Gaudi architect and his works. The most famous works of Antonio Gaudi

considered one of the main treasures of Barcelona. His views on architecture and the search for new forms created several masterpieces of the capital of Catalonia. Everyone wants to know the secret of genius. Apparently, the answer is that his work is inextricably linked with nature. Antonio Gaudi treated natural forms with respect and looked for inspiration in them. His work shows attempts to reflect nature in.

The works of Antoni Gaudi include more than twenty architectural projects, half of which can be found directly in Barcelona.

1. The first examples of the work of Antoni Gaudi:

The Vicens House was the first serious step for the young architect, in which the features characteristic of his work are noticeable. Construction took place from 1883 to 1888.

During his first inspection of the construction site, Antoni Gaudi noticed a large palm tree in color, framed by a carpet of yellow flowers - marigolds. When developing the project, he used this idea for the fence grille and ceramic tile pattern.

In order to avoid long queues at the entrance to Casa Vicens, we buy tickets in advance online.

The construction of this project brought together people who left a significant mark on the development of Barcelona: and. The architect had to fulfill an order for the summer country residence of a patron of the arts. In the final version, you can see a single style for all buildings, which imitated the scales of a dragon. The work of Antoni Gaudi is characterized by mystery and respect for unruly natural forces.

When constructing the pavilions, Gaudí for the first time used the trencadís technique, which is important for characterizing his work. It can be seen in many examples of the work of Antoni Gaudi.

Currently, only a small part of the attraction remains - the entrance group with gates decorated with a dragon.

3. The work of Antoni Gaudi: Palace Güell

The palace, created for a patron of the arts, has become an object that receives a lot of attention when studying the architect’s work.

Due to the peculiarities of street development, it is impossible to find a point from which you can fully appreciate the beauty of the attraction. Antonio Gaudi decided to create original chimney towers in order to make the object of his work visible from afar.

Antonio Gaudi approached the issue of roof design in an original way. Each of the chimneys represents an important element for forming a complete picture. This approach is typical for the work of Antoni Gaudi.

4. Religious objects in the works of Antoni Gaudí – College of the Order of St. Teresa

The school at the monastery of St. Teresa is an atypical project for the work of an architectural genius. The customer of the building and advisor to Antoni Gaudi was the priest Enrica d'Usso.

Having received the task, Antonio Gaudi adjusted the construction plan, improving the overall architectural composition and reducing construction time.

The College of the Order of Saint Teresa is one of the most complex projects in the work of Antoni Gaudi. In addition to a very modest budget, the difficulties lay in communicating with the customer. The priest adhered to conservative views on the construction of buildings, so many of Antoni Gaudi's plans remained on paper.

For decoration, the architect used small arches and decorative elements on the building's battlements, which resemble professors' caps.

5. The work of Antoni Gaudi, awarded by the authorities - House of Calvet

The Calvet House is a building that fully meets the criteria for an “income” house. The first floor is intended for shops, the second - for the owner's residence, the remaining premises were rented out to apartment tenants.

At the very beginning of the twentieth century, the Barcelona authorities recognized the Calvet House as the best building in the city. This is a rather controversial decision, because by that time Antonio Gaudi was able to complete more elegant and unusual works in his work.

Antonio Gaudi scrupulously approached the issue of façade design. When studying, you can notice many references to natural creatures.

Now the Calvet House is used in accordance with its intended purpose. The work of Antoni Gaudi has benefited the people of Barcelona through the centuries.

The work of Antoni Gaudi includes a curious palace in the neo-Gothic style, which is famous as the Figueres House.

The project creates the illusion of elevation by increasing the height of different parts of the structure and using a sharp spire for the structure. As a rule, the creativity of an architect is not characterized by the desire to create huge forms that will be visible from every point of the city. Antonio Gaudi carefully used stylistic techniques to design the building.

Now this creative object is open to everyone, as the owners need funds for reconstruction.

Probably everyone has seen the image of this landmark, which is one of the symbols of Barcelona, ​​on souvenir products. Park Güell is perfect for describing the rich imagination of the architect and characterizing his work.

Eusebi Güell brought the idea of ​​​​creating a park area to Barcelona from England. He planned to create a zone where people exclusively important for the development of Barcelona would live. But the idea was quickly rejected by most residents. Only 3 exhibition houses were built, in which Eusebi Güell, Antonio Gaudi and their mutual lawyer friend lived. Years later, the Barcelona City Council acquired the area to create a city park.

Antonio Gaudi coped with the task at the highest level, planning a single complex of engineering systems, elegant architectural forms and the magnificent “100 Columns” hall. On the roof of the hall you can see a large area, which is framed along the perimeter by a bright curved bench. One of the best ideas in the architect's work.

One of Barcelona's most famous landmarks, which dates back to the work of Antoni Gaudi, is located in its center. When you first look at the building, associations with a dragon arise in your head due to the unusual humpbacked roof and mosaic facade, which is decorated with original balconies.

Antonio Gaudi received an order for reconstruction from a textile magnate. He designed 2 new facades that clearly characterize the work of an architectural genius.

The building's ventilation and lighting systems have undergone major changes. Antonio Gaudi changed the shade of the ceramic cladding and made adjustments to the design of the light shafts.

The roof of the building is decorated with a distinctive feature of the architect’s work - chimney towers.

Tickets for Casa Batllo are available for purchase link.

- the final secular project for the work of Antoni Gaudi.
Barcelona residents had mixed first impressions of Casa Mila. The project was called a quarry for its unevenness and large dimensions of the forms. The people recognized him only after some time. At times, Gaudi's work caused serious controversy.

The unusual shape of the building is explained by the use of an irregularly shaped steel frame reinforced with arches and columns. In the future, this technology was adopted by many builders. The architect's work was abundant in breakthrough ideas; Antonio Gaudi moved architectural thought forward.

Long ago, Barcelona gained a reputation as a place open to all ideas and movements. There was enough room for everyone: traders, artisans, artists, architects, people of different nationalities and religions, just dreamers obsessed with the utopian idea of ​​turning it into a paradisiacal garden city... Who knows, maybe God heard the latter and, touched by the purity and naivety these thoughts, as a consolation, he nevertheless threw a handful of magic seeds from heaven, from which, breaking the thickness of the concrete, wonderful, bizarre flowers sprouted and blossomed - the creations of the great Antonio Gaudi. They are the ones who will give Barcelona a unique look and make it the world capital of modernity.

