Gaudi is an outstanding Catalan architect who created many famous buildings in Barcelona. World history There are not many architects who have so greatly influenced the views of their cities and created something so significant for their national culture. Gaudi is the most famous architect in Spain. His work marked the peak of Spanish Art Nouveau. The peculiarity of his style is that the sources of the architect’s fantasies were natural forms (trees, clouds, animals, rocks). It was nature that primarily determined the work of the sculptor and architect Gaudi when he solved various problems - both artistic and constructive.

The architect did not like closed spaces, as well as geometrically correct forms. That’s why he fundamentally rejected straight lines. He believed that a straight line is a creation of man, while a circle is a creation of God. Therefore, Antoni Gaudi used only curved surfaces, creating his own original style. The architect Gaudi and his houses are known far beyond the borders of Catalonia and Spain.

Life and work of Gaudi

The architect was born on June 25, 1852, near Barcelona. His family belonged to a dynasty of hereditary masons. In 1868 he moved to Barcelona and there in 1873-78. studied at the Higher Technical School of Architecture, and also mastered various crafts (blacksmithing, carpentry, etc.) in the workshop of E. Punti.

In 1870-82. was engaged in the execution of applied orders (sketches of lanterns, fences, etc.) in the workshop of F. Villar and E. Sala. His first construction, which can be considered independent (the fountain on Plaça Catalunya in 1877), demonstrated the brightness and whimsicality of Gaudí's imagination.

Antonio Gaudi died tragically on 06/07/1926 in Barcelona. He was hit by a tram not far from the Sagrada Familia. At the end of his life, the architect behaved strangely, walked in an unkempt manner, so he was taken to a hospital for the poor, where he died. He was buried in the Cathedral of the Holy Family.

The origins of the architect's own style

Neo-Gothic reigned in Western Europe at that moment. In his youth, Gaudí adhered to the ideas of such representatives of the neo-Gothic style as the French architect Viollet-le-Duc (the largest restorer of Gothic churches in the 19th century, who restored, in particular, Notre Dame Cathedral) and the English art critic John Ruskin, author of the article “Decorativeness - the Beginning architecture", which completely coincided with the thoughts of Gaudi himself and for many years was the code of his work. However, he was most influenced by Catalan Gothic, which interestingly combined European and Moorish motifs. It is this combination that permeates the architecture of Antoni Gaudi.

This building was built in 1880-83. During its construction, the architect used polychrome effects typical of ceramic cladding. Gaudí's buildings, built in his “mature” period, are distinguished by the use of this technique. This house by Gaudí was built for the owner of the ceramics factory M. Vicens and resembled fairytale palace. In an effort to realize the desire of the building’s customer, the industrialist Vicens, to see a “kingdom of ceramics” in this house, the architect used iridescent multi-colored majolica tiles to cover the walls, decorated the ceilings with stucco “stalactites,” and installed fancy gazebos and lanterns in the courtyard.

The residential building itself and the buildings in the garden made up a beautiful architectural ensemble, for the creation of which Gaudí for the first time tested his signature techniques: ceramic finishing in large quantities, plastic fluid forms, bold combinations of elements of different styles, contrasts of dark and light, vertical and horizontal elements, etc.

In 1891, the architect received an order for a new cathedral in Barcelona - a temple (i.e., the Church of the Holy Family). This building became the maximum manifestation of his imagination. Realizing the enormous significance of this building as a symbol of the entire national revival of Catalonia, Gaudí concentrated entirely on its construction from 1910, setting up his own workshop here.

The style of the cathedral is similar to Gothic, but also contains something new, more modern. This building can accommodate a choir of 1,500 singers, 5 organs, and a children's choir of 700 people. The cathedral was to become a major center of Catholicism. Its construction was supported by the then Pope Leon 13th.

Although Gaudi was involved in the construction of this temple for 35 years, he managed to build and decorate only the Nativity façade, which structurally represents the eastern part of the transept, with 4 towers above it, while the western part of the apse, which makes up most of the entire monumental cathedral , remains unfinished to this day. Construction of the Sagrada Familia continues to this day.

Casa Batllo

This is one of Gaudí's most famous buildings, built in 1904-06. and became the fruit of his original imagination, which was of purely literary origin. The house is the embodiment of the story of St. George slaying the dragon. The 2 lower floors resemble the skeleton of a dragon, the wall resembles dragon skin, the roof with a peculiar pattern resembles a dragon’s spine. On the roof there is a small tower and chimneys of various intricate shapes. They are decorated with ceramics and combined into several groups.

The project masterfully used color harmony and plasticity of the material. The sculptural decoration of the building looks as if it consists of living forms that froze only for a moment. The completion of this decor is the design of the roof, which resembles a dragon’s back.

Gaudí's architectural masterpieces include (1906-10) the famous Art Nouveau building, which received the nickname “La Pedrera” (i.e. “the quarry”) because of its whimsicality. It is a 6-story apartment building located on the corner, with 2 courtyards and 6 light wells.

The entire building as a whole and each individual apartment in it have a curved, complex layout. Initially, the architect tried to make each internal partition curved, but later he had to abandon this idea and give them a broken shape, which creates a contrast with the wavy facade. For Casa Mila, new design solutions were used: the absence of load-bearing internal walls, the support of interfloor floors by external walls and columns, and the important structural significance of balconies.

In the 70s of the 19th century, young Gaudi moved to Barcelona. After 5 years of preparatory courses, Gaudí was accepted into the Provincial School of Architecture, from which he graduated in 1878.

In 1870-1882, Antoni Gaudí worked as a draftsman, unsuccessfully participating in competitions. He learned the trades, doing many small jobs (fencing, lanterns, etc.) and designing furniture for his own home.

