The works of Gaudi are possibly the biggest tourist attraction in Barcelona so these sites are very busy but still very impressive.

Unfortunately Palacio Güell was closed when I was there, so I could only see the façade which is impressive but not as adventurous as the later buildings, but the iron gates are very nice. Also it is very close to the La Rambla so very central, and provides a good starting point if you want to then head north to see the other building’s in Barcelona’s two UNESCO sites.

La Pedresa (Casa Mila) is on Passig de Gracia which is a hive of modernist architecture including Gaudi’s Casa Batillio which recently been added to the UNESCO site and to my eye it has the most impressive façade. La Pedresa is very popular so there are long queue to get in but the roof sculptures are brilliant the vaulted attic holds some interesting exhibits, the apartment however is a little dull and nothing out of the ordinary really. (Maybe not such a useful point but this was the UNESCO site with the most attractive and helpful staff I have ever visited!).

The massive Sagrada Famillia is perhaps Barcelona’s most famous site, and I guess the most visited building site in the world (although maybe New York has a claim to this now as well). It is massive in scale and the amount of time it has/will take to complete. The crypt and the museum have some interesting parts, the models of the structure and apparatus used to plan it, including the string frame with little sand bags hanging upside down I found especially interesting. Also the tomb of Gaudi himself is here. The nativity façade is also impressive with the exception of the statues which just look out of place as if they were just cast and thrown on there.

Parque Güell again is a very popular attraction so you will not have it to yourself unless you are an early riser! But the place is still very nice the two buildings at the entrance show Gaudi at his most playful so does the famous lizard on the stairs! And the tiled weaving bench is perhaps the most comfortable seat I have had the pleasure to sit on!

Defiantly as good as I had hoped. I was happy to see the site extended in 2005 to include some of Gaudi’s other works which add to the site overall.