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Barcelona's stunning Gothic cathedral - La Seu - is a must see on your visit to the city. It is located in the ancient Barri Gotic quarter, on the small Placa de la Seu, which joins onto Placa Nova. The cathedral was constructed between 1298 and 1460, though churches have existed on its site dating as far back as 343 AD. The main façade wasn't built until 1870, though it is based on a 1408 design. The spire of the central tower is 70 metres tall. The two times I have visited Barcelona the façade has been under restoration, though it is supposed to be completed later in 2007. Inside there is a large central nave and 28 side chapels. Make sure you check out the lavish choir stalls in the centre of the cathedral. You can catch the lift up to the roof for great views over the city - highly recommended! Opening hours: Daily, 8am-12.15pm & 5.15-7.30pm Free admission, but it will cost you around 2 euro to catch the lift to the roof Leave a Comment Address: Placa de la SeuPhone: 93 342 82 60Directions: Located in the Barri Gotic district Nearest metro: Jaume IWebsite: http://www.aviewoncities.com/barcelona/barcelonacathedral.htm
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Casa Batllo is possibly one of the strangest looking residential buildings around. Located on the grand Passeig de Gracia, the house was originally built back in the late 1800's. It was bought by Batllo i Casanovas in 1900 and he commissioned Gaudi to tear it down and build a new house. In the end, Gaudi worked with the existing building, redesigning the amazing façade and roof, and remodelling the interior, with work being completed in 1907. The outside of the building looks bizarre. It is covered with bits of green, blue, purple & brown tiles, and has multiple small balconies with bone-like pillars or pieces of skulls (hence its nickname, 'House of Bones'). Gaudi used colours and shapes found in sea life for his inspiration for the building, and it is said that the colours on the façade are like those found in coral. Inside you can visit the first floor, top floor and roof top (though the admission price is steep!). The first floor is home to the main salon with its stunning curved wooden doors and sun-like light fitting. The top floor has some fabulous arches and I loved the flowery floor tiles. There is a small terrace area here (near the gift shop) with a beautiful tiles pavement. The roof is a must-see, for the colourful chimney pots which rise above it, and the other tower like structures also covered in the pretty mosaic tiles. As you descend from the roof you will get to meet the great man himself - Gaudi….well, a hologram of him anyway! Opening Hours: Apr to Sep - Daily from 9am-8pm Oct to Mar - Daily from 9am-6pm Admission cost: 16 euro (Jan 2007) Leave a Comment Address: Passeig de Gracia 43, L'EixamplePhone: 93 216 03 06Directions: Located in the L'Eixample district Nearest metro: Passeig de GraciaWebsite: http://www.casabatllo.es/ Other Contact: infovisites@casabatllo.es
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Casa Mila, more commonly known as La Pedrera, is a Gaudi designed apartment and office block - it is the largest civil building he designed. It was constructed between 1906 and 1910, commissioned by Pedro Mila i Camps, a rich businessman, who was impressed by what Gaudi had achieved with Casa Batllo. It looks like the whole thing has been constructed in stone, but in fact has just been coated in a layer of stone. The outside of the building has a series of undulating balconies that look a bit like waves. There are unusual wrought-iron designs on the balconies which were created by Josep Maria Jujol. Inside you can visit the top two floors, plus the roof top. The inside of the apartments is filled with Gaudi's signature curves and arches - there is not a straight line in sight! The highlight of a visit to La Pedrera is the roof top. Here you will see large chimney pots which look like some sort of medieval warriors, along with other unusual shaped structures covered in mosaic tiles. There are some great views from up here to. Opening Hours: Nov to Feb - Daily from 9am-6.30 pm (last entrance at 6 pm) Mar to Oct - Daily from 9am-8pm (last entrance at 7.30 pm) Admission cost is around 8 euro Leave a Comment Address: Carrer de Provenca 261-265, L'EixamplePhone: 902 40 09 73Directions: Located in the L'Eixample district Nearest metro: DiagonalWebsite: http://www.lapedreraeducacio.org/eng/index.htm
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My favourite building in Barcelona would have to be the Sagrada Familia, and it isn't even finished yet! The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia is Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece - a massive church that he was working on when he died (in 1926) and which is still under construction today. Currently only two of the three planned facades have been built - the Nativity Façade and the Passion Façade, with work now commencing on the Glory Façade. Each façade has 4 tall towers, and there will be an additional 6 towers built, giving the church 18 towers in total - the tallest of which could be up to 170 metres high. When the church is finished it will hold up to 13,000 people. It is hoped that it will be completed in time for the 100 year anniversary of Gaudi's death in 2026. Although under construction, you can go inside the church and explore this amazing work in progress. Make sure you have a look at some of the beautiful stained glass windows that have recently been completed - the light reflects the colours of the windows onto the tall pillars inside the church. You can also visit some of the towers, towards the top of the church. First you will have to catch the lift, and then walk up stairs to reach the outside of the towers. It is an amazing experience to get an up-close look at the majesty of Gaudi's work. Opening Hours: Daily from 9am-8pm Admission cost: 8 euro, or combined with Casa Museu Gaudi (in Park Guell), 9 euro There are additional charges for: lift to the top of the building (2 euro); audio tour or guided tour (3.50 euro) (All prices correct as at Feb 2007) Leave a Comment Address: Carrer de Mallorca 401, L'EixamplePhone: 93 207 30 31Directions: Located in the L'Eixample district Nearest metro: Sagrada FamiliaWebsite: http://www.sagradafamilia.org/
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Park Guell is a very unusual park designed by Gaudi, located in the Gracia district in northern Barcelona. The area where the pack is located started out as an ambitious housing development project, thought up by Eusebi Guell, a well known Catalan industrialist. He hired Gaudi in 1900 to work on the garden village. Work continued until 1914 when it was clear that the project was a commercial failure. At this time Gaudi had already created roads and walkways, two gatehouses and a plaza. The city bought the park and it was opened to the public in 1922 as a park. You enter the park through the aforementioned gatehouses. Just to your right is a small building which contains some information on the history of the park and a scale model. The stunning Gaudi designed steps in front are guarded over by a mosaic lizard, which is the main symbol of the park. Ascend the stairs to the Sala Hipostila - a mass of 84 stone columns, which were originally intended as a market area. Climb further until you get to the large open space, which offers fabulous views across the city. Here you will no doubt take a seat on the fabulous Banc de Trencadis - a mosaic tiled bench which winds its way around the edge of this upper deck. The bench was designed by Gaudi's colleague, Josep Maria Jujol. You may also be interested in visiting the Casa-Museu Gaudi, where Gaudi lived for most of his last 20 years (details in a separate tip). Park Guell was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1984. Opening Hours: Jun to Sep - Daily from 10am-9pm Apr, May & Oct - Daily from 10am-8pm Mar & Nov - Daily from 10am-7pm Dec to Feb - Daily from 10am-6pm Admission cost: free Leave a Comment Address: Carrer d'Olot 7, GraciaPhone: 93 413 24 00Directions: Located in northern Gracia Nearest metro: Lesseps or VallcarcaWebsite: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/gaudi/park-guell.html
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on February 27, 2007
Barcelona
