Spain

Works of Antoni Gaudí

WHS Score 4.12 Votes 185 Average 4.23

The Works of Antoni Gaudí represent the creative architectural works of this Modernist architect.

The Works consist of seven of his buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries in and around Barcelona. They comprise both private residences and public works, including their gardens, sculptures and other works of art. His eclectic style was unique and individual, and made use of modern construction techniques.

Community Perspective: Hard to miss when you’re in Barcelona as especially the Sagrada Familia and Parque Güell are major tourist attractions. Try to get into one of the residences such as Casa Mila (described by Ian, Hubert, Ilya), Casa Vicens (by Tonisan) or Casa Batlló (by Els, Hubert, Ilya) for a more up-and-close experience.

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Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Works of Antoni Gaudí (ID: 320)
Country
Spain
Status
Inscribed 1984 Site history
History of Works of Antoni Gaudí
WHS Type
Cultural
Criteria
  • i
  • ii
  • iv
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources
News Article
  • Oct. 19, 2018 bbc.com — Barcelona's Sagrada Familia agrees deal over lack of licence
  • May 28, 2014 ccaa.elpais.com — Gaudí's Casa Vicens will open as museum in 2016
  • Sept. 17, 2013 — Sagrada Familia could be completed in 2026
  • Sept. 17, 2013 telegraph.co.uk — Barcelona plans Park Güell entrance charge
  • April 19, 2011 telegraph.co.uk — A fire inside Barcelona's Sagrada Familia basilica started by a suspected arsonist force the evacuation more than 1,000 people and caused significant damage in the sacristy
  • Feb. 12, 2010 barcelonareporter.com — A UNESCO committee visited the Sagrada Familia to ascertain the safety of the AVE project
  • Aug. 24, 2008 nytimes.com — A Completion Date Is in Sight for Gaudí's Barcelona Church Sagrada Familia
  • May 12, 2007 iht.com — Fears for Sagrada Familia because of plans to bore a high-speed train tunnel within meters of its foundations.

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Secular structure: Residence
Travel Information
One million visitors or more
One million visitors or more
In 2023, the Sagrada Família received 4.7 million visitors // …
Recent Connections
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Connections of Works of Antoni Gaudí
Trivia
History
Architecture
  • Hyperboloid Structure
    Sagrada Familia and column in Parc Guell
  • Art Nouveau
  • Mosaic art
  • Moorish revival
  • Glazed tiles
  • Double Helix
    Pillars of the Sagrada Familia (double helix columns)

    See www.sagradafamilia.cat

  • Hypostyle
    Parc Guell "The great entrance stairway leads to the Hypostyle Room, which was designed to be the market for the estate. It is made up of 84 striated columns inspired in the Doric order" . The Columns support the "Nature Square" directly above.
  • Expressionist architecture
    Gaudí’s work is an exceptional creative synthesis of several 19th-century artistic schools, such as the Arts and Crafts movement, Symbolism, Expressionism, and Rationalism, and is directly associated with the cultural apogee of Catalonia. - Unesco
  • Multiple Works of a single architect
    7 structures
  • Gesamtkunstwerk
    "Gaudí’s oeuvre unites art and technique in such a way that these two components cannot be separated, because he was at one and the same time an architect, a builder, an artist, a structural engineer and a craftsman whose objective was to create a total work of art. " (AB ev)
  • Early Modernism
    "Gaudí also presaged and influenced many forms and techniques of 20th-century Modernism." (Official description)
Damaged
World Heritage Process
  • Extended
    2005: To include the Nativity facade and Crypt of Sagrada Familia, Casa Vicens, Casa Battlo, and the Crypt in Colonia Güell
Constructions
WHS on Other Lists
  • World Monuments Watch (past)
    Sagrada Familia Barcelona (Concern about impact of railway tunnel on foundations) (2010), Güell Pavilions and Garden (2014)
  • Europa Nostra Award
    Crypt at the Colónia Güell / Gaudi's Crypt (1st Prize 2018 Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Award - Category "Cultural Sites")

    See www.europanostra.org

Timeline
  • Built in the 20th century
    Parque Guell 1900-1914 Casa Mila 1906-1910 Nativity facade of Sagrada Familia 1886-2026 (?) Casa Balto 1905-1907 Crypt of Colonila Guell (1898-1916)
WHS Hotspots
Science and Technology
  • Mathematical Concepts
    Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell - Conic Sections and Ruled Surfaces. Conic sections are curves obtained when a plane intersects a right circular cone forming circle, ellipse, parabola and hyperbola. Sagrada Famila and Parc Guell have several elements of parabolic and hyperbolic nature. Ruled surfaces are surfaces that are formed by moving a line in space. Some of the windows at Sagrada Famila exhibits Hyperboloids of One Sheet

    See mathstat.slu.edu

WHS Names
18
News
bbc.com 10/19/2018
Barcelona's Sagrada Familia agrees…
ccaa.elpais.com 05/28/2014
Gaudí's Casa Vicens will open as m…
09/17/2013
Sagrada Familia could be completed…
Recent Visitors
Reserved for members.

Community Reviews

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First published: 07/06/25.

2flow2

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Els Slots

Visited in May 2025. This site maintains a very high rating for a reason. The work is incredible.

One recommendation I hadn't seen on any of the reviews so far: read up on Antoni Gaudí and his non-traditional method of designing before visiting Barcelona! Learning of Gaudí's interesting life beforehand will enhance your experience and give you a perspective that the audio guide tours can help flesh out. (They will not give you the full story on their own.)

