Antoni Gaudi i Cornet (1852 - 1926)

Antoni Gaudi was the visionary architect behind some of Barcelona's most famous landmarks and most popular attractions. He was born 25th June 1852 in Reus and died on 10th June 1926 in Barcelona, having sadly been hit by a Tram.

His career started in 1883 with his first major commission being Casa Vicens and went on to span several decades and during that time he pioneered styles and designed some of the most famous landmarks in Spain including probably the most famous of all, the Sagrada Familia, which was his crowning glory and the yet unfinished masterpeice takes pride of place in Barcelona and is the city's most popular attraction bringing an estimated 20,000,000 people to the city each year, with around 4,000,000 buying tickets to enjoy the inside of the magnificent church.

Gaudi was born in 1852 in Tarragona. He went to school at the Piarist School in Reus, where its said that he excelled and found his passion for drawing and design, which then attracted him to move to Barcelona and study architecture at the Higher School of Architecture (now known as the Barcelona School of Architecture) where he honed his skills and found his passion for using nature as his inspiration. He graduated in 1878.

Casa Vicens (Ticket Options)

• Casa Vicens Address: Carrer de les Carolines, 20, 08012, Barcelona
• Opening Hours: Daily from 09:30 - 20:00

One of his first major commissions, Casa Vicens is in the Gràcia neighbourhood of Barcelona. Built between 1883 and 1885 for a stock and currency broker called Manel Vicens i Montaner, who asked Gaudi to design and create a summer house for him and his family. Gaudi took his inspiration from multiple sources for Casa Vicens, which can be seen in its design which includes elements of Catalan architecture, Islamic art as well as Japanese design.

Casa Vicens remained a private residence up until 2014 at which point Morabanc, a bank from Andorra purchased it, partly renovated it (keeping in line with with Gaudi's designs) and opned it up to the public in order that it could be enjoyed.

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Gaudi's El Capricho (Ticket Options)

• Gaudi's El Capricho Address: Barrio de Sobrellano s/n 39520, Comillas
• Opening Hours: Daily from 10:00 - 20:00

Whilst Gaudi was building Casa Vicens, he was commissioned to build another property, a summer villa called 'El Capricho' by a man called Máximo Díaz de Quijano. Quijano happened to be related to Eusebi Güell, who Gaudi went on to become close friends with and completed further projects for including Park Güell and Güell Palace, which we will discuss below. El Capricho isn't one of Gaudi's more famous properties but it is open to the public nonetheless. The commission turned out to be a pivotal moment for Gaudi as it introduced him to Eusebi Güell, and it turned into a friendship that lasted a lifetime and further commissions.

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Sagrada Familia (Ticket Options)

• Sagrada Familia Address: Carrer de la Marina, 401, 08013, Barcelona
• Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday: 09:00 - 20:00 & Sunday 10:30 - 20:00

In 1883 Gaudi took over what would be the project he would end up (at a later date) dropping all other work for, The Sagrada Familia. The original architect had differences of opinion with Josep Maria Bocabella, the man that commissioned the Sagrada Familia, and it was at this point that Antoni Gaudi got involved. The Sagrada Familia's full title is 'The Basilica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia'.

Gaudi's vision was that he wanted to build the church incorporating the three stages of Jesus' life, the nativity, the passion and the glory, and with it, to use his style of including nature in the design. He would include elements in the architecture with stained glass and other elements to tell the story of time, including biblical events. He new the project was going to go beyond his lifetime so its suggested that he concentrated on the external part of the church as he feared that the project could end after his death if the outside wasn't at a certain stage.

Gaudí went on to devote over 40 years of his life to the Sagrada Familia until his tragic death in 1926, when he was sadly hit by a tram in Barcelona when it is believed he was on his way to mass. Since then, a succession of architects have continued Gaudí's work, striving to remain faithful to his original design.

The Sagrada Familia hasn't been without its issues over time, as you would expect with such a large project. It was damaged during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) when it suffered an arson attack. Works then started again in 1954 and other than during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, construction has been constant ever since.