Gaudi left behind mysteries, the answers to which humanity is still looking for; his name is shrouded in a veil of myths and legends. Some considered him a genius, some a madman, some a saint... “This man with bottomless blue eyes talks to God,” many of his contemporaries assured. Antonio Gaudi i Cornet was born on June 25, 1852 in the small Catalan city of Reus. The midwife said the boy would not survive. The child was urgently baptized, in a hurry to save the baby’s soul. Miraculously, death subsided, but the baby was given a terrible diagnosis - a severe form of arthritis. Doctors determined the maximum lifespan of a small patient - no more than three years. Through the efforts of doctors or the prayers of his mother, Antonio overcame this milestone, but the forecasts still did not inspire optimism. From the conversations of adults, the boy knew for sure that the day when he would join his three brothers who died in infancy was very close...

When Antonio was 5 years old, his mother said: “I will take you to Tarragona to see the Virgin Mary.” The baby was unable to kneel in front of the Virgin because of terrible pain in his legs. Bowing his head, he whispered: “Thank you for living so long!”

Over time, the boy's health will improve noticeably, although attacks of arthritis will torment him throughout his life.

Life goes on!

Despite the constant physical suffering that did not allow Antonio to play with his peers in their noisy, fun games, he rejoiced in every day given to him by the Lord, and sought to absorb all the magic that was happening every moment in this world. The movement of waves, the flight of clouds, the rustle of the wind, the incredibly perfect design of a snail crawling on the sea sand... He desperately wanted to stay in this beautiful world, but even more wanted to understand how it worked. " Man is not a creator, he is a discoverer. Whoever seeks the laws of nature to support his new works helps the Creator" Gaudi would devote his entire life to this principle, leaving no room in it for either a home or the woman he loved. He will raise his creations like a loving father raises children, step by step, enriching their world with new opportunities for independent living, putting them on their feet, dressing them in amazing colorful outfits and... letting them go. And then they develop and evolve together with nature, merging with it into a single whole, without human participation. He will help the Creator bring closer the onset of this new era - the absolute kingdom of beauty and harmony.

The children again started some kind of game on the seashore. But the small figure of six-year-old Antonio remains motionless. His gaze is fixed on the water. The shape of the waves is never repeated: in one big one there are hundreds of others, smaller ones. " If people lived at sea, they would not feel lonely. Streets and houses would merge into one element, but at the same time they would never become faceless, similar to each other».

On the seashore, Antonio will build his first house from sand. Much later he will say: “ You take a handful of damp sand in your palm, squeeze it down drop by drop, and from the random drops, alien to rational calculation, suddenly towers begin to grow - the first, second, third... All are similar, but none repeats the other, each is individual" In the creation of Gaudí's entire life - the temple of the holy family, the Sagrada Familia - millions of people will recognize the sand castles that they themselves built in childhood.

Young romantic

In 1863, Gaudi entered the monastery school, which gave him a secondary education and two wonderful friends: young romantics Eduardo Toda and Jose Rivera loved to spend time in nature and explore historical places. Three teenagers prepared the publication of 12 issues of the weekly magazine with stories about their research. Toda and Rivera worked on the text, Gaudí on the illustrations. In addition, friends often staged amateur performances that took place anywhere - even in attics and barns. Gaudi preferred to create scenery. Later, the friends presented their own business plan for the restoration of the Poblet monastery. The plan remained on paper, but the idea of ​​the project itself strengthened Gaudi’s intention to become an architect. Subsequently, the paths of the comrades diverged. Toda served in the diplomatic department in Madrid, and Rivera studied medicine in Granada and became a professor. After resigning, he returned to his hometown and... led the restoration of the monastery in Poblet. Thanks to his work, the monastery has become today one of the brightest attractions of Catalonia.

In 1869, after finishing school, Antonio entered preparatory courses at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Barcelona. He studies very poorly. At his final exams, out of six subjects, he fails two, including drawing. This, however, did not prevent Gaudí from entering the Higher School of Architecture in 1874, where he immediately established himself as a very unusual student.

In 1876, brother Antonio became seriously ill and died, and 2 months after this tragedy his mother also died. Antonio took care of his father, sister and niece: in parallel with his studies, he worked part-time as a draftsman in an architectural bureau. It is not surprising that Gaudí often missed classes and his academic performance left much to be desired. Despite this, Gaudi still completed his studies. Receiving an architect's diploma did not mean that orders immediately poured in for the young specialist. He continued to work as a draftsman, presenting his own designs from time to time. In 1878, Gaudí was commissioned by a well-known leather glove manufacturer in Barcelona to design a display window for the World Exhibition in Paris. The showcase delighted visitors, major newspapers and the richest industrialist and philanthropist Eusebio Güell. The latter was captivated by the talent of the young architect and immediately offered Gaudi several orders. However, he is not alone.

Houses and trees

Gaudí never thought of his projects as free-standing buildings. He will create a special world around them, and he will do this without sketches and drawings, horrifying famous architects. They talked about another eccentricity of the architect: he did not recognize people wearing glasses and never wore them himself, although one of his eyes was nearsighted and the other farsighted. The manufacturer, Don Manuel Vincennes, was not frightened by these oddities. He commissions an architect to design a summer house. Casa Vincennes (“House of Vincennes”) will be the master’s first major work, thanks to which he will be recognized in the highest circles of Barcelona. While examining the future construction site, Gaudi notices a huge palm tree surrounded by a carpet of yellow flowers. In 2 years, Gaudi will “grow” a palace in the courtyard of Don Vincennes. There is nothing accidental here - he even creates the fence of the house in the form of palm leaves, because the same palm trees grow in the garden. The material with which Gaudi decorated the entire house of the manufacturer is becoming incredibly popular: the cold slab looks warm and alive. People were amazed at what an incredible house Don Vincennes got for himself. And even though he almost went bankrupt paying for Gaudi’s follies, he bought himself a place in eternity: in Barcelona, ​​houses built by Gaudi are still called by the names of their customers.

Another fantastic creation of Gaudí is Park Güell. The customer of this project was Eusebio Güell, who gave Gaudi complete freedom of action (including financial). Gaudi, as usual, built without drawings. Why does a dream come true need drawings?

