Antoni Gaudí, visionary architect during Barcelona's modernista (art nouveau) period early last century, graced Barcelona with nearly all his extraordinary and beautiful buildings. No less than 7 have been listed as World Heritage by UNESCO.
We will explain what makes them extraordinary: the detail, the symbols, the structural secrets, the technical innovation, and give you a guided tour of Park Güell and the Sagrada Família.
Gaudí's master work, the Sagrada Família, is the last on the tour so you can stay and explore it as long as you like, return in the coach to the city centre.
Passeig de Gràcia: This broad elegant avenue was built for and by the wealthy Barcelonians and they have never left; luxury and design shops line the street along with major banks and the stock exchange. Architectural details include modernist lampposts and Gaudí’s tiles for pavements and a myriad of grand buildings including two of Gaudí’s houses:
Casa Batlló, and Casa Milà (façade).
Park Güell guided tour: Demonstration of how far ahead of his time Gaudí was, this residential suburb was financed by Eusebi Güell and meticulously planned by Gaudí with intertwining roads and footpaths, water catchment, market place and square, gardens and lodges. Only two houses were sold and eventually the Güell family sold it for a symbolic amount to the city as a park and allowing us all to benefit from this beautiful, world heritage site.
Sagrada Familia guided tour: The jewel in the crown of Gaudí’s works, the temple is a synthesis of his overall conception of architecture. The richness of detail and its significance need explaining in order to appreciate this fascinating and extraordinary building in full.
Gaudí wished the temple, which is still being built, to be financed by the people, not by taxes or funding, and that’s just what your entrance fees do (included in our tour price): finance the completion of the building started in 1882.
We have kept the best to the last so tour members who so wish can stay on and savour the building for as long as they like, you can go up the towers by elevator, and visit the crypt and museum and compare the contrasting styles of the Birth and Passion façades.
Price
Includes
- Officially licensed English-speaking local experts
- Comfortable air-conditioned bus
- Entrance to Park Guell and Sagrada Familia
Excludes
- Hotel pick-up
- Meals and drinks
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses