Barcelona: Gaudi 25.01.2017


Image for Barcelona: Gaudi

Gaudi and Barcelona are almost synonyms. Antonio Gaudi was born outside Barcelona, however he moved there in pretty young age (around 20 years) and lived there till the end of his days. His major works are located in Barcelona.
In the beginning of career architect mostly worked on simple project (down to designing street lights) and most likely would continue to work there but he met Eusebi Güell.

Photo 1006
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1006
(cc) by Rushan

Eusebi was a Maecenas and he decided to support a young architect and Antonio got a full freedom of art. This was the way Park Guell was built.

Photo 1007
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1007
(cc) by Rushan

Park is located on the hill and the height difference is quite big. Though one can easily go a little bit higher and look at whole park.

Photo 1008
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1008
(cc) by Rushan

On the way up I even saw a guy who predicts future based on hand lines. However as I don't know Spanish at all I decided just to pass him by.

Photo 1009
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1009
(cc) by Rushan

There is an area with limited access in the park (one has to buy a ticket to go there). However it can be easily seen from the outside. So this is something where you can save a bit.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1010
(cc) by Rushan

A while after the park Antonio made house Milo and house Batllo and became the most modern architect in Barcelona. A lot of well-off people were ready to pay big money to get Antonio's work.

Photo 1011
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1011
(cc) by Rushan

The main and most famous (though unfinished) work is Sagrada Familia. Architect spend almost 40 years for it, but that wasn't enough to finish the work. However it is already almost a hundred years since his death and it's still under construction.

Photo 1012
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1012
(cc) by Rushan

Sagrada Familia is funded by private persons only which is the main reason of such slow building process. Anyway in 2010 Pope officially confirmed that church now is able to make daily ceremonial.

Photo 1013
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1013
(cc) by Rushan

If visitor is lucky enough to get inside in sunny day stained glass looks stunning.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1014
(cc) by Rushan

Nave impresses in any weather.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1015
(cc) by Rushan

One can access towers. Up on lift and down on spiral stairs. By the way, spiral stairs on photo, is it view from top or from bottom? ;)

Photo 1016
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1016
(cc) by Rushan

From top there is a nice view on the city and other parts of Sagrada Familia. In sunny weather it's really beautiful.

Photo 1017
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1017
(cc) by Rushan

Gaudi died at age 73. He was hit by tram. It wasn't a death hit. In young age architect was a real dandy, but in his older days he didn't really take care of his appearance and people simply thought he was homeless. So they brought him to the hospital for poor people where he couldn't receive proper treatment. Only on the next day people recognised him but it was too late. The day after that Antonio died but left a huge heritage.

Photo 1018
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 1018
(cc) by Rushan