When you stand in Park Güell, it seems as if you are floating above Barcelona. Many people compare this place with the Wonderland he told about: the rabbit hole at first went straight, like a tunnel, then suddenly dived down. Suddenly a tree appeared on the way, and now it was a column, and a second later it was neither this nor that. The broken trunk suddenly turns out to be a path, which in fact is not a path at all, running along the ground, but an arch going into the sky. Gaudi fit the park into the space so skillfully that it is almost impossible to understand where architecture ends and nature begins. Looking at the supporting columns supporting the park paths, you involuntarily remember that when asked which treatise on architecture Gaudí prefers, he answered: “ Any tree. Nature created this tree from its own material, twisted it into an incomprehensible mosaic in which the pattern was never repeated. Deep wrinkles cut through the rough trunk. Knots of branches protrude from it, like human joints. Life pulsates under the bumps and cracks of the bark».

In the famous “hall of a hundred columns” (actually there are 86 of them), the columns inside are the same trees: rainwater flows down the hollow trunks inside. Nearby, the famous tailless lizard is basking in the sun. Gaudi sent water from underground springs through her veins. People believe that even the spray in which this creature bathes is healing. Meanwhile, Gaudí revives the world's longest bench by choosing its shape. Gaudí ordered the workers to take off their clothes and sit as comfortably as possible on a fresh layer of mortar, then he made seats and backs based on the impression they received, and they became an extension of the human body. By the way, if the bench were straight, it would accommodate half as many people.

Salvador Dali could stay here for hours. The artist’s paintings capture images snatched from Gaudi’s world.

At the same time, Gaudi began work on the Sagrada Familia, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and perhaps the most famous long-term construction project. The first architect of the cathedral was Professor Francisco del Villar, and Gaudi was recruited by this recognized master to work as an assistant. In 1883, due to disagreements with customers, the old professor was forced to leave the project. Gaudi took his place. He plunges into his work headlong, but this does not stop him from completing private orders. Construction of the temple progressed so slowly that Gaudí has ​​been accused of irresponsibility. " My customer is in no hurry“, the mysterious Gaudi answers this.

The first donkeys and snails appear on the façade of the cathedral. To make casts of animals. Gaudí puts them to sleep with chloroform, coats them with fat and casts them before they can even wake up. The gutters are also made in the form of shells and snails. Gaudi does not imitate nature, he becomes nature itself, and, like her, he creates and grows his houses. It splashes the walls of buildings with waves, turning them into elements, and bends the roofs with dragon scales. The famous staircase, “Gaudi’s snail,” appears in the Sagrada Familia. He twists the steps in a spiral in such a way that it turns out to be a giant sea shell. " Endless rotation from the center outward is the only opportunity to constantly expand while remaining yourself. I know how to compress space into a point without making it smaller. Create infinity around a point».

In the center of the workers' village in Santa Coloma de Cervello (it was also called the Colony of Güell, since it was built with the money of this philanthropist), the architect created the famous Gaudí Crypt. This room was supposed to become a temple, but the master did not have time to complete the work. However, even a fragment of the plan that managed to come to fruition is a real masterpiece. A lot of things seem strange here. The church is threatening to collapse like a house of cards. It does not have a single support that is usual for any architectural building. Gaudi made the crypt support itself. He discovered new ways of supporting-free flooring. Cement was poured into a square iron mesh, under its weight the grate sagged, the cement hardened and an arch was formed. Gaudi called ordinary pointed arches “crutches”. Since childhood, he knew what crutches were for - to smooth out physical deficiencies. Gaudi managed to rid architecture of them. The architect took a specially prepared form, then carefully laid stone blocks along its contour, after which the form was removed - and not a single stone fell. And here’s the mystery: the more fragile its arches look, the stronger they turn out to be. Gaudi also designed the mitas for the crypt himself. These are amazingly comfortable pieces with curved lines and bone-shaped legs.

Science fiction writer Stanislav Lem wrote that in the 24th century, science will mix the gene of living and non-living things and chairs will grow in the forest, edible stools will grow in the garden beds, and chests of drawers will run across endless fields. Gaudi was given the opportunity to get ahead of the most fantastic future. Already in the 19th century, he learned to revive objects and adapt them to people.

Beauty care

Meanwhile, Gaudi is gradually changing. Once dressed in the latest fashion, the sociable Antonio becomes more and more immersed in his thoughts. He no longer orders clothes from the most fashionable tailors in Barcelona. Gradually, the master begins to lose interest in everything that is not related to his work, women, and friends. But he is becoming more and more religious.

Suddenly, at the very peak of his architectural career, Gaudí ceased to be interested in expensive private projects; he easily refused the most lucrative offers. Rumors spread around Barcelona - Gaudi really has a special customer, it is for him that he is building the Sagrada Familia, which is destined to become a stone Bible. This will be the case if construction is completed. The tallest tower (170 m) will personify Christ, the smaller tower will represent the Virgin Mary, and the other 12 towers will represent the 12 apostles. Three facades are three sacraments: the Birth, the Passion of Christ and the Resurrection. The cathedral will be crowned by a huge, luminous cross. Gaudi still doesn't have any drawings. By chance, on a construction site, he drops a phrase that can explain a lot: “ All architecture already exists in nature, you just need to look around. You can rush into the sky only by leaning on the ground. How strong is a sheer rock hanging over a deep abyss. The earth holds the stone, the stone holds the earth. An unbreakable alliance of giants. Mountain lines hide the secret of strength».

Gaudi often visited the monastery on Montserrat. He dissolved in the sounds of the mass, the choir sang, and something happened to the architect. It is not known for certain, but they say that once forty-two-year-old Gaudi came out after mass and stood silently on the mountain for a long time, as if he himself had turned to stone, plunging into a trance so deeply that he even fell into a lethargic sleep. There is a version that during one of his pilgrimages to Montserrat, Gaudi had some kind of spiritual experience that he did not dare to talk about. Gaudi probably made some decision then. He told everyone that from now on he would work only on religious orders, and if he was offered work on a secular project, he would have to ask permission from the Madonna of Montserrat. It was not possible to obtain any other details from the architect.

Sweet apple of discord

And yet, two more private projects were destined to see the light of day. Detractors quipped: “The master, apparently, needed the money so much that Madonna gave the go-ahead.” Let us hasten to disappoint them. Gaudi spent all the income from these projects on the construction of the Sagrada Familia, as well as all his savings. Considering that Gaudi was the most fashionable architect in Barcelona, ​​the funds were considerable. Barcelona - the Quarter of Discord: a strange name that can be translated both as “quarter” and “apple”, appeared due to the fact that the houses of four of the best modernist architects are located on the streets of this part of the city. Casa Batllo, which Gaudi built here, was called the “House of Bones”.