At this time, the neo-Gothic style began to flourish in Europe, and young Gaudi enthusiastically followed advanced ideas. The declaration “Decorativeness is the beginning of architecture” proclaimed by the followers of the neo-Gothic style completely coincided with the ideas of Gaudi, who over time developed his own, completely unique architectural style.

Gaudi architecture

At the beginning of Gaudi's work, influenced by the architecture of Barcelona and the architect Martorell, he built his first buildings, richly decorated: “stylistic twins” - the elegant Casa Vicens () and the fancy El Capriccio (Comillas, Cantabria); also a compromise House of Calvet (Barcelona) in a pseudo-baroque style. At the same time, Gaudí was making a project in a restrained Gothic, even “serf” style - the School at the Monastery of St. Teresa (), as well as an unrealized project for the buildings of the Franciscan Mission in Tangier; neo-Gothic Episcopal Palace in Astorga (Castilla, Leon) and the House of Botines (Leon).

A decisive role in Gaudi’s implementation was played by the architect’s meeting with Eusebi Güell, with whom he became friends. This textile magnate richest man, no stranger to aesthetic insights, could afford to order any dream, and Gaudi received what every creator dreams of: freedom of expression without regard to the budget.

Gaudi designs pavilions for the estate in Pedralbes near Barcelona for the Güell family; wine cellars in Garraf, chapels and crypts of Colonia Güell (Santa Coloma de Cervelho); fantastic().

Over time, Gaudi developed his own style, where there was not a single straight line. The construction of Palais Güell turned Gaudí into Barcelona's most fashionable architect, soon becoming an "almost unaffordable luxury". For the bourgeoisie of Barcelona, ​​he built houses one more unusual than the other: a space that is born and develops, expanding and moving, like living matter - Casa Mila; a living, trembling creature, the fruit of a bizarre fantasy - Casa Batllo.

The clients, who were ready to spend half a fortune on construction, initially believed in the genius of the architect, who was paving a new path in architecture.

Death of Gaudi

Gaudi died at the age of 73. On June 7, 1926, he left home on his daily journey to the Church of Sant Felip Neri, of which he was a parishioner. As he walked absent-mindedly along the Gran Via de las Cortes Catalanes between Girona and Bailén streets, he was hit by a tram and Gaudí lost consciousness.

Cab drivers refused to take an unkempt, unknown old man without money or documents to the hospital, fearing non-payment for the trip. Still, Gaudi was taken to a hospital for the poor, where he was given only primitive medical care. Only the next day the chaplain found and identified him. By that time, Gaudi's condition had already deteriorated so much that the best treatment could not help him.

Gaudi died on June 10, 1926 and was buried two days later in the crypt of the cathedral he had not completed.

Gaudi architecture in Barcelona:

Casa Batllo i Casa Novas

Casa Batllo(cat. Casa Batlló), also called "House of Bones"- a residential building built in 1877 for textile magnate Josep Batllo i Casanovas at , 43 in the district, and rebuilt by the architect Antoni Gaudí in 1904-1906.

Even before finishing the construction work, Gaudi received an order to remodel an apartment building owned by the family of the wealthy textile manufacturer Josep Batllo i Casanovas and located next to the modernist Amalle house. The owner of the house intended to demolish the old building from 1875 and build a new one in its place, but Gaudi decided otherwise.

Architecture of Casa Batllo

Gaudí retained the original structure of the house, adjacent with side walls to two neighboring buildings, but designed two new facades, the main one from the side, and the rear one into the block. In addition, Gaudí completely remodeled the lower floor and mezzanine, making original furniture, and adding a basement, attic and asotea (stepped roof terrace). Two light shafts were combined into a single courtyard, which improved daylighting and ventilation of the building. The idea of ​​​​giving special importance to the courtyard of light, first realized in the Casa Batllo, was used by Gaudí during the construction Home Mila.

Many researchers of Gaudi's work recognize that the reconstruction of Casa Batllo is the beginning of a new creative stage for the master: from this project, Gaudi's architectural projects will be built on the basis of his own vision, without regard to accepted norms and styles.

Features of Casa Batllo

A distinctive feature of Casa Batlló is the almost complete absence of straight lines in its architecture. The decor of the façade is made of cut stone quarried on Barcelona's Montjuïc hill, as well as the interior design - everything is done on the basis of wavy lines. Interpreted very differently appearance facade, but in general they agree that the main facade is an allegory of the dragon - Gaudi’s favorite character, whose image was used in many of his creations. The victory of the patron saint of Catalonia, St. George, over the dragon may be an allegory of the victory of good over evil. The sword of St. George, pierced into the “backbone of the dragon”, is presented in the form of a turret topped with a St. George’s cross, the façade of the building depicts the sparkling “scales” of the monster and is strewn with the bones and “skulls” of its victims, which can be seen in the shapes of the mezzanine columns and balconies.

As is typical for Gaudí, every detail in Casa Batlló is carefully thought out. Pay attention to the design of the light palace, where Gaudi created a special play of chiaroscuro. To achieve uniform illumination, the architect gradually changes the color of the ceramic cladding from white to blue and blue, deepening it from bottom to top, adding a real splash of azure to the finishes of chimneys and ventilation pipes. For the same reason, the size of the windows facing the patio also changes, gradually decreasing with height. The elegant attic of the house is based on the parabolic arches used by Gaudí in other projects.

Casa Batllo decor

All the decor of the house is made by the best masters of applied art. The forged elements were made by the blacksmiths Badia brothers, the stained glass windows were made by glass blower Josep Pelegri, the tiles were made by P. Pujol i Bausis son, and other ceramic parts were made by Sebastian i Ribot. The cladding of the main façade was entirely manufactured in Manacor (Mallorca island). The furniture created by Gaudí during the interior design is now part of the collection in Park Guell.

