Gaudi’s Architecture in Barcelona
Anyone who has ever traveled to Barcelona has heard of Antoni Gaudi, the famed architect of La Sagrada Familia, which many consider his masterwork. But he has many other interesting buildings as well, and responsible for making the city one of the key destinations of many travelers. Here’s at least two works which, upon your next visit, while staying in one of the Barcelona Spain luxury hotels, you may wish to explore: Manzana de la Discordia, and La Pedrera (or Casa Mila).
All grouped together in the district L’Eixample are three works of great architecture: Manzana de la Discordia. In Spanish, the word manzana can mean either a plot of land or an apple, so here we have The Apple of Discord, which seems to reference the old Greek myth about Paris having to choose the most beautiful goddess out of the three. In this case, Paris would most likely give his apple to Gaudi for his Casa Battlo. Always lit at night, the building at no. 43 is sometimes referred to as the House of Bones and sometimes the House of the Dragon. The houses near his — Casa Amettler (no. 41) by Puig i Cadalfach in a cubist style, and Casa Lleo Morera by Domenech i Mantaner (no. 35) designed like a wedding cake melting in an ocean of ornaments — can’t compare with Casa Battlo.
Just a few blocks away, you’ll find another of Gaudi’s amazing works, and this one is nearly as famous as La Sagrada Familia: The Casa Mila. This building, perhaps, is only a group of apartments, but it’s different from every other apartment complex on the planet. It’s sculpted, rolling facade of limestone gives it the nickname of La Pedrera. It’s something out of another world, with balconies of wrought-iron, parabolic arches, and twisted chimneys. It definitely should not be missed.