The result of the architect's work shocked many Barcelona residents. People still don't know how to react to it. This is not a house, but a living creature, a defeated dragon. The back of the lizard is struck by a spire with a cross - this is the sword of St. George, the patron saint of Barcelona. In the morning sun, the mosaic scales shimmer as if the flesh were in agony beneath it. A comment from Gaudí himself has been preserved: “ The building will have no corners. The sun will illuminate the house from all four sides, and all this will be close to our idea of ​​​​paradise».

Another famous building is Casa Mila, a house nicknamed "The Quarry". Gaudi twisted, bent and broke stone walls as he pleased. This planning principle was used in architecture for the first time. Now we call it open plan. Gaudi explained that the external forms of Casa Mila merge with the contours of the mountains surrounding Barcelona. The funnel-like courtyards are rock crevices, the rooms are moss growing wild on the rock. The roof of the house is a heavenly forest. It was conceived as a walking terrace. Residents walked through the sky forest, where fancy chimneys were built instead of trees. Gaudn made the stone rose on the facade himself, but first brought the mason to tears when he demanded from him not just a rose, but “the idea of ​​a rose.” The poor guy never understood what the master wanted from him.

Casa Mila was built as an ordinary residential building, but Gaudi conceived it as a twin of Montserrat and wanted to give it special meaning. He managed to achieve such a play of light and shadow on the facade that the illusion of movement is created, and if you look closely, it seems that the house is swaying. Having completed these projects, Gaudí worked only on the temple, moving into a workshop. He felt sorry for wasting time on the road home. The Sagrada Familia replaced his home, sleep, bread and water. Gaudi spoke of the temple as a living being and called it his family. The architect forgot to drink and eat, his only suit was so worn out that it looked more like beggar's rags. When construction stopped, the architect rushed around the city in search of money and did not hesitate to even ask for alms. The townspeople whispered: “Gaudi’s mysterious customer still began to rush him...”

Unexpectedly for everyone, the master made the first sketches of the temple complex. Changing his usual manner, Gaudí created a large number of sketches, models and casts. All this was intended for the future architects of the Sagrada Familia. Gaudi seemed to know that he would not have time to complete the temple. He needed to pass on knowledge to those who would come later. It will be a place like a forest, soft light will pour through window openings located at different heights, and it will seem to you that the stars are shining. One has only to throw back one’s head, and the columns of the temple will become giant trees, on the crowns of which the heavenly light will freeze—light turned into shadow. Clouds are the only opportunity to look at the sun; their variability frames the solar constancy. Any architectural form is born on the verge of light and shadow. Gaudi installed the Towers of the Nativity contrary to all the then known laws of strength of strength, explaining that this would help the wind passing through the holes to sound like a real choir. One poet asked: “Are you creating an organ for the Lord?” The architect nodded in agreement. His task was to make the wind resonate so that the music of creation could be heard in the temple.

Another time, the bishop asked why Gaudi was worried about finishing the spiers and roofs, because no one would see them. " Monsignor, - Gaudi's answers, - angels will look at them!»

Gaudi managed to finish only one of the three facades - the Nativity façade. All his models and drawings were subsequently destroyed. During the Civil War, the architect's workshop burned down, but by some miracle the construction of the temple continues, although the cathedral is still far from completion - Gaudi left too many mysteries for engineers and architects. Decades passed before engineers found a way to make calculations for further work, and the only program capable of performing them was the NASA program. But Gaudí's beloved child continues to grow even after his death. Like a huge magnet, the cathedral attracts millions of people from all over the world. And now it is no longer her great father, but the building itself that continues to dictate its will. Like medieval cathedrals, the Sagrada Familia was built only by voluntary donations. It is built by representatives of different countries, different peoples and even different religions. They say that whoever creates even one small detail for the Sagrada Familia will never be able to stop.

On June 7, 1926, a short, poorly dressed man came out of the church. He smiled at the kids and wandered towards the street. He didn't look around anymore. A pedestrian, carried away by his thoughts, fell under a tram. The first tram launched in Barcelona.

No one recognized the famous architect in the poor tramp. Gaudi lay on the pavement for several hours before, bleeding, he was finally taken to the Santa Cruz hospital for the poor: no one wanted to carry a bloody old man in their car. Three days later Gaudi died.

The newspapers were full of headlines: “There is no genius in Barcelona!”, “A saint has died in Barcelona!” The funeral procession stretched for several kilometers. Gaudi rests in the crypt of the Sagrada Familia. Eyewitnesses swore that on the day of his funeral in Barcelona even the stones cried, and at the time of the funeral, the towers of the cathedral bowed their heads mournfully.

In 2003, the Vatican began the process of canonization of the great Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi.

Barcelona is a city of eternal smiles, sun and unique architecture. The sights of Antonio Gaudi are a separate chapter in the endless list of must-see places in the capital of Catalonia, and we will introduce them in our article.

Biography of Antonio Gaudi

The famous Catalan architect Antonio Placid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet was born in 1825 into the family of a blacksmith in the small town of Reus, Catalonia. Continuing the family business, the father of the future architect made a living in forging and chasing copper, and from an early age instilled in his son a sense of beauty, drawing and depicting buildings with him.

Antonio grew up as a smart boy who excelled at school without much effort. His favorite subject was geometry. Even during his school years, the young man began to think about his purpose and felt that his life would be somehow connected with art. One day, during a school play, Antonio tried himself as a theater artist and it was then that he realized what he wanted to devote his life to - “painting on stone,” which in subsequent generations would be described as Gaudí’s architecture.

After graduating from school, Gaudi went to a city that is now impossible to imagine without the creations of the Catalan genius - Barcelona.

Having entered an architectural bureau here as an entry-level position, the young man does not give up his dream of one day starting work on his own project and building his own building.

After four years of living and working in the capital of Catalonia, Gaudí finally entered the Provincial School of Architecture, where he took up his studies with desperate zeal. Already from the first year, teachers noted Antonio, noticing both his talent and his amazing stubbornness, unconventional vision and audacity. Even the rector of the educational institution speaks about these qualities when presenting 26-year-old Gaudi with an architect’s diploma.