Casa Batlló, together with Casa Amalle and Casa Lleo Morera, is part of "The Quarter of Discord", so named because of the stylistic heterogeneity of the modernist buildings that form it.

Casa Batlló was declared an Artistic Monument of Barcelona in 1962, a Monument of National Importance in 1969, and included in the List in 2005.

Visit Casa Batllo in Barcelona:

• Website: www.casabatllo.es
• Opening hours: daily 9 - 19 (last entry at 20:00)
• Directions: 7, 16, 17, 22, 24 and 28. Barcelona Tourist Bus (North & South) stop Casa Batlló – Fundació Antoni Tàpies.| Barcelona Tourist Bus (North & South) stop Casa Batlló – Fundació Antoni Tàpies.| Metro: Passeig de Gràcia station: L2, L3 and L4.
• Audio guide - included in the ticket price. Available in Russian.
• Entrance:
  • adults: 21.5€
  • students and pensioners > 65 years old: 18.5€
  • 7 - 18 years: 18.5€
  • children under 7 years old - free
  • Night visit (21:00) - 29€

House Mila

On the corner with Carrere de Provenca (Provenca street) there is main boulevard – Mila's house(Casa Milà, Provença, 261-265, Passeig de Gratia, 92). This building by Antoni Gaudi looks more like a work of sculpture than a work of architecture.

Architecture of Casa Mila

The six-story house looks like a huge rock, its window and door openings resemble grottoes, and the wrought-iron balcony bars are made in the shape of fantastic plants. The house is often called La Pedrera, that is, “The Quarry.” Gaudi built it in 1906-1910. for the richest Mila family; here were the owners’ living quarters, an office, and some of the apartments were rented out. Now, in addition to the bank CAixAdeCAtAlunyA, who allocated funds for the restoration of the building, the Gaudi Museum is located in the house.

In one of the apartments there is a kind of museum of everyday life of the Art Nouveau era; Please note that there are no straight lines here! You can also climb to the fantastic rooftop, where giant multi-colored chimney ledges resemble medieval knights. It was on this roof that the famous film by M. Antonioni “Profession: Reporter” was filmed.

Religious motives in Gaudi's architecture

The house was built on the site of the 11th century Temple of the Virgin Mary, and therefore its entire appearance is permeated with religious motifs. The building was to be crowned by a colossal figure of the Madonna (12 m) with angels - the entire building of the Mila House would then be perceived as her grandiose pedestal. However, the Madonna was never installed due to the anti-church riots of the Tragic Week of 1909, when crowds smashed and burned churches and monasteries. Religious symbolism is present in all Gaudí's buildings; “the silent wave of the blue mountain” (as the English art critic D. Ruskin called the house of Mila) was supposed to capture “the soul of Catalonia2 and remind Montserrat monastery.

But we must remember that Gaudi intended to somewhat soften the impression of harsh power from this house - the residents had to decorate their balconies with creeping and hanging flowers, cacti, palm trees, thereby complementing the architecture and sculpture with living vegetation. The most important role in the construction of the Casa Mila was played by Gaudí's permanent assistant J. Jujol, who designed the wrought iron grilles of the building's balconies.

Visit Casa Mila in Barcelona:

• House Mila - on the list
• Address: Provença, 261-265, Barcelona
• www.lapedrera.com
• Directions: metro: L3 and L5 stop Diagonal.| buses: 7, 16, 17, 22, 24, 39 and V17.| FGC trains: Provença station.| Barcelona Bus Turístic: stop Pg. de Gràcia-La Pedrera.
• Working hours:
• November - February: La Pedrera by day: daily 9 - 18:30, last entry 18:00. The Secret Pedrera: Wednesday - Saturday 19 - 22:30, choice of tours and languages.
• March - October: La Pedrera by Day: hedgehog. 9 - 20, last entry 19:30. The Secret Pedrera: hedgehog. 20:30 - 0:00, choice of excursions and languages.
• Closed: December 25 and 1 week in January.
• Entrance: DAY: adults €16.50, students: €14.85 disabled: €14.85, children (up to 6 years old inclusive): free, children 7 - 12 years old: €8.25
• Entrance IN THE EVENING: adults: 30 €, children 7-12 children: 15 €, children under 6 years old inclusive - free.

Sagrada Familia (Cathedral of the Holy Family)

This was one of his first buildings, which Antoni Gaudi built in 1886-1889. for his patron, textile magnate Eusebio de Güell Bacigalupi. It was probably thanks to his close friendship with him that Gaudi managed to achieve unprecedented architectural perfection: Güell did not count the money he allocated for Gaudí’s buildings and their constant reconstruction, he settled numerous legal problems, and as a result, Gaudí became, in fact, the Güell family architect. He built everything for them - equipment for drying clothes on the roof of a city house, a mansion, a church, and an entire park.

The architect and industrialist had much in common: they both came from the surrounding area, both were fanatical patriots. Be sure to stop by the palace; You are unlikely to be left indifferent by the fireplaces, weather vanes in the shape of bats, parabolic arches, neo-Byzantine living rooms, spear columns on the second floor, multi-colored ceramic chimneys on the roof (according to legend, to achieve the desired effect, Gaudi broke items of the extremely expensive Limoges service).

Interior of Palace Güell

The decoration of the rooms was incredibly expensive - carved rosewood and oak ceilings were decorated with applied leaves of gold and silver, inlaid ivory and tortoiseshell; candlesticks were attached to the marble walls. Some art historians believe that the drawing of the mansion resembles the plan in; others note similarities with Babylonian ziggurats. The mansion had a front door official residence Güell - even before the completion of construction work, Queen Regent Maria Cristina visited him here.

