After my recent visit to what is arguably the proudest and most beautiful city of Spain, Barcelona, I thought I’d take a moment to share with you what was a pretty personal experience with the work of Antoni Gaudi, the hero of Barcelona.
But first, a few words about this colorful and beautiful city: Barcelona has over two millennia of history and its old and proud spirit transpires through every fiber and every brick you step on. It is the center of Catalonia, a place with its own identity and language, one that sounds strangely close to Portuguese, yet is perfectly comprehensible if you have basic understanding of Spanish.
Barcelona is a different Spain inside of Spain. It is a unique place and it’s no wonder it came to be the home to an outstanding artist of the Turn of the Century: architect and artist Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi was born in 1852 in Reus, Catalonia, but would spend most of his life in Barcelona after studying architecture at the Llotja School and then at the Barcelona Higher School of Architecture, where he graduated to become one of the greatest architects and visionaries of his age (and all ages, for that matter).
With his masterpiece, Sagrada Familia (an extravagant modernist cathedral at the heart of Barcelona), Gaudi earned his immortality. And with the building of the amazing Guell Park and the houses Casa Milo and la Pedrera, this outstanding spirit earned even more appreciation from admirers across continents and centuries.
It would not be an exaggeration to say Gaudi is a Barcelonian brand. Many people come to town just to see his magnificent buildings. But what I think is most inspiring is that he seems to have lived by example, instilling a sense of imagination and courage to experiment in his fellow-architects who succeeded him. Barcelona has an amazing heart, reflected in its unique architecture.
To explore all its wonders, you can call on Barcelona car rental to get your set of wheels to drive all throughout town.