Already in his final years, the ambitious Catalan worked on serious projects and did not give up his work until the end of his life. In the summer of 1926 in Barcelona, ​​the famous architect was hit by a tram on his way to church. Mistaking the artist for a homeless man, witnesses to the incident sent him to a hospital for the poor. Only a day later the exhausted old man was recognized as a famous architect, but his condition at that time worsened, and he soon died.

Style

From the moment he graduated from the school of architecture, Antonio's artistic search began. At first he turns to the neo-Gothic style, which was then popular in the south of Europe, then changes course to more intimate modernism, “pseudo-baroque” and gothic. Almost all of Antoni Gaudi's attractions, and there are 17 of them, are located in Catalonia.

Subsequently, each of these directions will leave its mark on Gaudí’s work. However, it is impossible to characterize Gaudi’s style with just one movement: from the first independent buildings of the artist, it becomes clear that their creator is a man outside the rules and time. The concept of “Gaudi decor”, whose style is recognizable always and everywhere, has forever been assigned to him.

Smooth lines and unusual construction of space can be conditionally attributed to modernism, which is either approaching or moving away from neo-Gothic.

The buildings

Fountain in Plaza Catalunya – Fuente en la Plaza de Cataluña

(Catalan name -Font a la Plaça de Catalunya)

Antonio's first independent work is recognized as a fountain in the central square of Barcelona - Plaza Catalunya, designed and built in 1877. Now every guest of the capital of Catalonia can admire it when they come to the main square of the city.

Free admission.

Address: Plaza de Catalunya.

How to get there: by metro, the nearest stations are Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia.

Mataronin Workers' Cooperative

(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Cooperativa Obrera Mataronense)

The first building Gaudí built independently is located near Barcelona, ​​in the town of Mataro. The aspiring architect received the order to design the cooperative in 1878, and worked on it for about four years. The complex was originally planned to include residential buildings, a casino and other ancillary buildings, but ultimately only the factory and service buildings were completed.

Now access to the building is open, and everyone can look at it, but it can only be of interest to true fans and researchers of the architect’s history. After all, the cooperative, although it inevitably reminds of its creator in every detail, does not represent such artistic value as the other buildings of the genius.

The building is now used as an exhibition space.

Opening hours:

• From July 15 to September 15 – from 18:00 to 21:00, closed on Mondays.

All other months:

Free admission.

Address: Mataro, Carrer Cooperativa 47.

How to get there:

• by train from Barcelona Stants station to Mataro station;
• by bus from stop Pl Tetuan to Rda. Alfons XII – Camí Ral (stops 3 minutes walk to the Workers' Cooperative);
• by car - drive along the coast to the north, the journey will take no more than half an hour.

House of Vicens

(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Casa Vicens)

In 1883-1885, Gaudí designed a building that largely determined his fate. Manufacturer Manuel Vicens orders a summer residence project for his family from an architect who has just received his diploma. A young artist decides to build a building from rough stone and colorful ceramic tiles.

The building itself is an almost perfect quadrangle, but the simplicity of the form was transformed with the help of decorative elements. Facing the east, he decorates the building in the Mudejar style. Here he is helped by both colored tiles (which the customer of the house specializes in) and the bold decision to lay them out in a checkerboard pattern.

Attention to the smallest details and the desire to maintain his work in a single style were already identified as a distinctive feature of Antoni Gaudi.

In 2005, the building was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

It was after the construction of the House of Vicens that Antonio Gaudi was noticed by the philanthropist Eusebio Güell, who later became the main customer and patron of the young architect.

Private building, closed to the public until 2017. The house will open for tours in October 2017.

Address: Carrer de les Carolines, 22-24.

How to get there: by metro to Fontana station (L3).

El Capriccio

(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Capricho de Gaudí)

The Catalan genius is building the next structure by order of the Marquis Masimo Diaz de Quixano, who was distantly related to the architect’s friend Guell. The quaint summer mansion was created in 1883-1885 in the town of Comillas and is still one of its main attractions. The building is now open to the public.

Opening hours: 10:30-17:30, with an hour break from 14:00 to 15:00.

Ticket price – 5 €.

Address: Comillas, Barrio Sobrellano.

How to get there: From Barcelona, ​​the fastest way is to fly to the city of Santander (SDR airport) and from there by bus to the city of Comillas (the Comilias stop is a five-minute walk from El Capriccio).

Pavilion of the Güell Manor – Pabellones Güell

(Catalan name -Pavellons Gü ell)

The first order Gaudí received directly from Güell was a project for a complex of two pavilions and a gate, which were supposed to be the main entrance to the magnate’s country estate. Initially, the complex also included a gatekeeper's house and stables, but they did not survive to this day.

The pavilion is located in Barcelona, ​​near the Palau Reial metro station on line L3, and you can visit it by purchasing a ticket for 6 €.

Address: 7, Av. Pedralbes.

How to get there: by metro to Palau Reial station (L3).

Sagrada Familia – Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia

(Catalan Name– Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia)

The beginning of the construction of the most famous long-term construction is considered to be March 19, 1882. It was then that the first stone was laid in the foundation of the Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family. The basilica began to be built under the leadership of the then famous Spanish architect Francisco del Villar. A year later, he left the project due to disagreements with the church council, and the young Gaudí was entrusted with continuing construction.

Antonio Gaudi devoted 42 years of his life to the construction of the Sagrada Familia, tirelessly improving the project, adding new details and gradually modifying the plan. The artist filled each new column, statue or part of the bas-relief with symbolism and sacred meaning, being a true Christian.

Its fundamental innovation was the 18 pointed towers, each of which had a special meaning. The central and highest among them (still unfinished) is dedicated to Christ.

The three facades of the building also carry a sacred meaning, which is expressed by sculptures and images on it. The main façade is dedicated to the Nativity, the other two are dedicated to the Passion of Christ and the Resurrection. According to the Spanish government, the construction of the temple will be completed approximately in 2026 (which is not certain), but now you should definitely visit the Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi when you are in the capital of Catalonia. The building is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can learn more about Gaudi’s brilliant creation in a separate article at the link.

Opening hours:

• November-February – 9:00-18:00;
• March and October – 9:00-19:00;
• from April to September – 9:00-20:00.

Ticket price – from 15 €.

Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 401.

How to get there: to Sagrada Familia metro station (L2 and L5).

