[ad_1]
Most people have been to La Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló, but have you heard of these lesser-known Gaudí works?
Every year, thousands of tourists flock to Barcelona to marvel at Antoni Guardi’s architecture.
It was recently announced that the iconic Sagrada Familia will be completed in 2026, more than a century after the architect’s death.
Esteve Campos, president of the company that built the Sagrada Familia, claims there are enough funds and materials to complete the project, including the 172.5-meter central tower.
Read more: Spain’s La Sagrada Familia ‘to be completed by 2026’: Construction of Barcelona’s iconic cathedral set to be completed more than a century after genius architect’s death
However, work on the sculptures and more intricate details is likely to continue until 2034, while the controversial staircase could see the displacement of more than 1,000 homes and businesses.
La Sagrada Familia is Barcelona’s most popular tourist attraction, receiving nearly 5 million tourists every year and spending more than 125 million euros in total.
Despite this, many of Guardi’s works remain undiscovered by most tourists.
Many people miss Palazzo Guell, a wonder it is just steps away from Barcelona’s famous Ramblas.
Gaudí designed the mansion for industrial tycoon Eusebi Guell, the namesake of the famous Park Guell.
Built between 1886 and 1886, it is an early example of Gaudí’s signature style, featuring mosaics, wrought iron and stained glass.
The vaulted stonework, winding staircases and cozy lighting inside earn Palazzo Güell its title of grandeur.
Read more: With Gaudi architecture, pristine beaches and prehistoric caves, this ‘uncrowded’ resort in northern Spain is a must-visit in 2024, The Sun reports
Outside, the rooftop offers beautiful views of the city, where you might see our next recommendation, Casa Vicens.
You may not realize that this unique red house in Barcelona’s trendy Gracia neighborhood is one of Guardi’s creations.
After being hired by tile tycoon Manuel Vicens Montaner to design a summer house, he took on the project as a newly qualified architect with only five years of experience.
Gaudí clearly considered his benefactor’s profession when designing the house, employing brightly colored patterns whenever the opportunity arose.
Typical of Catalan modernism, every step of the design is inspired by nature, with vines wrapping around the main door and tiled sunflowers adorning the exterior.
The Arabian Smoking Room has obvious Andalusian influences and is pleasantly reminiscent of Granada’s Alhambra.
After careful restoration, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005 and opened to the public for seven years.
As entry is limited to 500 people per day, it’s best to book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
Casa Calvet is also one of Gaudi’s first works.
Read more: Sagrada Familia: How Gaudí’s masterpiece became a political tool of myth and division
Built in 1899, the building was considered the architect’s most “conservative” work, but it still won him the 1900 City Council Award for Building of the Year.
This house built for textile manufacturer Pere Martir Calvet still has a distinctive modernist style, with a facade featuring curved balconies.
It also pays homage to the Baroque Catalan style and Calvi himself, with a decorative “C” on each corner.
Today, the building houses a restaurant, where diners can enjoy typical Catalan ceilings, granite columns and vine-style arches.
Gaudi’s Torre Bellesguard (also known as Casa Figueres) is also worth visiting.
This modernist manor was built on the site of a medieval castle and the influence is evident.
Built as a country villa for the then King of Aragon, the house fell into decay over the centuries until João Figueres commissioned Gaudí to redesign it.
As usual, Gaudi’s Catalan heritage is evident on the site.
The terrace cleverly incorporates a “dragon” that pays homage to Saint George, the area’s patron saint.
While these details make the house so special today, the architect’s obsessive behavior added so much cost and time to the project that the Figueres family was never able to live in the property.
Finally, Colonia Guell is “Gaudi’s best kept secret”, a 20-minute train ride from the center of Barcelona.
Originally built as an industrial village for one of Eusebi Guell’s textile factories, the project was intended to improve the quality of life for workers and included houses, theatres, schools, shops, gardens and churches.
Gaudi was commissioned to design the church, now known as the crypt.
The undulating arches, stained glass and broken mosaic “trencadis” make this building unlike any other church, and its influence is clearly visible in his later masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia.
After marveling at the church, be sure to wander around the village and visit the museum before returning to bustling Barcelona.
[ad_2]
Source link