Empire Red

Empire Red

Each major city has a unique cultural icon that defines and shapes his image. Think of New York and the Empire State Building is immediately to mind. Photos Paris and elegant curves of the Eiffel Tower, the spring to view. Sydney Opera House and London, Big Ben shield. As for what else the building Barcelona Sagrada Familia, but captures the spirit of this modern, laidback city so thoroughly?

Barcelona imprinted with genius, spirit and architecture of his most famous son - Antoni Gaudi. His most famous work is Sagrada during the construction, but if you look closely at his character is so everywhere in Barcelona, ​​flowery plates spiritual walkway and balconies, in parks and curved parapet phantasm. Almost all the works of Gaudi is located in Barcelona, ​​making the city with creativity and energy its buildings.

La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia, or Holy Family Cathedral, differs from the other chair you've seen before. Eighteen thin towers standing up in the air, four of them high from 90 to 112 meters in height. The number has religious significance - representing the twelve apostles, four evangelists Matthew, John, St. Mark, and Luke, the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. From a distance the stone walls of La Sagrada resembles nothing so much as a giant building sand castles, children's playtoy decorated with glittering shards of glass and shells washed beach.

Gaudi himself worked the main facade, which is dedicated to the subject of Christmas. The façade presents biblical scenes and is peopled life size statues of birds, animals and children. In this work incredible cathedral takes a hundred years after its inception. Gaudi predicted that his greatest work is not completed in his life, likening it the construction of medieval cathedrals, which took generations to complete. "My client is in no rush," famously said. La Sagrada is now the frontrunner to be completed in 2026, the year which also marks the 100th Gaudi's death anniversary.

The interior of the Sagrada is unlike any cathedral, or Romanesque, Gothic and medieval. branches of the trees festooned with flowers, organic White reach into the rapidly increase in the ceiling and vivid stained-glass windows lend luster and color on the walls. Gaudi's work, as always, is informed by nature and space and grace Sagrada is away from the world of darkness, hushed interior of the other European cathedrals. Instead, the Sagrada seems to celebrate the glory of the natural shapes and light.
The cathedral is open from 9am to 8pm from April to September, and 9am to 6pm from October to March. On public holidays, the Cathedral closes at 2pm. Admission fees costs € 11 and guided tours € 15. Audio guides are available, along with a variety of books and memorabilia from the bookstore. Stumble to one of the vertiginous towers of the Sagrada worth the panoramic view of Barcelona, ​​but prepared for long lines and extra € 2 charge.

Casa Batllo

House of Bones, as this structure is known, has a creamy gray skull-shaped balconies, scattered all over the facade. Formerly a private residence, inside the Casa Batllo is defined in Cerulean, iridescent tile navy and cobalt. Gaudi drew inspiration from the sea to the house, shaking the spine of a whale bone, wavy waves of water, fish gills and graduated blues of the ocean to the stairwell, ceiling, windows and atrium Casa Batllo. The roof of a St George and the dragon, with its twisting, dragon-claw chimneys and an undulating dragon back, shining plates scaled red, green and yellow.

Casa Batllo is open from 9 am to 8 pm on most days, and the entrance fee of € 16.50 includes an audio guide to help you understand how the genius of Gaudi's inspiration sprang from the natural to apply in practice.

Casa Mila

In the early 1900s, Gaudi was commissioned to build a private residence for a local businessman. Casa Mila or La Pedrera "The Quarry" as it is better known as, is crooked, bone white building stands sentinel a few blocks from the Casa Batllo. The development of wrought iron balconies weave across the façade, and its waving inside the apartment on the top floor and attic. The most popular part of the house is on the roof, the giant chimneys that look like medieval knights.
In the summer, from mid June to early July, La Pedrera is open Friday and Saturday nights for up to listen to music Live and sip champagne Catalan. The roof is lit in an eerie, with this in the fashion world and the night sky here in Barcelona is worth a visit. Normal opening hours are 10 to 8pm and adoption costs € 8

Parque Guell

If the hustle and bustle of the streets waving Barcelona gets a little too much, the packaging books and snacks, and went to Park Guell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the outskirts of the city. Dotted with colorful mosaics and awash with magnificent views, it's Fantasyland park.
In the entrance, mosaic lizard Gaudi trencadis guard double staircase leading to a big square. Mottled in the form of blue and green tiles, greets guests with a carefree yawn and basks in the sun. Park was originally commissioned as a garden city by Count Eusebio Guell, after which takes its name. The architecture is here a strange and fun, again based on Gaudí's love of nature. Giant decorative lizards dressed with stones, snakes slither in the decorative and tilting the Column Hall of the play tricks on your mind. The park pavilions seem to come straight from a fairy tale, covered bright tiles and cotton candy towers that look good enough to eat. Admission is free, just bring a pair of good shoes and a healthy dose of fun and congenital own imagination.