Barcelona {Via Gaudí}

Earlier this year I visited Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. Join me in reliving the trip, recapping the very best parts, and the things I'd do differently if I ever visit again. 

We're now on the third of four posts about Barcelona. First was Barcelona {Overview}, second was Barcelona {The Sights}. Now we're seeing Barcelona {Via Gaudí} and next week we'll finish with Barcelona {The Food}.

I hope this will serve as your own little getaway to Barcelona and a useful guide if you'll soon be visiting there.

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This post is all about Antoni Gaudí and his works around Barcelona. Typically they'd be included in {The Sights} but his work is so unique and there are so, so many photos that Gaudí deserved a post all of his own.

Antoni Gaudí is an amazing architect, a creative genius, and an all around interesting man. Before I visited Barcelona I'd only heard of his life's work, the Sagrada Familia, but never his name. Once there I fell in love with him and became determined to see as much of his work around the city as I could. Gaudí is like The Godfather of Barcelona, guiding you all around the city to the most colorful, creative, stunning places that he's created. 

The Gaudí spots we visited were:​

• Sagrada Familia
• Park Güell and Gaudí House Museum
• Casa Batlló

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia was first on the list of things I had to see in Barcelona and I happily visited three times. The first time was just a quick stop by to admire the outside. The second time we had pre-purchased tickets to spend time inside the church and to visit the towers. The third time was for mass on Sunday.

This church is amazing. It's unlike any other church, Catholic or otherwise, that I've ever seen. The creativity, colors, and depth of detail is over the top. Everything has been thought out in terms of design and meaning. The church has been under construction for 100 years and is scheduled to be finished by 2026 on the 100 year anniversary of Gaudí's death. While Gaudí wasn't involved in the initial plans for the building of the church, he took over shortly thereafter and made this "project" his life's work. Gaudí was a very spiritual man who loved nature and it shows in every detail along the way. 

The sides of the church are designated Nativity side and Passion side and all of the design reflects those themes. Our audio guide explained every little detail from Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in the manger on the Nativity side to the large lung and rib shaped pillars on the Passion side. I could have stayed there and learned all day long.

Inside the stained glass windows on the East side of the church are cool blues and greens that get the sunlight in the morning. In the evening, the West facing windows light up with warm colors of red and orange at sunset. The altar is literally hanging in midair in the midst of tall pillars that mimic trees deep within a forest. 

There are fruit topped spires along the exterior that have different seasons of fruit serving as delightful pops of color. There are FIGS! 

The tickets we got were the Sagrada Familia with Towers (a self-guided tour with an audioguide and a visit to the highest part of the Basilica). We chose the Nativity side tower and visited in the late afternoon when the sun was really lighting up the stained glass windows. ​

Sagrada Familia peeks through the windows of a coffee shop nearby, photographing it isn't easy!

The passion side is all about the death of Christ and it's made to look very skeletal, like ribs and lungs

The towers and cranes all reach high into the sky together

You take an elevator to the top of the towers, then climb your way down through these spiral stairs

There are a few options on the tower tour, including little spots where you can look out over the city

The colorful fruit towers are one of my favorite parts!

I couldn't tell which one contained figs but this sign says so!

Stained glass + sunlight = MAGIC

I took 100 of this photo, how creative and inspiring!

The altar is so majestic and nestled between giant tree-like pillars

Park Güell and Gaudí House Museum

Gaudí helped to create Park Güell and the Gaudí House Museum is where he lived for most of his life. The whole place is charming and filled with adventure and beauty. Again it's a great combo of nature and architecture in a way that only Gaudí could create. We spent a morning at Park Güell and Gaudí House Museum.

​The park is huge and you could spend all day exploring the gardens, paths, and hikes. The monumental core of the park includes the stairs, buildings, and architectural gems created by Gaudí. The place is alive with visitors, filled with photo opportunities, and there's even a school. We laughed at a bunch of small kids dancing to music by the Beach Boys! 

I love, love, LOVED the Gaudí House Museum. Not only did Gaudí live there, you really get a feel for him as a person inside. He lived with his Father and another older family member for most of his life. While the exterior of the home is ornate and over the top, his belongings and life were very humble. The view down into the city from the house is the best part, Gaudí could retreat up the hill to his home and look down at the progress of Sagrada Familia. The most unique part was the little covered path in the yard that was the only privacy from the view of the park that Gaudí had. 

My advice to you for visiting these two places is simple: buy tickets in advance and arrive early in the day. 

While it is free to get into Park Güell, you need to purchase a ticket for both the Gaudí House Museum, inside the park, and the "monumental core" area in the center of the park. The tickets cost just 5,50 euros and 8,50 euros, respectively, and we bought them the same day that we went. Our tickets were timed for 10:30 and 11:30 am. When we arrived around 10 am there was hardly anyone around. By noon there were hundreds of people in line for tickets and to get into the monumental core!

At Park Güell and Bryce is ready for adventure with a bag full of food!

Park Güell is a gem above the city

Park Güell is filled with perfect photo spots!

The heart of the Monumental Core inside Park Güell

The most unique architecture inside Park Güell

You can keep climbing higher and higher inside Park Güell

Gaudí House Museum shouldn't be missed!

The little charming details of Gaudí House Museum are all around

Gaudí House Museum is filled with items of Gaudí's Catholic faith

This little covered walkway is the only outdoor privacy at Gaudí House Museum

The first floor of Gaudí House Museum shows his design creativity

Look at how simple his room is!

The view of Barcelona and Sagrada Familia from Gaudí's House

Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló is a private residence in Barcelona that Gaudí transformed into a masterpiece. When we visited it was under renovation so some of the magic was lost on us. 

The home was extravagant to begin with, Gaudí's design and vision blended the tasks of everyday life with the extraordinary elements of his work. Since the home was constructed before air conditioning was invented the whole place was designed to maximize air circulation and flow for hot summers. My favorite parts were the giant open spaces created specifically to keep the house cool. The whole space is filled with blue tiles while the blues get lighter and the tiles get bigger as they get closer to the ground. In a similar fashion, the windows get bigger toward the bottom to maximize comfort on each floor. 

The whole house is oddly shaped and touring it is such an odd experience! They've done a great job of bringing the daily life in such a high-end and downtown location to life, even showing how clothes would be hung to dry inside and the back patio of the home. 

We were unprepared for Casa Batlló in terms of planning in advance. We waited in a pretty long line and then paid 25 euros to get in. I'd love to go back again when it's not under construction to get the whole vibe of the place. 

Casa Batlló under renovation, March 2019

Despite the work being done inside Casa Batlló you still get to tour a ton of spaces

My favorite part of Casa Batlló are these cooling airways

The windows and tiles get larger toward the bottom/away from the sun and the blue shades get lighter and lighter, making it feel like the ocean!

Even the "regular" parts of Casa Batlló are hardly normal!

The museum does a great job of showing the daily life uses of the house

Behind the scenes at Casa Batlló is the back patio, hotter than hell and normal looking!

While I didn't know a thing about Gaudí before I visited Barcelona, he quickly became my favorite part of the city. I got a few books about him and his works to take home. 

My Gaudi books that came home from Barcelona with me

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