As you already know, I am passionate about architecture and styles, in general. Plus, since I’ve moved to Barcelona I fell head over heels in love with the Modernist current, especially as I have so many buildings in this style, on my daily route.
When I first visited the city, back in 2005, I didn’t know exactly if Gaudí’s La Pedrera was on Passeig de Gràcia or elsewhere. I bought a map to get to Park Guëll and I climbed one tower of Sagrada Familia which was by then much less of a construction and more of an entirely finished facade plus a huge hole in the ground. A few years later I came back to Barcelona. This time I already knew my way around so I adventured into Vila de Gràcia and went to Tibidabo. The third time, I spent a few months here and then, after two years in Portugal, I finally made Barcelona my base. Even today, though, I feel there’s so much left to explore in this amazing city where each building, each street, each district reveals new stories and facets.
Based on my personal experience, finding off the beaten path places is not easy, especially if it’s your first time in the city. On the other hand, finding these places is one of the priceless experiences that one can have in a city.
And this is why I wanted to share this joy of discovering amazing and lesser known work of architectural art with all those interested in cultural explorations of Barcelona.
I pass by Gaudí’s La Pedrera on daily basis. It’s a stunning work of art, visited by many, and for all the good reasons, still just one of the very many other wonders of Modernist Barcelona. It’s true that the vanguard spirit of La Pedrera cannot be found in all Modernist buildings, but it’s also true that Modernism is not about forward thinking only, it’s also about playing with shapes, lights and colours, mixing styles and designing in many different visual languages.
So my route of 10 Modernist Buildings You Should Know is basically what you can find within some 15 minutes walking around La Pedrera. As simple as that.
Geometrically, it’s a circle drawn having La Pedrera as a centre, and starts, well, with two houses that are right next to it, both of them staple for the lifestyle of Barcelona as it was a hundred years ago. Some of the houses can be visited inside, as they are fashion stores, museums or institutions. Some of them are private property so there’s only the exterior to enjoy.
I warmly recommend you add them to your map if you’re interesting in seeing just how playful and diverse the architecture of the beginning of the 20th century has been. I invite you to check the page and send your feedback:
https://rutesdebarcelona.com/10-modernist-buildings-you-should-know/
Rutes de Barcelona 