The Barcelona of Gaudi

This is a Barcelona clearly differentiated from the Modernist, for Antoni Gaudi left his mark on the city so strongly as to transform it. In the words of Joan Bassegoda Nonell, a leading expert, "Gaudi experienced to the full the euphoria of the Renaissance and Modernism, but was a part of neither, for his peculiar vision of life and architecture kept him aloof from politics and the artistic movements in fashion".

A Gaudi itinerary through Barcelona, coming down from the mountain to the sea, would begin at the Figueras House, also known as Bellesguard due to its location at number 16 of the street of the same name on the site of a royal residence dating back to 1408 over whose ruins Gaudi built this mansion between 1900 and 1902, its elements clearly reminiscent of Gothic architecture. Its fine tower is crowned by a four-armed cross.

In Pedralbes avenue, not far from the monastery, are the Güell Pavilions (1884-1887), the stables and lodge of what was once the Güell family estate, now the gardens and dependencies of the Pedralbes Palace. The Teresian College is a singularly austere manifestation of the artistic vision of Gaudi, designed at the request of his friend and founder of the Order, Enric d'Ossó, between 1888 and 1889.

Above Lesseps square, Park Güell(Olot Street) is one of the marvels of Gaudi which, nevertheless, was never terminated. It has been a public park since 1923, owned by the city, as the original idea of Eusebi Güell to create a garden city on the Muntanya Pelada, following the English model, did not finally prosper. The steps at the entrance to the park immediately stir the imagination as we are greeted by a dragon centrally placed on the way to the large space known as the Salon of the Hundred Columns -though in reality there are but 84- which was to house the market-place of the projected community. The columns, Doric in form, support tiny spherical cupolas on which the upper square stands,

34. Temple of Sagrada Familia