Travel, Culture, Beer: Antoni Gaudí - Expand your knowledge of the Catalan culture

Wave-like structures that spiral throughout the Parc Güell

Antoni Gaudí, born in 1852, is known as one of the most influential and individualized architects in world history to date, and spent his entire professional career in Barcelona, designing and implementing his works. His one-of-a-kind style pulled from Baroque, Gothic, Moorish, and Victorian elements, and contorted them to boost the Catalan Modernisme movement. Gaudí's individualism was greatly inspired by his devout Catholicism and by nature, which can be found in all of his works. Millions of people a year travel to see the amazingly beautiful and inspiring works that Gaudí has created and that transcend architecture to a completely unique style of art.

Whale skeleton railings in Casa Batllo

When you start your search and look for the top attractions in Barcelona, you're likely going to find Gaudí's name stamped on at least 5 of the top 10 things to see. Walking down the streets of the 10th largest city in Europe, you'll see yourself in a vibrant and colorful city unlike any other; A city that is built in the Catalan identity. This architectural Modernisme defines and is connected through flowing rounded shapes, colorful spires, and unassumingly natural statues. The salty air whips through the streets from the sea; hints of this aroma stir visitors and locals alike to crave the exquisite cuisine, vermut, wine, and cocktails, or to get up and dance! This exciting Catalan city is where the tapas came to be, and is still home to the best tapas bars in the world.

Gaudí fits in to this city by way of taking all that was the Catalan style and inserting his personal values of nature and religion into the region. The colorful landscape of plants, animals, and buildings uniquely intertwine in his houses, parks, and cathedrals. Gaudí uses many structures that can be found in nature to further structure his buildings and expand on their identity and efficiency. Just a few examples are the spiraling waves built in the Parc Güell, the whale bone arm rails in Casa Batllo, or the tree trunk columns holding the enormous La Sagrada Familia.

Tree trunk columns in La Sagrada Familia

Parc Güell - Eusebi Güell selected Gaudí for the creation of this park with the idea of urbanization in mind. Now a UNESCO world heritige site, this park is open to the public and contains only 2 houses that Gaudí designed. One of the houses, now a museum to Gaudí, become his home for the many years of his life while working on La Sagrada Familia. Gaudí seemed to be at home while creating this park as well, where he was free to use nature in whatever way he saw fit. He created several spiraling waves, long garden pathways, and many other Mediterranean shapes throughout, than overlook Barcelona.

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New Gallery 2019/2/28Parc GüellThe exterior of the wave formations throughout the garden.cameramake samsungfocallength 4.25height 3024fnumber 1.7exposuretime 0.000574712642alt 0lat 41.400812long 2.162983orientation 1camerasoftware Snapseed 2.0originaldate 2/16/2019 6:23:22 PMwidth 4032cameramodel SM-G950UParc GüellThis is where Gaudi lived for several years while working on La Sagrada Familia.cameramake samsungfocallength 4.25height 4032fnumber 1.7exposuretime 0.000401929254alt 0lat 41.414595long 2.153621orientation 6camerasoftware G950USQU5CRK1originaldate 2/16/2019 6:24:48 PMwidth 3024cameramodel SM-G950UParc GüellThe garden in front of Gaudi's home takes elements from nature and folds into a path that helped Gaudi to reflect and pray.cameramake samsungfocallength 4.25height 4032fnumber 1.7exposuretime 0.00245700241alt 198lat 41.414557long 2.153918orientation 1camerasoftware Snapseed 2.0originaldate 2/16/2019 6:50:26 PMwidth 3024cameramodel SM-G950UParc GüellThe house is now a Gaudi museum, and shows where he lived and his daily regimen.cameramake samsungfocallength 4.25height 4032fnumber 1.7exposuretime 0.000690607761alt 199lat 41.414484long 2.153692orientation 1camerasoftware Snapseed 2.0originaldate 2/16/2019 6:59:07 PMwidth 3024cameramodel SM-G950UParc GüellHouse in the park surrounded by beautiful mediteranian gardenscameramake samsungfocallength 4.25height 4032fnumber 1.7exposuretime 0.0006476684alt 231lat 41.415287long 2.152976orientation 1camerasoftware Snapseed 2.0originaldate 2/16/2019 5:57:06 PMwidth 3024cameramodel SM-G950U

Casa Batlló is known as one of Guadi's masterpieces, and was a redesigned house bought and commisioned by Josep Battlo. In competition with other architects to reform the growing area of Catalonia, Gaudi decided against the destruction of the existing house, and instead reconstructed the the existing building. Prior to being named after the owner of the house and after Guadi's reconstruction, the house was called Casa dels ossos (House of Bones). The name was a result of the dragon-like design and skeletal interior.

