Gaudí’s Barcelona

The masterpiece

Like a supermodel with her hair in rollers, there’s an unfinished beauty about La Sagrada Família, Carrer de Mallorca 401 (tel: 93 207 3031). Shrouded in scaffolding and partially hidden by dust sheets, Gaudí’s incomplete symphony is, nonetheless, lauded as the most extraordinary example of Gothic architecture in the world.

Along with his other works, it has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage site status, although it still makes for a rubbish photograph; all my pictures of the basilica are ruined by cranes and other construction paraphernalia.

Incredibly, it is 130 years since Gaudí was commissioned to build this towering monument to Catholicism, and there’s still another 13 years until it will be finished – the basilica is scheduled for completion in 2026 to coincide with the centennial of Gaudí’s death.

Although tectonic plates have been shifting faster than the builders, this project was out of the blocks quickly. That was thanks largely to Gaudí, who dedicated the last 40 years of his life to its construction until his untimely death in 1926 when the reclusive architect died after being struck by a tram.

The project was bequeathed to Gaudí’s associate, Domènec Sugrañes i Gras, who encountered even bigger problems in 1936 with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. “Revolutionaries set fire to La Sagrada Família destroying the crypt, the workshop and Gaudí’s drawings for the building,” explains my guide, Maria.

That was a devastating blow for the basilica, but after a three-year hiatus, construction restarted in 1939 and hasn’t stopped since. Progress has been slow, but that’s to be expected from a project funded by private donations and ticket revenues (entrance fees start at €14.80).

Property porn

If you can’t afford a ticket for La Sagrada Família then you really should consider begging, borrowing or pickpocketing (a thriving industry here in Barcelona), because the basilica’s interior is a place of extraordinary beauty.

Forget anything you have ever seen in another Catholic church because this tears up the rule book. Spurning conventional engineering wisdom, Gaudí has designed the basilica’s pillars to mimic tree trunks; rising from the floor, these eccentric stone columns split into branches as they climb towards a ceiling, which looks as though you’re viewing it through a kaleidoscope.

La Sagrada Família is busy all year, although you’ll do less jostling if you visit on a weekday out of the holidays and arrive when it opens at 9am.

Although Gaudí’s career culminated with La Sagrada Família, his portfolio of property is scattered across the city, and Casa Batlló, Passeig de Gràcia 43 (tel: 93 216 0306), is one of his most notable works. A masterstroke of modernism, this residential building was actually a renovation project for Gaudí, who transformed it from a prosaic apartment block into one of the most popular attractions in Catalonia. Incredibly, people still live here.

This fairy-tale building features an arched roof with scale-shaped tiles, which is said to represent the dragon slayed by St George, who is the patron saint of Catalonia. The intricate interior is just as impressive, and the audio tour gives you a comprehensive insight into the level of detail lavished upon this building.

The Gaudí trail

It’s easy to get hooked on Gaudí and I soon find myself tearing around Barcelona looking for my next architectural hit. But a Gaudí habit is also expensive; entrance to the Casa Batlló is an eye-watering €20.35, and although it’s worth the cash, you’ll spend a fortune if you want to visit all his buildings. And because they have different owners, there are no combo tickets that allow entry to multiple Gaudí buildings.

My advice, then, is to splash the cash at La Sagrada Família and Casa Batlló before swinging by to Park Güell, Carrer d'Olot (tel: 93 409 1831), a free-to-enter garden complex which is dripping with Gaudí’s work including the famous dragon fountain at the entrance. During peak season (from late March to late October), the park opens until 9.30pm and there is a beautiful terraced area that’s perfect for quaffing wine and watching the sun go down on Barcelona.

Located near the park is the recently opened Gaudí Experience, Carrer Larrard 41 (tel: 93 285 4440), which takes visitors on a 4D journey into the life and times of the architectural virtuoso. Sadly the queues are too long for my liking, so I take a hop-on hop-off bus tour for a drive-by shooting of Gaudí’s other works such as La Pedrera, also known as Casa Milá, Provença 261 (tel: 902 202 138) and the gloriously uncrowded Güell Pavilions, Avinguda Pedralbes 7 (tel: 93 317 7652).

The bus takes passengers around Barcelona’s other architectural gems including the Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 1992 Games and ignited global interest in the city of Barcelona and subsequently the work of Gaudí. Other stops include the tree-lined La Rambla, a bustling tourist trap of legendary proportions that’s lined with bars, theatres and restaurants. The bus also stops at the Camp Nou, Avinguda Arístides Maillol (tel: 902 189 900), home of FC Barcelona and the theatre for some of the greatest football ever played.

Post modernism

At the end of a day spent gorging on modernist architecture (a time I like to refer to as ‘post modernism’), I imbibe Barcelona’s culinary offerings. Compared to Gaudí’s more famous works, Casa Calvet, Casp 48 (tel: 93 412 4012) – located in the Eixample district of Barcelona – is decidedly conventional, but for foodies this former merchant’s house warrants a visit. Originally built for a textile manufacturer, the building has been converted into a marvellous little restaurant that serves excellent food in elaborate surrounds.

For the best tapas in town, however, visit Quimet i Quimet, Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes 25(tel: 93 442 3142), which doesn’t have a website, presumably because it doesn’t need one; the tapas combinations in this lively bodega are legendary and so is the heroic selection of booze.

If you’re looking to party, time your visit to coincide with the Festa de la Mercè, an annual carnival that swings into town on 20 September. Flotillas, fireworks and all-night street parties will make this event more gregarious than a Gaudí facade.

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NEED TO KNOW

Getting there: A number of airlines fly to Barcelona from the UK, including easyJet which has six daily flights between London Gatwick and Barcelona.

Where to stay: The boutique Primero Primera, Carrer Doctor Carulla 25-29 (tel: 93 417 5600) is a gorgeous, family-run hotel with cavernous rooms, a delicious buffet breakfast and a peaceful location in Barcelona’s Les Tres Torres neighbourhood. Standard double rooms for September start from around €190 per night.