Antoni Gaudí i Cornet (Reus, 25th of June 1852 - Barcelona, 10th of June 1926).

The work of the Spanish and Catalan architect Gaudí reflects his belief that an entirely new kind of architecture was possible.Gaudí turned away from current techniques and accepted practices, inspired by nature and his own vivid imagination.Thus, the roof of a building could resemble a mountain with its ridges and slopes. Ceilings could look like the wind-and water-worn walls of caves, and columns could suggest the stout, sturdy legs of elephants.

Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) is one of Catalonia's geniuses with the most universal appeal, its best-known architect internationally. Barcelona is proud to be the setting for the best examples of his work. In Barcelona, you can see in detail the marvels produced by the complete architect, which is what Gaudí, one of our best cultural ambassadors in the world, was.

UNESCO has classified much of his work as World Heritage sites: in 1984, Parc Güell and Palau Güell, the park and house named after his patron, and the Casa Milà, better-known as La Pedrera: in 2005, his famous cathedral, the Sagrada Família, two more houses, the Casa Vicens and Casa Batlló, and the Colònia Güell Crypt. However, his entire legacy comprises artistic and cultural sites that are a must for a visit to Barcelona!Born into a family of coppersmiths, Antoni Gaudí always proudly cited this family trade as the origin of his personal vision and understanding of space. He was born in Reus (Baix Camp) in 1852 and went to Barcelona in 1870 to study architecture. He combined this with working in the studios of various architects and masons.

Gaudí’s works, which were mainly constructed in the city of Barcelona, can be divided into four periods. During the first, from 1878 (when he graduated) to 1882, his works were of an urban and social nature. The following stage, during which he began to work on the Temple of the Holy Family (the Sagrada Família), is marked by the effort to transcend historical styles and achieve his own visual and structural forms. These two basic aspects are what define Gaudí's style. He makes free and personal use of Islamic art and of Gothic and Baroque styles.

The years from 1900 to 1917 were his most creative and innovative period, in which he developed his most characteristic style: this is the period when he transformed Casa Batlló and built Parc Güell, the Colònia Güell church, the Casa Milà (known as La Pedrera) and the Sagrada Família School. Finally, from 1918 until he was run over and killed by a tram in 1926, Gaudí dedicated himself to building the Sagrada Família church.

Church of the Sacred FamilyGaudí's partialy completed Church of the Sacred Family rises over Barcelona, as famous a symbol for this city as the Eiffel Tower is for Paris or the Golden Gate Bridge is for San Francisco. Gaudí started work on the huge structure more than a hundred years ago, and left it less than half finished at the time of his death. Today the church is an astounding combination of spiraling forms, colorful ceramic decorations, and sculptures of religious figures.

As envisioned by Gaudí, the huge structure was to have façades showing the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ. Towering over them, tall spires were planned to represent the Twelve Apostles, the Four Evangelists, and Mary, the mother of Christ. A final central tower, representing Christ, was to project a upward to a height of 500 feet.

In his later years, Gaudí turned his complet attention to work on the church. Unfortunately, no plans were prepared to indicate how he wanted construction to continue if something were to happen to him. Then, on a morning in 1926, Gaudí stepped in front of a speeding trolley. Three days later he died, taking with him the only vision of the completed Church of the Sacred Family.

Since Gaudí's death, the church has undergone a checkered history of starts and stops.

Critics claim that Gaudí's vision has been distorted over the years, but they cannot suggest any solutions to the problem.

ModernismThe Catalan Art Nouveau cultural movement, which demonstrated extraordinary vitality and artistic qualities, is one of Barcelona's main tourist attractions and one of the most convincing reasons for getting to know the city. Even today, Modernisme, as it is known locally, still characterises the city, giving it a very special charm. It is the style of many buildings here and you can see it clearly for yourself at various city museums and historical houses.

Modernisme influenced other arts, even leaving its mark in the smallest details of everyday objects. The movement combined elements of modernity with cultural revival and was driven by a group of intellectuals who did not limit themselves to promoting architecture, the cornerstone of Modernisme, but also sculpture, painting, graphic arts, literature, the theatre, music and the decorative arts, as well as reviving old craft skills, which the great architects really knew how to exploit.

Gaudí may be the best-known representative of Catalan Modernisme, but there are others, who remain in his shadow. Some of their work is also a must if you are interested in this movement: Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Josep Puig i Cadafalch,...

Institut Pere Mata (Reus) Casa Rull (Reus) Lluís Domènech i Montaner Lluís Domènech i Montaner

Casa Navàs (Reus) Lluís Domènech i Montaner

Barcelona Modernism RouteThe easiest way to discover Barcelona Modernista is to follow the Modernisme Route, one of the Barcelona Landscape Routes. It was inaugurated in 1997 as a result of the growing interest in an artistic and intellectual movement that left an architectural and intellectual heritage in Barcelona and all round Catalonia.

Since 2005, the Barcelona Modernisme Route has been redesigned. It now includes 115 sites, representing the best examples of Barcelona Modernisme.

The route takes you round the work of the three main Catalan Modernista architects: Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926), Lluís Domènech i Montaner (1850-1923) and Josep Puig i Cadafalch (1867-1956). Together with other architects, they made Barcelona the world capital of Modernisme. On the route, you will be able to take a good look at the impressive mansions, amazing houses and major monuments, like the Sagrada Família cathedral, the Palau de la Música Catalana concert hall and the huge, magnificent Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. But you will also see more ordinary or everyday examples of the work of these architects, like chemists, shops, lampposts and benches.

Gaudí's Work to visit

Barcelona:

• Church of Sacred Family.http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/

• La Pedrera / Milà house.http://www.lapedreraeducacio.org/eng/index.htm

• Batlló house.http://www.casabatllo.es/en/

• Güell Park.http://www.parkguell.es/

• Vicens house.http://www.casavicens.es/

• Modernism Route.http://www.rutadelmodernisme.com/default.aspx?idioma=en&contenido=body_rutamodernisme_01en.htm

Reus:

• Gaudí's house (where he was born in 1852)http://www.reusturisme.cat/en/visitar/ruta-gaudi

• Capsa Gaudí (Gaudí's work Museum)http://www.gaudicentre.cat/

• Salvador Vilaseca Museum.

• Modernism Route.http://www.reusturisme.cat/en/visitar/ruta-modernisme

Montserrat:

• The Salnitre Caves (They inspired Gaudí)http://www.collbato.cat/turisme/coves-del-salnitre.htm