![\"sagrada](\"https:\/\/www.veoapartment.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/sagrada-familia.jpg\")
photo courtesy of wikimedia<\/em><\/p>\nSagrada Familia<\/strong><\/p>\n The Sagrada Familia<\/a>, or Basilica and Church of the Holy Family (it\u2019s not a cathedral \u2013 Barcelona already has one of those), is considered to be Gaudi\u2019s masterwork. He took control of the project in 1883, shortly after it began, and as of today, more than 130 years later, it is still under construction, though there is a target for completion of 2026 to mark the centenary of his death.<\/p>\n Both the scale and the intricacy of the work are amazing. The eight (so far) tapering towers rise out of a fairly mundane suburban backdrop, and the church\u2019s three facades, representing the Nativity, the Passion and the Glory, are adorned with scenes from the life of Christ. As with all Gaudi\u2019s work, it\u2019s the attention to detail that fascinates, especially the more whimsical elements, like the tortoises that form the bases of some of the pillars.<\/p>\n Be prepared for long queues, which in the summer heat call for considerable fortitude and plenty of water!<\/p>\n Park G\u00fcell<\/strong><\/p>\n Quite different is Park G\u00fcell<\/a>, originally conceived as a housing project, but now a municipal garden on a hill overlooking the north of the city. Here you can find some of Gaudi\u2019s best known work, including the mosaic salamander, and the entrance pavilions that always remind me irresistibly of gingerbread houses, The hypostyle hall, with the terrace of curved benches that forms its roof, has an Egyptian inspiration, and like many of the architectural elements seems almost to have grown out of the ground. Casa Mila (La Pedrera)<\/strong><\/p>\n Down on the Passeig de Gracia (Barcelona\u2019s main shopping street) you can find the first of the two most famous Gaudi houses, designed and built by Gaudi for a wealthy Catalan businessman, the Mila House<\/a>. It\u2019s most obviously notable for being built almost entirely of curves with very few straight lines or surfaces. My favourite things here are actually the \u201cwitch-scarers\u201d on the roof, which bear a striking resemblance to Star Wars stormtroopers, but the whole building is worth exploring at length.<\/p>\n Casa Batll\u00f3<\/strong><\/p>\n My favourite Gaudi of all, however, can be found a little further down the street. Casa Batll\u00f3<\/a>, like the Mila totally renovated for a wealthy businessman, is also known locally as the \u201cHouse of Bones\u201d, and it\u2019s easy to see why. The balconies of the fa\u00e7ade closely resemble skulls, and the window supports of the main floor do look remarkably like bones. From inside, the effect of the curved windows is really stunning, but as at Mila, everything seems to be curved, and gives a slightly eerie feeling of being inside something living. Make sure to see the interior light-well, the atrium, with its bright tiles extending dizzyingly right up through the full height of the building.<\/p>\n![\"parc](\"https:\/\/www.veoapartment.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/parc-guell.jpg\")
tiled benches in Parc G\u00fcell<\/em><\/p>\n
\nEntrance to the park was free until last year – now there is an 8\u20ac charge.<\/p>\n![\"casa](\"https:\/\/www.veoapartment.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/casa-battlo.jpg\")
“dragon’s back” rooftop of Casa Batll\u00f3<\/em><\/p>\n