Works of Antoni Gaudí

Barcelona, Spain, gave birth to one of the greatest architects of all time, Antoni Gaudí. Gaudí graduated from the school of architecture of Barcelona. His performance was pretty average--some even might argue it was mediocre--but even since he finished, he started creating some of the most wonderful works of history of architecture. UNESCO has decided to honor his works, which have inspired Calatan pride and a sense of Catalan heritage. Gaudí's most famous work is La Sagrada Familia a church in Barcelona, which has not yet been completed. 

 The church's official name is Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família and is located in the heart of the city. It tells the story of the life of Christ and bears witness of each stage of his life and of the people around him. The spires represent the Four Evangelists, the Twelve Apostles, Mary and Christ. The main spires have not yet been completed. Completion is programmed for 2026, the centenary of Gaudí's death. Once it is completed, it will be the tallest religious building in the world. The church also has 3 façades: the Nativity, the Passion and the Glory--all representing different miracles of Christ's life.

 Gaudí is extremely symbolic in his work. His inspiration comes from nature. All of the motifs inside resemble natural resources. In fact, it was his intention that the church felt like a forest on the inside.

 The church is not the only work that pertains to the site. Another building is the Casa Milà. This house is also known as La Pedrera. The natural motifs are just as abundant, and the house has a very oceanic feel to it.

 Another structure is the Casa Batlló. Notice the cross that tops it. It is a cross with 4 horizontal arms, and is one of the key symbols used by Gaudí. A similar, larger cross will top the Sagrada Familia when it is completed.

 The Gaudií museum is found on the grounds of the church. What I found the most intriguing was how he designed the church upside down. He used weights to create spires and he tied them together so he could make shapes and designs.

If you plan on visiting any of these sites, I strongly suggest you get your tickets in advance.