Go Gaudi
Weird animals and strange organic shapes. A way of using the materials not seen before or since by anybody else.
Antoni Gaudi’s experimental architecture was way ahead of its time.
Barcelona
is synonymous with Gaudi and there is a good reason why his work is
eternally popular with the tourists: It is stunning!
There are lots of possibilities to check out Gaudi’s work in Barcelona – you just have to experience his fascinating universe.
Antoni
Gaudi was born on June 25 1852, and died after having been run down by
a tram in 1926. A deeply religious man, he despised Picasso and he was
never properly appreciated in his lifetime
Casa Mila
Photo by matze_ottOn
Passeig de Gracia in Exaimple you will find Casa Mila. (Which is also
called La Pedrera). It was constructed in 1905 as an apartment
building, but the tenants didn’t want to move in since they didn’t know
where to put the furniture. The buildings are round - built entirely
without corners. You can still have a look into one of the apartments,
but the best part of your visit to Casa Mila is to go to the rooftop.
Gaudi created a true landscape of shapes and figures up here. You have
never seen anything like this – but you will be mesmerized. The line to
Casa Mila is terribly long, but worth the wait. At the end of the day
the line is shorter and the sun less sharp.
Casa Mila, Passeig de Gracia, 92
Parc Güell
Parc Güell looks like how a grown-up might experience Alice in Wonderland.
At the foot of the mountain, Gaudi has created a surreal, exotic
fantasy landscape with artificial palm-trees made of clay, which form
the shadowy arcades. A ceramics lizard and a snake’s head are the first
things that greet you.
The main entrance is most often crowded with
visitors. The park, which was rediscovered by the hippies in the
60’ies, is wonderfully psychedelic and very popular. But don’t be
frightened by the masses. Once you get further into the park there is
more space and a fantastic view over Barcelona. Take it in, resting on
the world’s longest ceramic bench, shaped as a dragon. Don’t wear
heels. The walk up to the park is steep and you have to count on
walking 20 minutes from the metro. Take the green line, L3, to the stop
Lesseps, and follow the signs to the park.
The world’s most famous unfinished building: La Sagrada Familia.
Photo by Rainer Ebert
On
overwhelming building in organic shapes: Caverns and dripping towers.
It looks like something that grew out of the earth. On the building you
can see a Christmas tree and depictions of several stories from the
Bible, like The Last Supper, The Crucifixion of Christ and The
Resurrection. You have to walk all the way around the church and back
again.
Photo by MortenoThe last years of his life, Gaudi lived in a shack on the construction site by La Sagrada Familia.
Since
his death in 1926, more than a hundred architects have worked hard to
complete his work. A giant undertaking that still causes disputes over
how Gaudi himself would have wanted it and how it is possible to
preserve his spirit.
The enormous cathedral is still under
construction – the yellow cranes are fabulous! – and is expected to be
finished in year 2026, which can hardly be done in time.
La Sagrada Familia, 401 Carrer de Mallorca
FC Barcelona Museum/Camp Nou
If you love soccer, this is a must-see!
The
FC Barcelona Soccer Club Museum exhibits items from the club, dating
back a hundred years. There are two types of admission fees. Buy the
pricier one, which gives you a guided tour of the changing rooms,
pressrooms, VIP lounge, and a chance to actually see the pitch at
ground level. You'll also get to sit on the players’ benches and feel
what it's like to sit in the best seats of the stadium. The tour guides
give the commentary in both English and Spanish and they can be a lot
of fun. The tour is about 45 minutes long.
FC Barcelona Museu, Aristides Maillol,
entrance number 7.
Parc del Laberint d’Horta
It’s
a great walk in this big maze, made out of tall bushes and thujas.
Little paths, fountains and places to sit and relax while you are -
quite frankly – lost! Overlooking the maze are balconies from which
people tell lost wanderers which way to choose. So you will definitely
find your way back!
The park is on the slope of a hill in Collserola
Mountains, in the elevated part of the city. Get there by the green
subway line and get off at Mundet.
A fun way to get there is to rent a scooter – and go as a local.
Parc del Laberint d'Horta, Passeig Castanyers 1.
The Chocolate Museum
Take
a tour through the origins of chocolate, learn when it arrived in
Europe and best of all: taste a wide selection of the goods.
Bring
your hot chocolate outside in the yard. Sit down and admire the future
pastry chefs from Escola de Pastisseria del gremi Barcelona. Their
classes are behind the glass walls right in front of you ...
Museu de la Xocolata de Barcelona, Comerc 36.
The Cathedral Garden
In
Barri Gotic there is a beautiful little square, Placa de Garrige i
Bachs. You can sit in the shade and admire the view of
Catedral de Barcelona. Keep your eyes open, because all of a sudden the heavy gates
will open and there is access to the garden of the cathedral and people
will swarm in. Light one of the red candles and bring a little bread in
your pocket to feed the thirteen geese that have their own house in the
garden. They protect the cathedral against thieves and robbers. If you
suffer from feather-phobia, I can assure you that they are securely
fenced in.
There is a nice fountain in the garden, and inside the cathedral is breathtakingly beautiful.
Main entrance for Catedral de Barcelona, Placa de la Seu.
Don’t miss Mies
The Mies van der Rohe pavilion is squeezed in on Montjuïc.
I
had expected the place to be situated with an unobstructed view over
the magnificent landscape. But it’s a little overshadowed by the
otherwise very beautiful Palau Nacional.
But don’t miss it. The pure
lines, the long square surfaces of mat marble and shiny stone, which
bring absolute peace to your eyes.
In the open salon there is a
casual display of six samples of his most famous chair. These are in
white leather – so you are not allowed to fling yourself down. They
create a stylish foreground to a beautiful square blue marble
ornamental lake in the background, which casts a hallucinating blue
light over the salon.
Pavello Mies van der Rohe, Avda. Del Marquès de
Comillas, 7
By Katrine Salomon