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New Gallery 2019/3/1Casa BatllóThere are very few straight lines used in the entire building. The curved arches at the top of the building have been liked to the structure of a dragonoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 630height 472Casa BatllóContributing to the original name, the loft arches appear as skeletal and hold the form fitting ceilings.cameramake samsungfocallength 4.25height 4032fnumber 1.7exposuretime 0.02alt 56lat 41.391435long 2.165294orientation 1camerasoftware Snapseed 2.0originaldate 2/22/2019 3:06:03 PMwidth 3024cameramodel SM-G950UCasa BatllóThe interior light well is lined with stairs and an elevator surrounded by the blue tiles that darken as you climb the stairs. This not only mirrors the ocean of the Mediterranean, but uses light from above to expand throughout the building evenly.cameramake samsungfocallength 4.25height 4032fnumber 1.7exposuretime 0.02orientation 1camerasoftware Snapseed 2.0originaldate 2/22/2019 2:54:03 PMwidth 3024cameramodel SM-G950UCasa BatllóThe back facade shows the uneven and rounded face, leading up to the extreme curvatures of the roof. Behind is a garden and more tile designs that caused the building to further stand out as a Catalonian masterpiece.cameramake samsungfocallength 4.25height 4032fnumber 1.7exposuretime 0.00330033014alt 62lat 41.391425long 2.164617orientation 1camerasoftware Snapseed 2.0originaldate 2/22/2019 2:51:39 PMwidth 3024cameramodel SM-G950UCasa BatllóThere are 4 chimney stacks on the roof, said to flirt with the heavens. They are designed in the style typical of Gaudi with curved and uneven lines, and are functionally helpful to prevent backdraughts.cameramake samsungfocallength 4.25height 4032fnumber 1.7exposuretime 0.000335120654alt 132lat 41.391561long 2.164722orientation 1camerasoftware Snapseed 2.0originaldate 2/22/2019 3:00:39 PMwidth 3024cameramodel SM-G950UCasa BatllóFurther showcasing the noble room's rounded windows, tiled floors, and spiral ceiling leading to the heavens. cameramake NIKON CORPORATIONfocallength 11height 2848fnumber 6.3exposuretime 0.04camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop Lighoriginaldate 4/27/2016 12:30:10 PMwidth 4288cameramodel NIKON D90

Finally, La Sagrada Familia! This is the number 1 attraction in Barcelona and is a must see when anywhere near. This commissioned basilica has been in the works for over 100 years, and is still in construction today. While Gaudí worked on this design and construction for the last 17 years of his life, he knew that he would never see the finished product, and made sure that future architects had the tools to finish his work. The intricacies and details stand out and are extremely modern and liberal compared to all other Roman Catholic Churches. Due to many of the outlier versions of biblical reenactments through statues and other art, this site hosts many controversial, artistic creations, and spur many conspiracy theories in additional to distaste and arguments against the work from conservatives. In 1926, Gaudí was hit by a tram and lost his life, leaving the construction to future architects and contractors. The timeline has been finalized to have La Sagrada completed, exactly 100 years after his death: 2026. I wouldn't suggest waiting until then to go for a visit!

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New Gallery 2019/3/1La Sagrada FamiliaThe nativity facade shows the story of the nativity scene in extreme detail. Surrounded by the 12 columns for the 12 disciples to later follow Jesus.cameramake samsungfocallength 4.25height 3024fnumber 1.7exposuretime 0.01alt 84lat 41.402877long 2.173935orientation 1camerasoftware Snapseed 2.0originaldate 2/15/2019 12:19:50 AMwidth 4032cameramodel SM-G950ULa Sagrada FamiliaThe lighting through the stained glass windows uses light to evenly distribute throughout the alter area, and indicating all of the colors God has created.cameramake samsungfocallength 4.25height 3024fnumber 1.7exposuretime 0.04orientation 1camerasoftware Snapseed 2.0originaldate 2/15/2019 12:01:20 AMwidth 4032cameramodel SM-G950ULa Sagrada FamiliaDespite this being one of the most well known churches to date, there are many controversial images used. Here you can see parachuting Jesus, where the crucifix appears to be floating above the alter.cameramake samsungfocallength 4.25height 4032fnumber 1.7exposuretime 0.0303030312lat 41.403807long 2.174692orientation 1camerasoftware Snapseed 2.0originaldate 2/14/2019 11:32:19 PMwidth 3024cameramodel SM-G950ULa Sagrada FamiliaThe nativity facade stained glass.cameramake samsungfocallength 4.25height 4032fnumber 1.7exposuretime 0.0333333351lat 41.403806long 2.174679orientation 6camerasoftware G950USQU5CRK1originaldate 2/14/2019 11:31:08 PMwidth 3024cameramodel SM-G950ULa Sagrada FamiliaThe passion facade shows the story of Christs' betrayal and death in great detail and is sourounded by intracate symbolism. One controversial image is that of the magic square which is a square divided into smaller squares each containing a number, such that the figures in each vertical, horizontal, and diagonal row add up to the same value.cameramake samsungfocallength 4.2height 4032fnumber 1.7exposuretime 0.0004071661orientation 1camerasoftware Snapseed 2.0originaldate 2/15/2019 11:14:08 PMwidth 3024cameramodel SM-G930T

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Antoni Gaudí - Expand your knowledge of the Catalan culture