In the 1880s, when construction was underway Palace Guell, the southeastern side was considered unsuitable for a fashionable life - this seedy area was then called Chinatown and was swarming with prostitutes, alcoholics, and syphilitics; It was here that the French writer Jean Genet lived, creating his “Diary of a Thief” - a chronicle of the life of the Barcelona “bottom”. Nowadays this area is inhabited mainly by immigrants from Latin America and is still considered a slum in Barcelona. By the way, if you want to live close to the center of Barcelona and very cheaply, and you are not too fussy, then this place will be ideal - lots of cheap restaurants around, just a stone's throw away…

Visit Palace Güell in Barcelona

• Palau Güell
• Address: Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3-5
• Tel: +34 934 72 57 75
• Working hours:
• Open from Tuesday to Sunday, both days inclusive.
  • Summer opening hours (from April 1 to October 31): from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ticket offices close at 7 p.m.)
  • Winter opening hours (from November 1 to March 31): from 10 to 17:30 (ticket offices close at 16:30)
  • Closed: Monday, excluding holidays, December 25 and 26, January 1 and from January 6 to 13 (for maintenance)

• Entrance:
  • adults: 12€
  • other options:
  • The audio guide is included in the ticket price.
• Buy a ticket to Vdorets Güell:
  • Tickets can be purchased at the Palais Guell box office located on the street. Nou de la Rambla, no. 1, 20 meters from the main entrance to Palais Güell. Tickets can also be purchased in advance for a specific time and date.

Barcelona is the capital of Spanish Catalonia, the second largest and most populous city in Spain. Oh, Barcelona, ​​proud and stubborn Catalan beauty! If a city can be dazzling, then Barcelona is it. It is like a wonderful song about itself: passionate, tragic and indomitable, sung by the brilliant duet of Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe.

The capital of Catalonia in Spain is one of the main attractions of the country.

In this spectacular city, which is picturesquely located on the shore of a cozy bay, you can spin to the sounds of temperamental flamenco and lose your sense of reality: it seems that Barcelona is about to give every tourist a charming surprise!

Barcelona is the “ideal city” of the brilliant architect Antonio Gaudi!

The sights of Barcelona are a creative flight of fancy!

Plaza Columbus, Port of Barcelona.

In the center of Barcelona is Columbus Square. The Catalans call her Gate of the World. From here it is customary to start getting acquainted with the city and its attractions. A pedestal with images from the lives of the great discoverers is crowned with a ball on which a statue of Christopher Columbus is installed. There are four bronze lions around the monument, and inside there is an elevator that takes you to a small observation deck overlooking the seaport, the harbor and Montjuïc Mountain. The monument was erected for the first World Exhibition in 1888.

Rambla in Barcelona, ​​Boqueria Market Mercat de la Boqueria.

Near the square there is the famous Ramblas– the main pedestrian artery and tourist centre, which history and unique culture attracts its guests like a magnet. It is sometimes compared to Arbat in Moscow and called “the charm of Barcelona”.

It is surrounded by green trees, a scattering of shops, pet stores, souvenir shops, and newsstands. There are many artists, “living statues” showing mini-theater performances, flowers, paintings and all kinds of souvenirs. Next to the Rambla is the main grocery store Boqueria market: the counters are filled with fruits, vegetables, herbs, meat, sausages, and seafood.

The Boqueria market is a gastronomic attraction of the tourist center.

The Gothic Quarter in Barcelona is Barrio Gotico.

Gothic Quarter It especially delights with its narrow streets and cold alleys. Its history is separated from other younger areas of Barcelona by seven centuries. Avenues of Eixample, on the contrary, create a feeling of peace and tranquility, captivating with their width and bright illumination. Diagonal Street, crossing the city center, diverges into chains of boulevards, where daytime and night life capital Cities. Boulevard "Paseo de Gracia"– a good place where the world of fashion organically combines with sights and architecture, forming the most elegant ensemble. Here, shopping lovers can find collections of affordable brands Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Blanco and luxury boutiques Loewe, Cucci and Chanel.

Quarter "Apple of Discord" - Manzana de la discordia.

On this boulevard of the capital of Catalonia there is Apple of Discord quarter, where the creations of the extraordinary architect Antonio Gaudi and his fellow rivals Puj i Cadafalch, Domenech i Montaner are adjacent to each other.

Architecture of Antonio Gaudi.

Gaudi, Casa Batllo, Barcelona

An integral part of Barcelona is its unique architectural style. The architect made a special contribution to its formation Antonio Gaudi. Each of his works is a work of art, thoughtful engineering solutions, and innovative decorative ideas. His most outstanding and famous works are: Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Park Güell and Sagrada Familia. Six it brilliant creations included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

For more than 150 years we have been talking about Gaudí when we talk about Barcelona as a city of ideal style. The brilliant architect Antonio Gaudi gave the appearance of Barcelona 12 buildings that have become world landmarks. All of them are “masterpieces” of style, decorating the streets with their bright colors and unusual shapes.

Casa Batllo is the House of the Dragon with its delightful stained glass windows, its twisting back-roof: multi-colored, like a rainbow. Casa Batllo is famous for another innovative attraction - one of the first underground parking spaces in Barcelona.

Casa La Pedrera (House Mila)- a striking structure that faces the street with three facades. The shine of the house's transparent glass decorations echoes its wavy walls, reminiscent of stone surf, and its wrought-iron balconies are akin to sea foam. House La Pedrera was built for the Mila family by the architect Antonio Gaudi, inspired by his trip to Mount Montserrat: there is not a single straight line in it. The interior layout of the huge halls and the decoration of the ceilings and walls with original stucco molding is simply mesmerizing. Work on the project began in 1906 and was due to end in 1912. However, due to a conflict between the client family and the architect regarding the concept of its construction, it was stopped earlier. In 1910, Gaudí resigned as an architect. The amazing Casa La Pedrera is the last civic project of Antoni Gaudi: since then he no longer built for people, but devoted his life to working on the Sagrada Familia.