Palace Güell – Palacio Güell

( Catalan name -Palau Gü ell)

The residential building, built by a Catalan master commissioned by Güell's friend and patron, became his only building in the Old Town of Barcelona. Antoni Gaudi took five years to build Palace Güell, and it was during this time that his personal style, which became recognizable throughout the world, was formed. A non-standard approach to decorating the facade, an appeal to Byzantine motifs and the statics of Venetian palazzos - each line of the building loudly declares its creator.

The interiors of the palace are also worth a look: fancy fireplaces, wooden ceilings, bright stained glass windows and huge mirrors are definitely worth your time. Palace Güell is another building by Antoni Gaudi, included in the UNESCO list.

Opening hours:

• from April 1 to September 30 – 10:00-20:00;
• From October 1 to March 31 – 10:00-17:30;
• Mon and Sun are days off.

Free admission.

Address: Carrer Nou de la Rambla.

How to get there: by metro to Drassanes station (L3).

College of Saint Teresa – Colegio Teresiano de Barcelona

(Catalan Name – Col legi de les Teresianes)

In 1888, Antoni Gaudí began to continue the construction of the College of St. Teresa. It is still unknown which of the architects of that time started this project and why he did not continue it.

Working on the building turned out to be difficult for the architect, because he constantly had to coordinate his ideas with the client and work with rather “boring” material, trying not to dilute it with decorative elements. Constantly arguing with Ossie's father, who supervised the construction, the architect found justification for his decisions in biblical symbolism.

Thanks to Gaudi’s persistence and his categorical reluctance to adhere to absolute asceticism, the college building turned out to be restrained, but not without recognizable author’s features. The shape of the building was complicated, decorative arches were placed along the perimeter of the roof, and the facade was decorated with unique elements.

You can get inside the school during excursions, which are held on weekends from 15:00 to 20:00.

Address: Carrer de Ganduxer, 85.

How to get there: by bus 14, 16, 70, 72, 74 to the Tres Torres stop.

Bishop's Palace in Astrog

(isp. Palacio Episcopal de Astorga,cat. Palau Episcopal d'Astorga)

The bishop of Astroga (province of Leon), Jean Batista Grau i Vallespinosa, was well acquainted not only with the work of Antoni Gaudi, but also with the architect himself personally. It is no wonder that it was him who the priest ordered the design of his new residence. Focusing on the Gothic style characteristic of Leon, Gaudi created a small castle with narrow windows, towers and pointed roofs.

The building's unique porch and entrance portico with recessed arches are the architect's find. In order to create the impression of “elongation” and unreality, to dilute the usual Gothic style, the master decided to use solid elongated stone blocks in the installation.

At the moment, the palace is open to visitors, the ticket price is 2.5 €.

Address: Plaza de Eduardo Castro, Astroga.

How to get there: The easiest way from Barcelona is by train to Astroga station (the Palace is a 10-minute walk from the station).

House Botines

(Spanish: Casa Botines, cat.. Casa de los Botines)

Not far from Astroga, in Leon there is another attraction associated with the name of the Catalan master. The rich people of Leone, having seen the new residence of Bishop Astroga, decided that their new apartment building should be built by the same architect. The main customer was one of them, Joan Botines, founder of the commercial union.

The house, like the Jean Baptiste Palace, was designed with an eye to local color. Turning again to the Gothic style, Gaudi erects a rather restrained building with a small number of decorative elements.

Address: Leon, Plaza del Obispo Marcelo, 5.

How to get there:

• by train to Ponferrada station;
• by bus (from the station) to the Ponferrada stop (a five-minute walk from Casa Botines).

Güell Wine Cellar

(Spanish)Bodegas Guell,cat. Celler Guell)

In the suburbs of Barcelona there is another Gaudí building, commissioned by Eusebio Güell. The master worked on it in 1895-1898. The single complex included a wine cellar, a residential building and a gatekeeper's house. They are all united by a recognizable style, as well as a common idea of ​​​​building roofs - they resemble either tents or oriental pagodas, attracting all attention to themselves.

Entrance to the complex costs 9 €.

Address: El Celler Güell, Sitges.

How to get there: By train to Garaff station.

House Calvet

(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Casa Calvet)

In 1898-1890, Gaudí was busy building an apartment building on Casp Street (Carrer de Casp) in Barcelona, ​​commissioned by the widow of a city rich man, which later became a private residential building. In the style of the building, the maestro adhered to the neo-baroque style, abandoning medieval motifs. It was this creation of the architect that received the Barcelona Municipal Prize for the best building of the year in 1900.

The building can only be viewed from the outside.

Address: Carrer de Casp 48.

How to get there: by metro to Urquinaona station (L1, L4).

Colony Güell Crypt

(Spanish and Catalan names are identical:Cripta de la Colò nia Gü ell)

Gaudi began building another church in the suburbs of Barcelona in 1898 as part of a project to build a colony - a small complex provided with everything necessary for the life of a micro-society.

Due to the protracted construction process, the architect was able to build only the crypt, and all other parts of the project remained unfulfilled.

The building is lined with multi-colored glass, and its windows are decorated with needles from the looms of the Guell factory. The building is decorated with bright stained glass windows dedicated to church motifs.

The crypt is open from 10:00 to 19:00, tickets cost from 7 €. The attraction is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Address: Colonia Guell S.A., Santa Coloma de Cervello.

How to get there: Take buses N41 and N51 to the Santa Coloma de Cervello stop.

House Figueres

(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Casa Figueras)

One of the most recognizable houses of Antoni Gaudi is located on Bellesguard Street and is often named after it. The architect worked for three years only on the design of the house, which was commissioned by the widow of a wealthy merchant Maria Sages in 1900, and its construction continued until 1916.

Forming the style of the building, Gaudi returns to oriental motifs and combines it with neo-Gothic. As a result, he gets a very light structure, soaring into the sky, decorated with intricate stone mosaics and graceful broken lines.

Casa Figueres is open to the public from 10:00 to 19:00 in summer and until 16:00 in winter. Ticket costs from 7 €.

Address: Carrer de Bellesguard, 16.

How to get there: by metro to Vallcarca station (L3).

Park Guell

(Spanish: Parque Güell, cat. Parc Güell)

A huge park with an area of ​​17.18 hectares, Parque Gaudi Barcelona was built in the upper part of Barcelona in the years 1900-1914. Together with the customer Güell, they conceived a recreational space, a “garden city,” that was fashionable at that time among the British. The designated area for the park was divided into 62 plots for the construction of mansions. It was never possible to sell them to wealthy Catalans, so they began to develop the territory as an ordinary park, and then sold it to local authorities.

