Palacio Guell

Even more intriguing are the works of another famous Barcelona artist, Antonio Gaudí (1852–1926), the avant-garde architect. His Holy Family (Sagrada Familia) Church is the city’s most famous landmark, its perforated spires visible from various points around the city. You’ll certainly want to take a closer look at this marvelous, unfinished building with its intricately carved façades and molten-rock textures (best reached by subway). Many of Gaudí’s imaginative creations resemble life-size gingerbread houses. Numerous examples of his work can be found in the city: the Casa Batlló, Casa Mila, and the Pedrera are on the Paseo de Gracia, and the Palacio Guell is just off the Ramblas. They all attest to the apparent rejection of the straight line as a design element in the highly individualistic style of this innovative artist. Because they cannot be moved from Barcelona, they are more an integral part of the city’s personality than the paintings of Picasso or Miró, which can be seen in art museums all over the world.