It is believed that architecture is frozen music, then the works of Antoni Gaudi are jazz!

The Mila family donated the house to the city and now it has two parts: municipal (free entrance) and paid (simple tour 20 euros). Particularly impressive is the La Pedrera Night tour, where jazz music sounds!

The main attraction of Barcelona is Park Güell.

Park Guell- one of his main creations. It was created according to a design by Antoni Gaudi in 1899. It was planned to divide 15 hectares of land into 62 zones and build 62 houses, connecting them into an unusual, spectacular architectural ensemble. Initially, the project was conceived as a quarter for wealthy people, but it was too expensive, and the end result was a beautiful park of 17 hectares, on the territory of which there are only two houses, in one of which (the pink house) Antonio Gaudi himself spent 20 years of his life. Now the pink house has been a museum since 1963, which combines garden and residential areas. The second house was bought by his friend, a lawyer by profession.

The main idea of ​​the park is the embodiment of nature in stone.

The main attraction of Park Güell is the observation deck with a fence-bench in the shape of a snake.

Park Güell is an exquisite garden city. In Park Güell, everything mixes and creates an exotic cocktail of delicious pleasure: Gingerbread houses, pavilions in the form of hills, stone palms, observation decks a park in the form of intertwined tree roots, an elegant Grand Staircase with exhibits of strange animals, columns, amazing hall vaults, caves, tunnels, sculptures, unusual fountains. All this splendor is buried in the greenery of plants.

Park Güell is the most important attraction in Barcelona.

Created by order and with the financial support of textile magnate and philanthropist Eusebio Güell, after whom the park was named, it is conveniently located in the upper part of Barcelona in the Gràcia district. Construction of Park Güell lasted from 1900 to 1914. Güell's heirs sold it to Barcelona City Hall and the park is now open to visitors. Here symbolism is combined with the myths of ancient centuries.

Park Güell is a creative triumph of the genius of world architecture, Antonio Gaudi!

In 1984 it was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. along with Casa Mila and his other famous creations.

Attractions and iconic places of Park Güell:

The central entrance to the park is decorated two fabulous “Gingerbread houses”.

• The left pavilion with a pinnacle (spire) is topped with a five-pointed cross on the roof, symbolizing “Good.” It is intended for the park administration.
• The right pavilion was built for the gatekeeper, like a gatehouse building. A toadstool mushroom, symbolizing “Evil,” was installed on its roof. Now there are souvenir shops here.

Main staircase supplemented with 4 sculptural images of symbolic fountains:

• philosopher's Stone;
• mosaic lizard Salamander is a symbol of Antoni Gaudi and Barcelona. It is located at the bottom of the stairs, where tourists like to take pictures;
• the head of a snake is a fragment from the biblical story when Moses' staff turned into the head of a snake. The middle platform is decorated with a medallion with the Catalan flag;
• The Fountain itself is a symbol of the Llobregat River, which flows in Barcelona.

The front wide staircase with fountains leads to "Hall of a Hundred Columns". Now there are 86 Doric curved columns here, but the working name remains. The Hall of a Hundred Columns has excellent acoustics, so concerts are often held here. The “Hall of a Hundred Columns” is an astrological landmark etched in stone. The vault of the hall is crowned with 4 medallions or 4 lampshades, symbolizing the seasons, and 14 smaller medallions tell about the lunar cycles.

The center of the entire park ensemble is the terrace area, where the most famous and discussed part of Park Güell is located - bench in the shape of a wriggling sea serpent with chaotically arranged patterns of ceramics and porcelain on its back. This is the longest 300-meter bench in the world, the back profile of which follows the curve of the human body. It fascinates with its colorful multi-colored mosaics made of glass, broken dishes, and tiles. Also took part in creating the decor of the bench student of Antonio Gaudi Josep-Maria Jujol. It is his collages, amazing in color and brightness, that decorate the parapet bench. From the terrace-platform with a serpentine bench you can admire the panoramic views of Park Güell and the majestic architecture of Spain for a long time.

Walking alleys, passing through columned galleries and reminiscent of birds' nests, complete this wonderful park in Barcelona.

Stone balls in Park Guell symbolize prayer beads, since Antonio Gaudi was a believer.

Park Güell opening hours: in summer from 8:00 to 21:30; in winter from 8:30 to 18:00. Entrance for tourists to Park Güell became paid from October 25, 2013 (8 Euros at the park ticket office). There are discounts for children and pensioners.

You can order tickets to Park Güell on the city hall website three months before your intended visit, indicating a specific time and date (7 Euros). Today, Park Güell is visited daily by 25 thousand tourists. The plan is to limit park visits to 800 people per hour.

In 2012, Catalonia introduced a tax on hotel stays, however, their occupancy rates have not decreased! Park Güell, having become paid, still attracts a huge army of travelers for impressions and is one of the most popular attractions in Barcelona!

Cathedral of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona - Sagrada Familia.

Construction of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona began in 1882 and continues to this day.

The Sagrada Familia is a temple of expiation. It is believed that while Barcelona is building it, it will atone for its sins. The temple is being built only with private donations from the residents of Barcelona and money received from sales entrance tickets for tourists and city guests.