Nowadays the house-museum of Antoni Gaudi is located here (his mansion was one of three purchased in the park). Besides it, there is a lot to see in the park: the famous mosaic sculptures, the Hall of a Hundred Columns and, of course, the curved bench and the famous Gaudí tiles with which it is lined.

A ticket for an adult visitor costs from 22.5 €.

Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 43.

How to get there: by metro to Passeig de Gràcia station (L3).

House Mila

(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Casa Milà)

The famous Casa Mila has long become almost the same symbol of Barcelona as the Sagrada Familia. This is the last “secular” work of the architect. After its completion, he finally plunged into the construction of the Church of the Holy Family, sometimes mistakenly called the CATHEDRAL. Gaudi, again, gravitating towards smooth and curved lines, creates an amazing and memorable facade.

By the way, the residents of Barcelona did not immediately like it, and the building was nicknamed the Quarry for its heavy appearance. However, this did not prevent Casa Mila from becoming the first building of the 20th century to be included in the UNESCO List.

The fact is that Gaudi, acting in accordance with his principles, thought through the smallest details, not only decorative, but also functional. In Casa Mila, Antoni Gaudi thought out the ventilation in the rooms in such a way that to this day it does not require air conditioning. And the owners can move the interior partitions in each apartment at their discretion.

And, of course, the main innovation of that time was the underground parking, also designed by the famous architect.

Casa Mila has been on the World Heritage List since 2005.

Address: Provença, 261-265.

How to get there: by metro to Diagonal station (L3, L5). Buy skip-the-line tickets to Casa Mila with an audio guide.

Sagrada Familia School

(Spanish: Escuelas de la Sagrada Familia, cat. Escoles de la Sagrada Familia)

Built as part of the Sagrada Familia complex, the school amazes with its simplicity and elegance at the same time. This is probably one of the most inconspicuous attractions of Antoni Gaudi at first glance. Its design amazingly harmoniously combines beauty and functionality.

Thus, a fancy roof not only serves as decoration, but also drains rainwater without leaving a trace. In addition, the building fully complies with church requirements.

A few years after the construction of the school was completed, Gaudi himself moved here to live in order to be as close as possible to the main work of his life - the Cathedral of the Sagrada Familia.

Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 401.

How to get there: by metro to Sagrada Familia station (L2 and L5).

In 1852, in a small Catalan town called Reus, he was born the great architect Antonio Gaudi. His family was not rich, but his father, who worked as a simple coppersmith, instilled in his son an extensive love of the craft.

The boy’s addictions and diligent studies were affected by his poor health. Antonio did not have the opportunity to run and play with friends; he spent a long time watching nature - plants, waves, insects. It was then that his dream was formed - the desire to build the way nature itself builds. Therefore, the great master had an aversion to standard construction with right angles and lines, which were not touched by the play of light and color.

The upper part of the roof of the Batlo house.

In 1878, Antonio Gaudi graduated from architectural school. Even during his studies, he worked as a draftsman under the guidance of architects F. Villar and E. Sala, studied crafts, carried out small orders (lanterns, fences, benches) - this is where the skills passed on to him by his father came in handy.

At that time, the Neo-Gothic style dominated in Europe, the main features of which formed writer and architect from France Violet le Duc and critic from England John Ruskin. They recommended a thorough study of the Gothic heritage, but not copying exactly this style, but creative processing, revitalizing it with modern elements. Antonio accepted these ideas with unprecedented enthusiasm.

True, such predilections seemed alien and incomprehensible to many people, which doomed Gaudi’s “portfolio” to meagerness. Until 1883, when the aspiring architect met his friend and patron Eusebi Güell, behind the back of the author of today's works there were only two unfinished projects - El Capriccio and Casa Vicens.

House of Vicens

Güell's considerable finances and Antonio's unrestrained fantasies took shape and complemented Catalonia with the magnificent pavilions of the Güell estate, the fantastic Güell Park in Barcelona, ​​as well as the crypt and chapel of Colonia Güell. During the period of cooperation with Guell, Gaudi had many orders, and the great architect selflessly created houses that looked like sand castles, grottoes and caves. Antonio decorated them variedly and richly, looked for fresh combinations of materials, and invented compromises between decorativeness and functionality.

Grand Staircase of Park Guell

Twisted bench in Park Guell.

According to the established classification, Gaudi's work belongs to the Art Nouveau style. But in fact, it is impossible to place the architect’s works within the framework of any particular style. Antonio Gaudi i Cornet completed 18 projects during his 74 years of life, most of the buildings were built by the Catalan architect himself and are located in Barcelona.

The most amazing fruit of the architect's inspiration is, of course, the Sagrada Familia (Cathedral of the Holy Family). To erect this majestic building, Antonio Gaudi gave almost 40 years of his life, but the temple remained unfinished due to lack of funds. The construction of this sanctuary was carried out only with donations from the townspeople, and the architect himself often walked the streets with his hand outstretched for alms.

Sagrada Familia Cathedral

The concentration of Gaudí's works is the Eixample Quarter. Batlo House (1904-06), which is dressed in scaly mosaics and changes color due to lighting. Barcelona residents nicknamed it the “House of Bones”; you just have to look at this building to understand the reason for this name. The bars of the balconies and windows of the Casa Batlo house seem to be composed of elements of the skeleton of an unknown creature of gigantic stature.

House of Batlo.

In the same Barcelona quarter is the Casa Mila (1905-10), which is better known as “The Quarry” or “La Pedrera”. This is the most incredible residential building in the capital of Catalonia, and perhaps in the world.

House Mila "Quarry"

Gaudi designed incredible fantasies, which were blessed by Mother Nature herself, and then brought them to life... His death in the summer of 1926 was just as incredible and terrible at that time. The brilliant architect was caught by a tram and dragged along the pavement for several meters. Almost all the townspeople came to say goodbye to Antonio Gaudi at the unfinished Sagrada Familia Cathedral. And today the Catholic Church is preparing to consider the possibility of beatifying the architect Gaudi...

Nowadays, few people have not heard of the architect and the Sagrada Familia, his most famous work. Catalans idolize Gaudi, because it was thanks to him that Barcelona acquired its unique style.

