Modernista Architecture in Barcelona

Barcelona is located between the sea and the mountains and is famous for its gothic arts and modernista architecture.

Modernista Architecture refers to the art and literature involvement movement in the Catalan Culture in Spain back in the 19th Century.  This movement was expressed through drawings, paintings, designs, decorative arts & architecture. Expressing this movement in the form of architecture was the main form and is known as the Modernista Architecture aka Art Nouveau movement. The Art Nouveau movement was more centered in the city of Barcelona, than the rest of Europe.  

Gaudi’s Architecture

Antoni Gaudi, an architect, was an important participant in the formation of Modernista Architecture in Barcelona. He visualized and recreated the architecture in Barcelona. The use of curves & organic symbols in architecture with bright colors rather than simple straight lines. 

Places to experience Gaudi’s Architecture

1. Casa Vicens

It is the first building designed by Antoni Gaudi that portrays the elements of Modernisme. It is a house turned into a museum, displaying the famous works done by Gaudi. 

2. Casa Milá aka La Pedrera

The entire building is a work of art inside out, designed by Gaudi. The architect depicts the irregularities in the natural world just by using stones and iron grills. In 1984, Casa Mila was declared as a World Heritage Site.

3. Casa Batlló

Designed by Gaudi, then house, after the rework,  became one of the finest and most admired works of Gaudi. The building has a flower-shaped balcony on the top floor reminiscing fairytales & a dragon on rooftop with different shades of tiles representing the scales present in the dragon’s skin. In 2005, this building was declared a Unesco World Heritage. 

4. La Sagrada Familia 

The very definition of Gaudi’s architecture, a masterpiece, is a famous church that was left unfinished by Gaudi, due to his death. During the 18th century, at the time of Gaudi’s death, the construction of the church’s completion was only 18% – 20%, yet screams the name of Gaudi.  The construction of Sagrada Familia became slow due to the Spanish Civil War and later because of tunnel construction. 

Apart from Gaudi, Lluís Domènech I Muntaner was another Spanish architect who was highly influenced by the Modernisme. He worked on The Palau de la Música Catalana and the Hospital de Sant Pau, both won him awards in the annual architectural competition organized by the Barcelona City Council.

Although Lluís Domènech I Muntaner is not widely known today, he was very popular during his time. His masterpieces remain priceless and timeless just like Gaudi’s and stand as symbols of Catalan pride.

Barcelona to date stands as one of the most versatile cities when it comes to architecture. Discover the art in buildings by booking a customized vacation to Barcelona with Pickyourtrail and get mesmerized. You can also check out the packages available on the Pickyourtrail Website.