Mançana de la Discordia (Block of Discord), an allusion to the mythological Judgment of Paris.
One of the architect's most complete works, Casa Batllo reflects an intense yet abstract naturalism. Decorated with polychrome ceramics of both brilliant and subtle colors, it produces an indefinable sensation of lightness in spite of the profusion of forms and motifs. At the first floor level of the undulating facade is a striking stone structure in the form of a loggia (roofed open gallery) supported by columns that frame windows decorated with stained glass. The ceramics and multi-colored glass mosaics of the upper part are interrupted by aggressive iron balconies in the form of masks.
Crowning the whole is a suggestive tile roof over double garrets which evokes the back of a fantastic dragon. Also on the roof is a round tower with a floral dome topped with a four-branched cross, one of Gaudi's favorite motifs, behind which stand the colorful sculpted chimneys with their allusions to sturdy guardians.

Fondest memory: The interior impresses as well. An splendid hall stands at the entrance with winding stairs and attractively designed windows which are cast with changing blue tones according to the graduated colors of the ceramic tiles. The first floor was decorated by Gaudi who created some of his best interior design pieces for it in magnificently built fireplaces, wooden floors, furniture, stained glass, and wrought iron elements.

Favorite thing: Casa Calvet (Calvet House), located at No. 48 Carrer de Casp in Barcelona, was erected between 1898 and 1900 for the Calvets, a family of textile industrialists. It was built with offices on the ground floor, though the space now hosts a restaurant. Gaudi's most conventional work, it received the Barcelona City Council Award in 1900. The edifice is the first built by Gaudi along the strictly codified lines of houses in the Eixample district. The stone facade with its bay windows and sculptural decoration as well as the vestibule, stairway, and elevator reflect baroque influences. The remainder shows a much more personal and functional solution in which the bay-windows form a visual continuity. The roof is topped with two pediments, each supporting a wrought iron cross, and are surrounded by various pieces of stone ornamentation as well as statues of St.-Gines and St.-Peter, patron saints of the Calvet home town of Vilasar de Mar.

Fondest memory: Casa Calvet features several smaller instances of fine workmanship. The furniture for the offices and the first floor was designed by Gaudi himself and is considered particularly noteworthy. Wrought iron is cleverly employed, especially in the form a door knocker where one raises a Greek cross to crush an insect. The building's interior boasts an incredible amount of detail and color as well.

Favorite thing: The residential Casa Vicens (Vicens House) was built between 1883 and 1888 for the ceramics industrialist Manuel Vicens i Montaner at No. 22 Carrer de les Carolines in Barcelona. Forming part of the architect's early period, the building's structure is still dominated by straight lines. The decoration, however, appears as an explosion of imagination and brilliant colors, ideas that Gaudi would not cease to cultivate. This budding originality is seen in the bands of glazed ceramic on the lower part of the building and on the columns of the upper section with its large towers at the corners. Especially exceptional is the interior decoration in Mudejar style, a combination of the elements of Christian art with Arab ornamentation.

Fondest memory: The interior is at times completely patterned after decorative styles in vogue in Granada in the 14 th and 15 th centuries, such as the stylized stalactitic ceiling in the fumoir. Indeed, many of these elements can still be seen in the Alhambra.
Throughout the ground floor, ornamentation is linked together by an abundance of color and life. The ceiling is vividly naturalistic in expression with sculpted sparrows and bunches of cherries surrounding the beams suspended by slender cords. The flowers and plants destroyed by the construction reappear in the building as elements of the architecture. The building was expanded in 1925-1926 under the architect Juan B. de Serra Martinez keeping to the original style and under the guidance of Gaudi. The building remains privately owned.

Favorite thing: Visiting all of Gaudi's works is a must. He is still the most innovative architect in the world.

'La Pedrera' (Gaudi's apartment complex) had a fab art exhibit on Guinovart.
La Sagrada Familia - the great cathedral ... still in progress!!!.
Parc Guell ... the views and the fantasy

... just to name a few.

Fondest memory: First night in Barcelona and I meet Emilie (from London) at Cafe Zurich in Plaza Catalunya. later Tomas a friend of hers joined us and we all went out bar hopping, gathering friends of theirs from all areas. It was wonderful. That is life in Spain, casual encounters that lead to incredible evenings.

Favorite thing: Read something about Gaudi. Because in the entire city you will see his work. And it is nice to know something about it before you are stunned by the beautifull shapes and colors.
Gaudi was an architect who lived from 1852-1926, he designed several buildings and artwoks in Barcelona. Some famous ones being: Sagadra Familia, Parc Guell, Palau Guell, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera

Favorite thing: I love to spend my time in search of Gaudí's work. On my last trip I found a popout map that contains 11 of his works. I recommend everyone to buy it follow the map to see Gaudí's best work. So far I have only seen half of the things that he constructed, so I definately have a reason to come back.