Biography of Antonio Gaudi reveals a lot of interesting points about his life, despite the fact that all his life the genius was a rather reserved person, having practically no friends. Architecture was the main meaning of his life, an element in which he did not give concessions to anyone, often being harsh and cruel with workers. Antonio Gaudi i Cornet born on June 25, 1852 in Reus (Catalonia), or in a village near this town, becoming the fifth child in the family. It is the fact that his entire childhood was spent near the sea that explains the bizarre shapes of the genius’s buildings, reminiscent of sand castles. Even as a child, Antonio suffered from pneumonia and rheumatism. Due to his illnesses, he had practically no friends, so the boy was often alone with nature, even then dreaming of becoming an architect. Subsequently, this influenced the creation of forms in his creations that were close to natural.

Since 1868, Gaudi moved to Barcelona, ​​where he took architectural courses. One of the teachers called him either a genius or crazy for his unconventional projects. Gaudi never used drawings or computers; in his work he was guided only by intuition, making all calculations in his mind. It cannot be said that the architect was in search of his own style; he simply saw the world this way, creating masterpieces of architecture. Here we can point out the fact that Antonio’s ancestors, right up to his great-grandfathers, were boilermakers; the most complex products were made “by eye”, without drawings. This apparently was their family trait. In 1878, he was finally noticed and received his first commission - designing a Barcelona street lamp. The following year the project was fully implemented.

House of Vicens

The House of Vicens (Casa Vicens, 1878) was designed for diploma student and building materials manufacturer Manuel Vincens at the beginning of Gaudí's architectural career. The house has a simple rectangular plan, built of stone and brick, but the architect equipped the building with rich ceramic decoration and so many extensions, turrets and balconies that the house looked like a fairy-tale palace. The master drew inspiration from ancient Arab architecture. Gaudi himself designed the window bars and garden fence, and also made sketches of the interior of the dining room and smoking room. This project was the first to use the experience of creating a parabolic arch. This villa can be seen on Carolines Street, unfortunately now without a garden.

His career began with very modest commissions; in addition to a street lamp for the Royal Square, he designed store windows and designed street toilets. But thanks to this, he was noticed by the wealthy industrialist Count Eusebio Güell y Bacigalupi, who became his patron and regular customer until the count’s death in 1918. Count Guell gave Gaudí complete freedom, thereby allowing him to express himself. Everything that Antonio built for Güell became a collection of masterpieces that Barcelona is so proud of.

Gaudí's first work for Count Güell was the construction of the count's estate in the district of Garraf (1884-1887). Only the gate with the forged dragon remained intact; the appearance of the mighty monster on the gate was very symbolic, since it is part of the emblem of Catalonia, and its curves follow the outlines of the Draco constellation. This was what Gaudi was all about; all his buildings and sculptures are imbued with symbolism. Next to the gate are the entrance pavilions, which formerly housed the stables, the riding arena and the gatekeeper's house, and now the Gaudí Research Center. The domed turrets on these pavilions are reminiscent of the book One Thousand and One Nights.

Gaudí’s most unique work for the count was the building of the Barcelona residence of the Güells (1886-1891). This building is a clear reflection of Gaudí's own style. A unique combination of materials and multi-colors creates fantastic images. The roof of this building is covered with decorative chimneys and ventilation pipes of unimaginable types, none of which are repeated. Gaudi did not forget about the practicality of his buildings; thanks to the huge arches, it was easy for carriages to enter the stables located under the house. Inside the house there was a spacious main hall, which was crowned with a dome with holes, so that even during the day, raising your head, it seemed as if you were looking at the starry sky. Everything in this building was designed by Gaudí, the balcony railings, the furniture, the stucco on the ceilings, the columns (forty different shapes).

The architect's main dream was to build churches; he was a deeply religious man. He was approached by the Catholic Church to complete the building of the College of the Sisters of the Order of St. Teresa, which had been abandoned by another architect. The order's funds were very meager, since the order took a vow of poverty. But Gaudi was able to give this building a sophisticated, sophisticated style, decorating it not luxuriously, but modestly: with the coats of arms of the order, turrets with crosses and arches.

Another order of the church was the episcopal palace in Astorga (1887-1893), which he never managed to complete, since the Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid, whose permission was required for the implementation of this project, hounded the architect with amendments, and he quit the job because defended every stroke on his drawings. The palace was completed by a different architect, but retained the general appearance of Gaudi, reminiscent of medieval castles with its turrets and buttresses.

However, of course, the most famous work of the master remains the Sagrada Familia (Cathedral of the Holy Family), made in an atypical style for temple architecture. Construction of the cathedral architect Antonio Gaudi devoted a lot of time and effort, starting it in 1883, however, the building was never completed due to the death of Antoni Gaudi. After the genius passed away, the Sagrada Familia project remained unfinished, since Antonio did not like to draw, and there were no original drawings left after him. The forms and symbolism of the cathedral are so complex, and Gaudí's working method is so unique, that all subsequent attempts to continue the construction looked too uncertain.

In addition to the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona is home to 13 major buildings by Antoni Gaudí, which give the city a unique flavor and give an idea of ​​the style of the brilliant creator. These include Casa Mila (a residential building whose walls are painted on the inside, and on a flat, uneven roof there are chimneys lined with pieces of glass and ceramics), Casa Batllo (the wavy, scaly roof of which resembles a giant snake), Porta Mirales (a rounded wall , covered with tortoiseshell tiles), Park Güell (which is an urban style in nature, there is not a single straight line here, this park has become the pearl of Barcelona), the church of the Güell country estate, the Bellesguard house (a villa in the form of a Gothic castle with complex star-shaped stained glass windows ) and of course many others, since, having become “fashionable” among wealthy citizens, he did not go out of it until the end of his life.

Architect Antonio Gaudi died when hit by a tram on June 7, 1926. There is widespread information that on this day the first tram was launched in Barcelona and that it was supposedly that the architect was crushed by it, but this is just a legend. Gaudi was an unkempt old man and was mistaken for a homeless man. He died three days later on June 10, in a homeless shelter, but he was identified quite by chance by an elderly woman. And thanks to her, the great architect was not buried in a common grave, but was buried with honors in the building of his entire life, the Temple of the Holy Family, where you can see his grave and death mask.

By decision of UNESCO, Park Güell, Palace Güell and Casa Mila were declared heritage of humanity.