Barcelona is a city known for its great weather, beaches, seafood tapas and nightlife, but it’s also a town very much defined by the designs of one man born in the mid-1800s; Antoni Gaudi.
Having been brought-up on the other side of the world and never majoring in European Architecture, I confess I hadn’t really heard about Gaudi and his exploits in Spain until I got there. When I did arrive, it really hit me as to how much history I had been completely blind to.
Gaudi’s work stands out because it’s just plain weird. The word “different” does not do his works any justice at all. Casa Batló is one such in-your-face Gaudi building that people are very happy to wait an hour in line for to peer inside its mysterious exterior.
The building’s facade is made up of colourful tiles which give it a theatrical atmosphere, and giant masks on each of the balconies further enforce a cabaret theme. Oh yeah, and the roof is supposed to resemble a dragon, like I’m sure yours at home does. The building is so extravagant in creativity that I was a little disappointed that we were eventually ushered in by someone wearing plain clothes instead of a velveteen cape and sequined hat.
Once inside the Casa Batló, you become very hard-pressed to find a straight line, mainly because there isn’t one. There is only understated white and walnut-finish rooms that curve into each other to make you feel like you’re walking through a cave made out of marshmallows.
Another of Gaudi’s famous buildings is the still being built Sagrada Familia, a massive basilica that has been under construction since 1882 and in all seriousness, probably won’t be finished until 2050. Gaudi liked nature, and you can see elements of this inside the basilica with pillars shaped like trees branching out to support the roof. The carvings on the outside of the building also resemble an enchanted forest.
Gaudi was only head architect for a small portion of time with this construction, so other architects have imposed their ideas out the back of the basilica, giving it a more modern feel. Yes it’s a bit left-field, but this is Spain after all.
Finally a visit to Barcelona isn’t complete until you stroll through Parc Guell, or Gaudi Park if you’re more Anglo-inclined. Throughout the park is an array of mosaic-lined paths and brightly coloured buildings that make you feel like Hansel and Gretel walking though a strange, highly decorated alternative-universe.
The top of Parc Guell provides seats covered in mosaics (of course) and a fantastic view of Barcelona where you can spot the unmistakable cranes surrounding the grand Sagrada Familia. The park also contains Gaudi’s house where he used to live while coming up with his crazy architectural ideas.
If you’re going to Europe, it’s very hard not to visit the eccentric Spain, and if you’re going to Spain it’s very hard not to visit the eccentric Barcelona. You know where I’m going with this- check out Gaudi while you’re there!