In 1883, Antonio Gaudi began construction of the cathedral and completely redesigned the original design. He proposed to build the cathedral with three facades in the modernist style with neo-Gothic elements and symbolizing the meaning of light:

• The main facade is the Nativity, announcing the birth of the god Jesus Christ. It faces east;
• The facade of the Passion - the death of the Lord. It faces west;
• Facade of the Glory of the Lord - the Greatness of the Lord. Shows a person’s place in this world and all his sins. It is illuminated by the sun throughout the day.

The building will consist of 18 columns, of which 12 have already been built.

The Tower of Jesus Christ is the tallest, just below is the Virgin Mary.

The twelve towers symbolize the twelve apostles, and four more - the evangelists.

The brilliant architect managed to complete only the façade of the Nativity Church. All the figures depicted on this facade are real people of that time, posing for him. Antonio Gaudi devoted most of his life (43 years) to the Sagrada Familia. It was here, in the crypt of the cathedral that had not yet been completed, that he and buried in 1926.

Since 1950 of the 20th century, the restoration of the temple has resumed. The facade of the Passion was completed in other styles by the architect's followers. Now there is a large-scale construction of the Facade of the Glory of the Lord in the modern Avangard style. If earlier the work was carried out from sandstone stone, now glass and reinforced concrete structures are used.

In November 2010 visited Spanish Catalonia Pope Benedict XVI. Purpose of the visit - consecration of the Sagrada Familia. Services are now held here, although the work has not yet been completed. The construction of the temple is planned to be completed by 2026 and then the Facade of the Glory of the Lord will become central.

During the life of the architectural genius, no one understood either his wavy houses without sharp corners, or his bizarre sculptures and fountains, or his extraordinary serpentine benches strewn with collages of broken glass and expensive porcelain. Today, millions of tourists travel to Spain, Barcelona and Reus to admire his magical works.

It is impossible to describe Gaudi's creations in words. You need to see them with your own eyes and get a personal impression, because it is impossible to clearly determine what exactly the architect wanted to convey. Each tourist creates his own images and figures of the famous masterpieces of Barcelona. One of the masterpieces of Antoni Gaudi's architecture is in Barcelona, ​​Spain.

Plaza de España in Barcelona. Mount Montjuic.

Plaza de España, Barcelona

For the World Exhibition of 1929, construction began on Hill of Montjuic. Here are concentrated such “masterpiece” sights of Barcelona as: Plaza de España, Queen Maria Cristina Avenue with singing fountain, National Palace, which is now located National Museum Catalan art. The identifying sign of the Plaza de España in Barcelona is two 47-meter high campanile towers, built by analogy with the tower in St. Mark's Square in Venice. The Albéniz Palace, Miramir Gardens, Mossena Vardagher, Labiral, Rosaleda and Font del Gat are also located on Montjuic.

Magic fountains in Barcelona - Magic Fountains Barcelona.

Separately, it is worth noting the 1929 project of the young ambitious engineer Buigas – Barcelona's singing fountain. He discovered a new facet of art - the magic of light, which was used not to dispel the twilight, but to decorate it. So, for the World Exhibition of 1929 and the general delight of tourists and city residents, he created four waterfalls and a “magic” or “singing” fountain. And at present - this is the symbol and main character of the night beauty of Barcelona!

The “singing” fountain is a mesmerizing spectacle: light, music, color and cascades of liters of water mix in an incredible dance! Scientists scientifically explain the fact that when a person is near a fountain, he experiences positive emotions, aesthetic pleasure and real delight from the fact that the splashes from the fountain emit negative ions into the air. They have a beneficial effect on our body and doctors call them “health vitamins.”

For the 1992 Summer Olympics, restoration work on the Olympic facilities was completed on Montjuic Hill, including Olympic Stadium(capacity 56 thousand spectators), which houses the Olympic Museum. The very first building is the Montjuic fortress, on the territory of which the Military Museum has been opened since 1963. One of the most visited attractions in Barcelona is the Spanish Village.

Spanish village(Poble Espanyol) is Spain in miniature, where the best structures and buildings from all over the country are collected, crafts and traditions of each of its parts are presented. This city is a museum of 116 life-size objects. This is the first such project in the World and it was implemented in 1927 by three architects: Xavier Nogues, Miquel Utrilt and Ramon Raventos. Today it is one of the most favorite places to visit among tourists and residents of Barcelona. At night, nightclubs, discos, bars, and cafes open their doors here. During the day there are exhibitions of traditional, industrial and graphic folk art, shopping shops with unique souvenirs and crafts, workshops where you can learn various crafts and create a souvenir with your own hands.

The World Exhibition of 1888, 1929 and the 1992 Olympics significantly changed the appearance of Barcelona, ​​not counting, of course, the works of Antoni Gaudi.

The Barcelona Aquarium is one of the most unique in Europe.

It is located in the Port Vell (Old Port) area. Educational and entertainment zone consists of 35 themed aquariums with a volume of water occupying more than 5 million liters. All aquariums have their own natural habitat: deep-sea fish, inhabitants of the northern seas, tropical fish, and so on. There is also a children's mini-aquarium "Miniaguaria".

Giant aquarium- the main attraction of the aquarium.

The most breathtaking sight is its 80-meter glass tunnel.

Walking through the tunnel, as if on a real seabed, you admire the sharks, stingrays and other inhabitants of the ocean swimming past. The aquarium's collection includes 450 species of fish and 11 thousand sea creatures. This living world of “wild” nature, full of funny moments, will replenish your “bank of impressions” with new gifts.

More than 50 interactive exhibits for children are on display at the special educational exhibition “Explora!”, which is dedicated to the inhabitants of the underwater kingdom.

From seaport are carried out excursions on “Swallows” - small pleasure yachts, which last from 30 minutes to 80 minutes. The price of such pleasure is in the range of 5-13 euros.

Camp Nou Stadium - Camp Nou.

