In 1852, Antoni Gaudi was born in Reus, about 100 km west of Barcelona, the city where his most famous works were constructed. He studied architecture in Barcelona and began his career designing municipal lightposts and newsstands. His reputation grew and he became a world-renowned leader in the Modernist movement. While staying in Barcelona last summer, we were fortunate enough to visit two of his most famous projects, the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló.
SAGRADA FAMILIA
Construction began on Sagrada Familia (the Church of the Holy Family), in central Barcelona in 1882. A year later, Antoni Gaudi took over the project and injected an infusion of Gothic and Art Nouveau design characteristics. By the time Gaudi died in 1926, the project was only one-quarter completed. The still unfinished church was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. Current projections aim to have the work fully completed by 2026, a century after Gaudi’s passing. The UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts some three million visitors a year.
CASA BATLLÓ
Between 1904 and 1906, Antoni Gaudi completely transformed the home of prominent businessman Josep Batlló into a stunning, liveable work of art. The home, also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracts more than one million tourists a year (including the Britnell family in 2018).
Photos by: Natasha Britnell