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Palau Güell (Ticket Options)

• Palau Güell Address: 3-5 Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 08001, Barcelona
• Opening Hours: Daily from 10:00 - 20:00

Having met Eusebi Güell whilst working on El Capricho (noted above), in 1888 Güell commissioned Gaudi to design Palau Güell for him. The property would be used as both Güell family residence and also a space for holding receptions. Gaudi designed Palau Güell over six levels and centered around a large central hall with an amazing parabolic dome that would allow the natural light to flood in to the property. Gaudi also built the stables into the basement so Güell's horses could be stabled there. He built the chimneys and ventillation towers in a new style for Palau Güell, using his now famous 'Trencadis' method, which he then went on to repeat the same method in Casa Batllo and Casa Mila (La Pedrera).

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Park Güell (Ticket Options)

• Park Güell Address: Carrer d'Olot, s/n, 08024, Barcelona
• Opening Hours: Daily from 09:30 - 20:30

In 1900, Güell commissioned Gaudi again. This time he wanted to create a garden city in Barcelona where the wealthy and elite from the city could spend their weekends. Güell wanted Gaudi to develop 15 hectares of land in the north of Barcelona with around 60 homes. The project was stopped though due to various reasons including costs and only three properties were completed and of those three properties, Gaudi went on to live in one of them and actually lived there until the day he died. The property is now called the Gaudi House Museum (SEE TICKET OPTIONS) and you can visit with the appropriate ticket. Güell went on to donate the rest of the land to the city of Barcelona and Gaudi then designed what is now Park Güell for the public to enjoy!

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Torre de Bellesguard (Ticket Options)

• Torre de Bellesguard Address: Carrer de Bellesguard, 20, 08022, Barcelona

In 1900, Gaudi was commissioned to design another family home in the north of Barcelona. The site where the property was to be built had a medieval past as it was where the last king of the Catalunya dynasty had lived. Gaudi incorporated this into the design, so it partly symbolises the story of 'Marti the Humane'.

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Casa Batlló (Ticket Options)

• Casa Batlló Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 08007, Barcelona
• Opening Hours: Daily from 09:00 - 22:30

In 1904 Gaudi was commissioned by Josep Batlló Casanovas to extend and renovate what would become one of his most famous properties, Casa Batlló. The property has a few nicknames including 'the house of bones', 'the house of masks', 'the house of beards' or 'the house of the dragon'. The original property was built by Emilio Sala Cortes, who also actually happened to be one of Antoni Gaudi's architectural professors in 1877 whilst he studied. When Batlló purchased the property he gave Gaudi full creative freedom to do as he wished. Casa Batlló, named after the owner was completed in 1906. It remained in the Batlló family until the 1950's when it was then sold and then it had multiple owners between the 50's and the 90's at which point the Bernat family took ownership and they still own it to this day. In 1995 they decided to open it to the public and it welcomes around 1,000,000 visitors each year and is one of Barcelona's top attractions and landmarks.

Casa Batlló has won multiple awards over the years, including:

• In 1962 it was named a "National Cultural Asset of Catalonia (BCIN)"
• In 1969 it was named a "Cultural Asset of Spain (BIC)"
• In 2005 it received its UNESCO World Heritage Site status
• In 2006 it received "The Award for the Conservation of Architectural Heritage"
• In 2008 it was named "One of the Seven Wonders of the Cultural Heritage of Barcelona"

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Casa Milà - La Pedrera (Ticket Options)

• Casa Milà - La Pedrera Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 92, 08008, Barcelona
• Opening Hours: Daily from 09:30 - 20:30

In 1906 Gaudi was commissioned to design Casa Milà or 'La Pedrera' as its commonly known. The project would also turn out to be Gaudi's last private commission. Pere Milà (which is where the main name of Casa 'Milà' comes from) and his wife, Roser Segimon, comissioned Gaudi to design the property as their family home and it was finished in 1912. The Milà family went on to live in one part and rented the rest of the building out as apartments. Casa Milà - La Pedrera, like Casa Batlló is also on 'Passeig de Gracia', which is one of the most exclusive roads in Barcelona.

Gaudi refused to follow building guidelines issued by the council for the project and this actually resulted in the size of the property being beyond what was allowed, in essence making it illegal at the time! It was only after it's completion that the council certified the building as "a monument in nature" and thus on that basis, it did not need to abide by the bylaws! Incredible! Maybe the council could see the future genius - now being one of the biggest attractions in Barcelona!

Casa Milà is referred to as 'La Pedrera' because the front of the property looks similar to an open rock quarry due to it's stone facade and its iron balconies and that is the translation of La Pedrera - open quarry! Gaudi took design features he had used at both Palau Güell and Casa Batlló and used them at La Pedrera, such as the roof design with its chimneys and ventilation stacks.