Camp Nou is the most magnificent stadium in Europe, which in its own way shows the powerful position of Catalonia, as spanish region, as well as the capricious nature of its inhabitants.

Even its 120 thousand empty seats take your breath away! And going to a match and seeing how Barça players take football to a cosmic level of skill is simply an extravaganza in the life of a football fan! But Camp Nou is more than just a football arena, where Barça plays its home matches: voices are heard here and concerts of star artists of the magnitude of Julio Iglesias take place. The stadium is also an arena for significant events of the year: for example, the visit of the Pope to Spain on November 17, 1982.

The Palace of Catalan Music is one of the best in Europe for its magnificent interior decoration and excellent acoustics. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This musical palace in Barcelona hosts concerts of classical music, Spanish guitar and the famous Flamenco Shows.

Antonio Gaudi: the most mysterious architect in history who worked miracles

We often hear about brilliant musicians, writers, and poets. When applied to architecture, the word “brilliant” is used much less frequently. Perhaps because it is much more difficult to realize such a talent than any other. All the more valuable to history is anyone who managed to replenish the architectural heritage of mankind with creations of unique beauty. The brightest and most mysterious among such geniuses is the Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi - the creator of the legendary Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Palace Guell, Casa Batllo and other unique masterpieces that adorn Barcelona today, making it a truly unique city.

Antonio Gaudi was born in Catalonia in 1852 in the family of the blacksmith Francisco Gaudi i Serra and his wife Antonia Curnet i Bertrand. In the family he was the youngest of five children. After the death of Antonio's mother, two brothers and sister, he settled in Barcelona with his father and niece. Since childhood, Gaudí was very sick; rheumatism prevented him from playing with other children. Instead, he took long walks alone, which he eventually grew to love. It was they who helped him become closer to nature, which throughout his subsequent life inspired the architect to solve the most incredible constructive and artistic problems.

The brilliant architect Antonio Gaudi.

While studying at Catholic college, Antonio was most interested in geometry and drawing. In his free time, he spent time exploring local monasteries. Already in those years, teachers admired the works of the young artist Gaudi. And he said with complete seriousness that his talent was God’s gift. In the process of creating his creations, he often turned to the theme of God, and did not deviate from it even when choosing the artistic aspects of his work. For example, he did not like straight lines, calling them a product of man. But Gaudi adored circles and was convinced of their divine origin. These principles can be clearly seen in all his 18 architectural creations, which today are the pride of Barcelona. They are characterized by a bold combination of materials, textures and colors. Gaudi used his own unsupported floor system, which made it possible not to “cut” the rooms into parts. Repeating his calculations became possible only after NASA created a calculation of the flight trajectories of spacecraft.

The architect’s first buildings were “House of Vicens”, “El Capriccio”, “Pavilion of the Güell Estate”. They differ significantly from each other, however, they are all decorated with a large number of decorative details in the neo-Gothic style.

"Pavilion of the Guell estate."

In general, the architectural style of Antoni Gaudi is phantasmagorical, difficult to define, although the architect was called a genius of modernism. Gaudi was the most prominent representative of his national romantic movement, Catalan modernism. Incredibly, he was not helped by design engineers, he acted on instinct, relying only on his sense of harmony, often improvised and tried to convey his idea to his assistants using drawings on the board. His architectural creations have everything: bizarre structural forms, sculptures, paintings, mosaics, color plastics. They contain people and animals, fantastic creatures, trees, flowers.

Casa Batllo.

Antonio was very handsome, however, in his personal life he was lonely. Of course, he had affairs, but none of them ended in marriage or any kind of serious relationship. In essence, he was married to his creations. Antonio was a quite wealthy man and had the opportunity to rent any housing, but while working on the next project he invariably lived right at the construction site, equipping a small closet for himself, and wore old overalls.

Gaudí's architecture makes Barcelona unique.

This was the case during his work on his favorite and, perhaps, most grandiose creation - the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, the Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family, the construction of which he never had the opportunity to complete. It began in 1882, when Gaudí was 30 years old, and has not been completed to this day. The architect devoted 40 years of his life to this project. And on June 7, 1926, Gaudi left the construction site and disappeared. On the same day, on one of the streets of Barcelona, ​​a poor man was run over by a tram. Only a few days later he was identified greatest architect Antonio Gaudi. He found his last refuge in one of the chapels of the Sagrada Familia.

Cathedral of the Sagrada Familia.

During Gaudi's funeral procession, in which probably half the city took part, a mystical thing happened. Many townspeople, among whom were very respected people, claimed that they saw ghosts in the crowd of people who came to say goodbye to the genius. For example, Salvador Dali spoke about this.

In the Sagrada Familia cathedral.

Today, this mystery, which once excited Barcelona, ​​has already become history and the subject of excursions. But there are still people who believe that if you exactly repeat the route of Gaudi’s last journey, you can get a piece of his incredible talent. And we can simply be grateful to the genius for his selfless devotion to art and love for the people to whom he left a priceless architectural heritage.

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The unique architectural appearance of the capital of Catalonia was magically influenced by the work of the great master Gaudi. Architect Antoni Gaudi i Cornet was born on June 25, 1852 in the city of Reus in the Catalan province of Tarragona. His parents were boilermakers, and the young genius often helped his father and grandfather, admiring the masterly work of their hands in the manufacture of copper products. In love with nature and observant, Antonio was attracted by the perfection of forms, the play of colors and lines from childhood. The love for everything natural found a way out in Gaudi’s work - the master’s favorite materials were stone, ceramics, wood and wrought iron.

In total, Gaudí's architectural heritage includes 18 buildings, most of them are located in Barcelona, ​​defining the entire appearance of the city. He was in love with this city, spoke Catalan and drew inexhaustible inspiration for creativity from the culture of his people. Among the most famous works of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona are the Casa Vicens, the Teresian School, the Bellesguard House, Palazzo Güell, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Park Güell and, of course, the Sagrada Familia.

