{"id":30587,"date":"2021-09-12T15:29:50","date_gmt":"2021-09-12T15:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/?p=30587"},"modified":"2023-11-29T14:36:27","modified_gmt":"2023-11-29T14:36:27","slug":"where-to-see-the-best-modernist-buildings-in-barcelona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/where-to-see-the-best-modernist-buildings-in-barcelona\/","title":{"rendered":"Where To See the Best Modernist Buildings in Barcelona"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re planning a visit to Barcelona, you\u2019ve probably heard about its incredible modernist architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catalan modernism, also called \u201cmodernisme,\u201d is an architectural style that dominated Barcelona at the end of the 19th century. But it was more than just an architectural style — it was a cultural movement based on artistic expression focused on beauty and nature. And you can\u2019t really get to know Barcelona without knowing a bit about this transformative period in the city\u2019s cultural history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, I\u2019ll share where to see the best modernist buildings in Barcelona today. Whether you\u2019re an architecture lover or a casual tourist, these are the places in Barcelona you can\u2019t miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Casa Mil\u00e1<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Casa<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Casa Mil\u00e0 was designed by Antoni Gaud\u00ed and commissioned by the Mil\u00e0 family who occupied the main floor of the building while renting out the rest of the apartments. The locals gave it the name La Pedrera because it looked like a stone quarry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Casa Mil\u00e0 stands out because of its sinuous fa\u00e7ade reminiscent of cliffs and a dreamy sea below. But the most striking characteristic of Casa Mil\u00e0 is the undulating roof with its ventilation towers and the iconic chimneys surmounted by unique stylized figures who act as guardians that observe the city from above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This house is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and from 8:40 p.m. to 10 p.m. There are several tour options, including a nighttime experience, on their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Casa Batll\u00f3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Casa<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Right down the street from Casa Mil\u00e1 and also designed by Gaud\u00ed is the enchanting Casa Batll\u00f3<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The external part of this building has colorful waves of mosaics, ceramics and glass along with oversized windows supported by columns that look like gigantic bones. Those columns earned the building the nickname “La Casa dels Ossos,” the House of Bones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside Casa Batll\u00f3, you can admire the genius of Gaud\u00ed and his love for curved lines, which is reflected in every detail from the doors to the windows and even the handrails. As with other works of Gaud\u00ed, natural light plays an important role. Because of the main skylight and the various sizes of the windows, Gaud\u00ed was able to equally distribute light through the different floors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fun doesn\u2019t end with the interior of the building, make your way to the whimsical roof with its bright trencad\u00eds chimneys where you enjoy \u201cMagic Nights\u201d musical performances during the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Casa Batll\u00f3 is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and can be visited every day from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Barcelona\n\t\t\t\"Barcelona\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExplore brilliant designs by Gaud\u00ed and other Modernist masters<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Barcelona Architecture Walking Tour With Casa Batll\u00f3 Upgrade<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

3. Casa Amatller<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Next to Casa Batll\u00f3 is the Casa Amatller by Puig i Cadafalch. Although it was originally built in 1875, in 1898, the chocolate magnate Antoni Amatller commissioned an update.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the outside, this house features characteristics of homes found in the Netherlands and Germany, and on the inside, it boasts stained glass windows and skylights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for all you chocolate lovers out there, at the end of your visit, you get a tasting cup of Amatller Chocolate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This house museum<\/a> is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Casa Lle\u00f3 i Morera<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Casa
Credit: Prilfish \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Continuing our tour of modernist house museums, let\u2019s stop at the Casa Lle\u00f3 i Morera. Like the house museums mentioned above, this casa is on one of Barcelona\u2019s most famous streets, known as \u201cThe Block of Discord.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fun fact:<\/strong> The street got its name because of the striking architecture that broke the conservative rules of the time and was rejected by much of Barcelona\u2019s high society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Sagrada\n\t\t\t\"Casa\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSee Barelona's modernist treasures, all on one tour<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Barcelona Architecture Walking Tour<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

The ornate exterior of the Casa Lle\u00f3 i Morera is noted for its \u201ctempietto,\u201d which seems to be crowning the house. Inside, you\u2019ll be mesmerised by the stained glass, woodwork, marble sculptures and ceramic decor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Recinte Modernista Sant Pau<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Recinte<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This sprawling hospital built between 1902 and 1930 is the largest modernist complex in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Llu\u00eds Dom\u00e8nech i Montaner envisioned this hospital as a modernist village equipped with everything \u2014 streets, pavilions, a church, convent, and garden. The various pavilions are connected by underground passages so they don\u2019t disturb the aesthetic harmony of the intricately designed structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is truly a hospital like no other, with stained glass windows, colorful tiled walls, arched ceilings, curvilinear staircases and ornamental accents throughout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, the Recinte Modernista Sant Pau<\/a> is a must-see on your Catalan modernism tour of Barcelona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Casa Vicens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Casa
Credit: Magic Ketchup \/ CC BY-NC-SA 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This was the first house designed by Antonio Gaud\u00ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people say it looks like a jewelry box decorated with colorful glass, iron and ceramic. It\u2019s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was only opened to the public in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no corridors in this house as hexagonal distributors were used instead to create a flow of natural light between rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s another bit of trivia for you. The fa\u00e7ade has three inscriptions in Catalan:<\/p>\n\n\n\n