Barcelona, Spain: Gaudified

Today was a day of Gaudi...Antoni Gaudi, that is!  Arguably the most famous architect of the modernista movement, Gaudi was a Spanish Catalan who spent the majority of his time living and working in Barcelona, and his works are still here for all to enjoy.  Highly individualistic and all different, they really are something to study.  The first building we perused was La Pedrera, which is actually an apartment building.  It's wavy walls made it anything but a typical apartment building, though.

Our next stop was Gaudi's final, largest, and most magnificent work--and Barcelona's most famous building--La Sagrada Familia.  Construction on this church was began in 1882, the interior was completed in 2010, and it is estimated it will be complete sometime after 2020 (no, these aren't typos).  With three huge facades--one of the Nativity of Jesus, one of the Passion (see above), and one of the Glory of Jesus (each with its own distinctive style and feel)--18 towers over 100m (the 12 apostles, four evangelists, Mary, and Jesus), and some amazing doors, the partially completed church is simply breathtaking.

After that introduction, it would be hard to believe that the inside of this massive edifice could top the outside...but it does.  There are literally no words that can express how beautiful the balance of stone and light (largely inspired by nature--see how the columns represent trees near the top?) is when you are in its midst.  It is breathtaking.

A shot of one of the wings of the interior.  Given that there are still five towers, one facade, and lots of lights to complete, I can't wait to come back and see this amazing church when it is complete!

After La Sagrada Familia, we hiked up to Parc Guell, one of Barcelona's highest points and another Gaudi masterpiece.  Originally designed as a self-sufficient community in 1900, the city took it over and turned the area into a park in 1914.  However, many of Gaudi's paths, pavilions, and houses remain, like the one pictured above.

There were some really nice benches near this pavilion as well, and Anna and I took this opportunity to take some glamor shots...Russian style (for those of you who have seen the epic posing that occurs in Russia, you know what I mean!).

The lovely view from the top of Parc Guell, with Barcelona and the Mediterranean in the background.

The final stop on our Gaudi tour-de-force was a series of three houses Gaudi designed for private owners in the early 1900s.  The houses above, Casa Batllo and Casa Amatller, now house Gaudi museums, as well as some small shops.  Their facades, however, are virtually untouched, and are spectacular.  It was a great day, and definitely fostered a new love of architecture in me.