The mysterious symbol of the city - the Church of the Holy Family

The temple is the “trademark” of Barcelona, ​​a universally recognized symbol of the city. Its majestic towers make a truly unforgettable impression, the building itself is full of secrets and coded messages from Gaudí. But, perhaps, the main mystery of this masterpiece, which was conceived as a temple for the atonement of sins, is its incompleteness.

The building was designed in the Gothic style, traces of which can be seen in the crypt and apse, but then the genius of improvisation changed the idea, experimenting with styles and creating his own unique architectural style. When creating the temple, Gaudi almost did not use drawings; he made sketches with his own hands, and therefore the work took a lot of time. The architect worked on the Sagrada Familia for forty-three years without completing the construction. In 1926, he died when he was hit by a tram at the intersection of Gran Via and Bailen streets.

In 1936, Gaudi's workshops were burned, and only 20 years later work on the construction of the temple was resumed, using small pieces of photographs and sketches and, of course, without that magical improvisation that was unique to Gaudi. Construction of the cathedral continues to this day, steadily overcoming financial and other difficulties. The Sagrada Familia, located in the very center of the city at 401 Mallorca Street, annually attracts thousands of tourists who, admiring the grandeur of Gaudí's project, try to unravel its secret...

Casa Batllo in Barcelona

Casa Batllo (“Battle”, "Batlio » ) - one of the many masterpieces of Antoni Gaudi, an elegant example of the Art Nouveau style, so widespread in Catalonia at the beginning of the 20th century. Casa Batlló was built between 1904 and 1906 at 43 Paseo de Gracia. Gaudi reconstructed the house using his signature style: multi-colored and sparkling mosaics, curved lines, expressive forms, fancy balconies, a fantastic roof with tiles in the shape of fish scales.

The local name for the house is Casa dels ossos (“House of Bones”). It is truly recognizable as images of the bones and internal organs of some gigantic mysterious animal. The roof of the house is covered with arches, which creates associations with the back of a dragon. According to the generally accepted opinion, the rounded detail to the left of the center, ending in a turret with a cross, represents the sword of St. George (Saint George - the patron saint of Catalonia), stabbed into the back of the dragon.

Casa Mila, La Pedrera

Casa Mila in Barcelona is one of the best examples of the architectural concept of Antoni Gaudi. To some, its façade resembles rolling waves, while to others, it resembles a stone mountain with caves. Barcelonans jokingly call it “La Pedrera” (“The Quarry”).

Gaudí, as usual, drew inspiration from nature when constructing this house on the corner of the busy Passeig de Gràcia and Provença. The concept of modernity here is something living, fluid, moving; you can distinguish caves, the sea, and the underwater world. The view of Barcelona from the roof is also amazing; there are no fencing railings, and the gardens and mysterious figures seem to hang over the abyss.

In 1984, Casa Mila was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and today the top floor houses a museum dedicated to Antoni Gaudi, while the remaining floors are dedicated to luxury housing.

Park Guell

Another famous Gaudí project is Park Güell, located behind Place Lesseps, on Rue Olot. The park was built from 1900 to 1914, but, unfortunately, like the Sagrada Familia, it was not completed.

The park, a joint project of Gaudi and the entrepreneur Güell, was a very promising idea: on the slope of one of the hills of the Barcelona plain, it was planned to build a green town for the relaxation of wealthy citizens. However, the economic crisis struck and construction had to be frozen. Gaudi managed to only partially realize his dreams - one wall of the proposed park was built.

At the entrance to the park you are greeted by two cozy “gingerbread” houses, modeled after fortress towers, separated by spectacular iron gates (Gaudi himself later settled in one of these houses). A staircase leads up, decorated with sculptures of phantasmagoric animals covered in mosaics, among them is Gaudi’s characteristic lizard, a symbol of good luck and prosperity, found in almost every work of the master. The staircase leads to the spacious “Hall of a Hundred Columns”, the highlight of which is that the roof is also a winding balcony, and the cornice of the colonnade is the back of a continuous bench bordering the entire upper area. From here one of the best views to the city.

Park Güell is considered one of Gaudí's works where his imagination was most evident. In the house where the architect lived in 1906–1926, a museum named after him is now open.

Casa Vicens

One of the first works of Antoni Gaudí is the Vicens House, which is located at 18–24 Caroline Street. In 1878, the young entrepreneur Manuel Vicens ordered the construction of his house from the then aspiring architect Antonio Gaudi. For reasons beyond his control, construction was delayed for 5 years, and this was a salvation for the young Gaudi, who simply did not know how to design a house: the construction site was quite narrow, and it was necessary to build in a row of almost “rubbed” together buildings.

As a result, Gaudi’s imagination was not able to run wild to the fullest; the house was built very simply, without frills or crooked lines. To revive the image, the architect decided to decorate the facade of the building using numerous bay windows and tiled decor. The natural stone wall base was complemented by raw brick trim. However, the main attraction of the house was given by the colorful tiled decoration of the walls and windows and the crazy mixture of styles: Gaudi used techniques from different traditions, combining incompatible things, sculpting yellow flowers from tiles, installing Moorish turrets on the roof and decorating the garden with a wrought-iron fence in the art nouveau style. The result is a wonderful example of modernism and a testament to the eternal genius of Antoni Gaudi.

If you are going to Barcelona, ​​be sure to visit these sights, priceless heritage of Antoni Gaudi. Contact us atphones Center for services for business and life in Spain “Spain in Russian” , and we will help organize interesting individual or group excursions tothe unforgettable creations of Antoni Gaudi.