La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

(La Sagrada Familia (www.sagradafamilia.org), the best-known works of Antoni Gaudí, is a spectacular temple atoning which is still unfinished. It is recommended to hire the guided tour through the temple, as this building is replete with symbolism and details that may go unnoticed among such grandiosity.)

For example, anticipating that the process of constructing the building would be very slow, the architect placed on the facade of the Nativity, one of the entrances to the temple, two giant tortoises, symbolizing longevity and slow-over 120 years later, still under construction. Furthermore, in keeping with this symbolism, the turtle left the marina is, as it is on the side oriented to the Mediterranean, while the ground is right, because it is the side that gives the mountain Collserola

Often Gaudí emphasizes the fact that his works are in a city that sits between sea and mountains.

The nature was the inspiration of Gaudí. Only the facade of the Nativity of the Holy Family can be found up to 80 kinds of botanical elements, in addition to the wide variety of animals that are shared by the different facades: frogs, snakes, sea urchins, shells, pelicans, doves.

The system of arches of Gaudí is very special. The facade of the Sagrada Familia is a pure ornament, not handle the structure of the temple. It is argued by itself through a system of columns slightly tilted, which, in turn, are decorated like a giant palm trees.

The shortest way is to walk from Plaza Catalunya to the subway at Paseo de Gracia with Gran Via. From there you can take Line 2 to address Gorg Sagrada Familia.

If one wants to take the subway in Plaza Catalunya then you can take the metro (L1) direction Fund, and the stop of Sagrera, make change to the line 5 towards Cornellà Center to the Sagrada Familia.

La Pedrera and la Casa Batlló

Pedrera can be accessed by walking from Plaza Catalunya Paseo de Gracia. This unique building is near the end of this walk, but the journey is quite pleasant. Along the way, at number 43 Paseo de Gracia, is the Casa Batllo (www.casabatllo.es), jewel of the Catalan modernism.

The architecture of Gaudi reproduced the shape of bones, tree trunks and branches. Organic architecture is easily noticeable in the facade of the Casa Batllo, which is also called the House of Bones. According to different interpretations, it represents the legend of Sant Jordi, the knight who killed the dragon: its sinuous silhouette seems to represent the spine of the dragon, the tower would be the sword nailed them there; shingles, scales, the colors of the facade, the lake and the upper balcony, the rose, and the windows of the main floor, the bones of the wretched that the dragon swallowed.

It is important to be careful not to pass by this flagship building, if it comes from the Plaza Catalunya, the Casa Batllo is on the left-side of this walk. Later, on the right hand side at number 92, is the spectacular Casa Milà (www.casamila.com), popularly known as La Pedrera by its strange shape.

Despite the name, said that the curvilinear facade represents the sea, while the back part, targeting the mountain Collserola, is less tortuous. Although from the outside see it's all a show, you should climb to the roof, possibly with the tour. In this outdoor space can be seen up close the ventilation towers and chimneys twisted, that Gaudi was trying to facilitate the departure of smoke imitating his movement.

Walking on the slopes of the roof ornaments can be note easy to read as the heart that adorns the chimney which is aimed at Tarragona, its land, or tear recorded in the fireplace that looks to the Sagrada Familia, the work already knew that would not finished

Virtually all the works of Gaudi is polychromatic. To achieve rounded figures to create lasting color and live Gaudí used the technique trencadís, consisting of broken ceramic pieces and the pieces fit uneven as if it were a mosaic. This technique can be seen at the Pedrera, Casa Batllo, the Sagrada Familia, Casa Vicens or the Park Guell.

A curiosity: the tiles on the floor of the room designed by Gaudi Pedrera are octagonal, as a panel of bees, and are decorated with motifs marine. This same design was used to pave sidewalks around the Paseo de Gracia.

If you have no chance to visit the interior of the house Gaudí, there is always the appeal of looking at the floor of the walk.
If the tour gives us lazy and tired to walk back to Plaza Catalunya, near La Pedrera you can take the metro Diagonal (L3), direction Zona Universitaria. There are only two stops.

Parque Güell

A visit to Parque Guell www.bcn.es deserves at least half a day of dedication. It is advisable to carry a bottle of water and a snack to be able to walk quietly for hours on this site.

Gaudi designed a garden city where architecture and nature will be merged into an area of singular beauty, and designed the Parque Guell (1900-1914).

In it, nature becomes architecture and the architecture mimics nature in terms of shapes and colors.

The package was declared a Universal monument by UNESCO in 1984. Already at the entrance to the park are three colorful figures fetish Gaudi: the salamander, the snake and the dragon Python

he initial project was commissioned by Eusebi Guell and it was to build 60 homes that were available for all services: water, gas, sewerage, lighting, space for a covered market, public square ... Although only came to build two houses in the park is the most essential Gaudí, which achieves a perfect harmony between nature and urbanism.

With the technique of trencadís covers curves banks, statues and columns to achieve a protective coating and polychromatic thanks to the recycling wastes of residues of pottery from locals factories. In the hilly bank that borders the square you can find a multitude of symbols and elements: shells, butterflies, shooting stars, constellations...

Park Guell is beyond the creative imagination of Gaudi creating a merger between his beloved fantasy universe and its nature, both in architecture in small details.

To go to Parque Guell from Plaza Catalunya should take the metro (L3) Canyelles direction and get off at Lesseps or Vallcarca.

From both stops you have to walk a few minutes to get there, follow the signs to walk the streets. Lesseps is accessed from the main entrance of the park, headed by the famous salamander color. Since Vallcarca is accessed by the upper part of the park

Since it is located in an area very steepy, the street is ready for access with escalators to facilitate access.