Beautiful and bizarre: Gaudi's legacy in magical Barcelona

By Ben Holbrook | Presented by Flight Centre|

No one made more of an impact on the look and feel of Barcelona than Antoni Gaudí. Colourful, mythical and often bizarre, he aimed to seduce and inspire all who gazed upon his work. It’s impossible not to come to Barcelona and feel awestruck by the 19th century legacy, so here's a guide to take the best in.

Casa Vicens

Gaudí’s first steps to greatness

Commissioned by Manuel Vicens, a wealthy tile manufacturer, Casa Vicens was the first house Gaudí designed. He was inspired by Moorish and Oriental styles, which were in vogue at the time, but it was the way he mixed and matched them with such abandon that caused a stir. The façade is lavished with colourful tiles, an idea that was inspired by the marigolds that Gaudí found all over the property when he first went to measure it up. A wealthy banking family bought Casa Vicens from a private owner in 2007. It is in the final stages of being converted into a museum, which is set to open to the public towards the end of 2016.

Image: Ben Holbrook


Map location: Carrer de les Carolines, 18-24, 08012

Casa Calvet

Dine with Gaudí

Casa Calvet is one of Gaudí’s tamest designs, but it still boasts plenty of the master’s distinctive trademarks, from the curvaceous rooftop to the elegant ironwork and bulging balconies. The main attraction is the ground floor restaurant that occupies what would have been the Calvet family’s accounting offices and boardroom. Ask for one of the cozy booths and enjoy refined Mediterranean dishes whilst enjoying the ornate use of stained glass, stone and carpentry.

Image: Flickr/Paul Hudson


Map location: Carrer de Casp, 48, 08008

Casa Batlló

Gaudi's fantasy world

In 1904 Josep Batlló asked Gaudí to redesign his house and granted him complete creative control. The result was a radical and inspired masterpiece that exemplified Gaudi's limitless imagination and nature-inspired designs. The columns that support the building resemble the legs of an elephant, the façade is covered in colourful ceramics that sparkle in the sunlight like the skin of a lizard and the fantastical roof undulates over the building like the backbone of a dragon.

Image: Getty


Map location: Passeig de Gràcia, 43, 08007

Casa Milà

Take it to the rooftop

Boasting Gaudí’s fully-formed style, this sinuous showpiece is widely considered as one of the architect's finest works, but it wasn’t always so. No one quite knew what to make of the raw iron balconies and colourless stone façade and it soon became the subject of stinging satire. Its nickname, “La Pedrera”, translates to “the quarry”, which was by no means meant as a compliment.

Image: Flickr/Ed Uthman


Map location: Provença, 261-265, 08008

Güell Park

Gaudí’s English mountain retreat

Wealthy industrialist Eusebi Güell commissioned Gaudi to design an exclusive housing estate in the mountains. The plan was to build 60 houses where the rich could be at one with nature and live a life of luxury, but only two houses were ever built. Güell lived in one and Gaudi in the other. The grand entrance showcases Gaudi's mosaic work in all its glory, with the iconic lizard-crowned staircase and snakelike bench that offers panoramic city views.

Image: Ben Holbrook

Map location: Carrer D’Olot, 08024

Palau Güell

Rub shoulders with high society

Eusebi Güell also commissioned Gaudí to build him a city palace residence. The plot was relatively small, but the architect used disproportionately large doors and windows to create a sense of palatial majesty. The design features Gothic, Islamic and Art Nouveau elements, as well as Gaudí’s signature parabolic arches and avant-garde chimneys. In the main hall and music room, Güell would have regularly entertained Barcelona’s glitterati.

Image: Flickr/Takahiro Hayashi


Map location: Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3-5, 08001

La Sagrada Familia

The divine work of “God’s Architect”

This colossal church has been under construction since 1892 and is hoped to be completed in 2026 to mark the centenary of Gaudí’s death. With its imposing Gothic towers and colourful detailing, the Sagrada Familia tells the story of the Bible. The Nativity Façade depicts the birth of Christ, whilst the Passion Façade tells the story of his death. Gaudí dedicated over 40 years of his life to the Sagrada Familia and eventually moved into the building to oversee every aspect of the construction. He died tragically in 1926 after being struck by a tram, his body is buried in the crypt. 

Image: Ben Holbrook


Map location: Carrer de Mallorca, 401, 08013