I think Kyle Magnuson said it best in his review here: "If all 8 Frank Lloyd Wright inscribed components were in one city, it might feel like this." Wandering around Barcelona, for as touristy as it is, is a treat as you search to discover all of the fascinating Gaudí buildings with their striking, non-traditional architecture style. Experiencing his work will make you lament how few buildings constructed in the modern day (especially in younger countries with few attractive historical edifices) have real personality and style, trading off beauty for price of construction & functionality instead. It's a shame, but viewing Gaudí's work inspires a sense of pursuing beauty for beauty's sake.

My wife and I have lived in Spain for eight months now and have literally seen more magnificent cathedrals than we can count. Every town has at least a handful, and they are almost always impressive. Despite this fact, the Sagrada Familia still blew me away. It's simply unlike anything else you can …

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First published: 07/01/25.

Kyle Magnuson

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Kyle Magnuson

Careful planning informed my visit to all the major Antoni Gaudí sites in and around Barcelona (including non-inscribed Gaudí buildings like Casa Figueres "Bellesguard"). All tickets were reserved well in advance. With gratitude, I am pleased to say all 7 components are open for visitors, no scaffolding or major ongoing renovations presently, and all can (and probably should be) reserved in advance. The order of components we visited was based on multiple considerations, sequential order, geographic location / public transit, and time of day. Previously referenced long lines seem to be largely relegated to the past at most sites, since tickets routinely sell out online. I personally witnessed disappointed travelers at 2 components who were turned away since they did not have reserved tickets. Based on Hubert's review in 2014, the aggregate cost of tickets has increased 40% in the past decade. 

Visited Order + Cost

- Palau Güell (1886-90) €12

- Casa Vicens (1883-85) €18

- Nativity Façade of the Sagrada Família (1884-1926) €26

- Park Güell (1904-16) €10

- Crypt at the Colònia Güell (1898-1905) €15

- Casa Batlló (1904-06) €29

- Casa Milà "La Pedrera" (1906-10) €28

Cost: €138 per person (€276 for 2 visitors)

Since we had 7 full days in Barcelona, the visits were spread out 1 or 2 sites per day. We also opted for only booking self-guided tours, which usually consist of a mobile audioguide device (multiple languages are available). I specifically chose …

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First published: 13/05/19.

Tonisan

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Tonisan

Visited May 2019

For a first review, I thought it would be nice if I wrote about a place that hasn't been reviewed yet on this website. So, as Casa Vicens opened to the public a year and a half ago, and none of the members of this community has reviewed it yet, I decided to visit it and do it myself.

Casa Vicens was the first building Gaudí designed in Barcelona. It was finished in 1885 and used as a private house until 2014, when a bank from Andorra bought it, restored it and opened it to the public. The house had suffered lots of changes during all the years it had been used as a residence, so some parts of it are different from the original, especially the garden. They did an excellent job in keeping the rooms as Gaudi designed them. Most furniture is lost, so you can see empty rooms, much like in Casa Batlló, but it lets you focus on all the decoration techniques Gaudí used on the walls, floors, ceilings...

Some of the features of Gaudí's later works are not seen at all on this building. There are more straight lines and the most obvious influences are nature and islamic art. But all in all, it is very interesting and beautiful.

The price ticket is 16eur, but the last Sunday of the month and every Monday it is 10eur. You can find guides in different areas of the house who …

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First published: 29/04/19.

Jay T

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Jay T

Barcelona is home to two World Heritage Sites dedicated to architecture, but for most visitors only one of these will come to mind: the Works of Antoni Gaudí. This World Heritage Site only comprised three of Gaudí's works when first inscribed: Parque Güell, Palacio Güell, and Casa Mila. My friend and I rented go-karts to travel Barcelona when we visited in 2013, and we made a point to spend time exploring Parque Güell, which seems a bit like Lewis Carroll's Wonderland turned into stone and mosaics. As many have noted, the park offers a superb view of the city, although Barcelona is not lacking in overlooks. On our drive around Barcelona we passed by both Casa Mila and Casa Batlló (added to the World Heritage Site in a later extension); although we didn't go inside, the exteriors of both buildings are rather awe-inspiring. To me, though, the best of Gaudí's architecture is perhaps his most well-known work, the Sagrada Família, whose sand castle-like spires rise high above the city center. Only the Nativity Facade and the crypt are inscribed (also through the extension), but the entire church is a masterpiece of Gaudí's unique style of architecture, which seems in constant danger of melting or eroding away. I highly recommend climbing the towers to get a bird's eye view of Gaudí's designwork. Gaudí's plans for the church were scheduled to be finished around 2026, which makes me wonder whether construction will actually be completed at Sagrada Família before repairwork is completed …

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First published: 20/11/17.

Ilya Burlak

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Ilya Burlak

I have made multiple visits to the five accessible Gaudí properties in Barcelona over the course of the last 15 years. They are all worth visiting. My personal ranking order is Sagrada Familia, Parque Güell, Casa Mila, Casa Batlló, Palacio Güell.

Only the Nativity façade and the crypt of Sagrada Familia are part of the WH designation, being the only components of the church largely completed during Gaudí's lifetime. You can actually admire the façade from the sidewalk of Carrer de la Marina. But the church is so unique and incomparable both in its exterior and its interior that no visit to Barcelona can be considered complete without stepping inside for an extended look.

Parque Güell dazzles with features such as the Hypostyle Room (aka "Hall of 100 columns" - there are only 86 of them, in fact) and the main terrace with mosaic-decorated benches above it. If you come here early in the morning, it is a prime spot for catching the sunrise over the city.

Casa Mila is a remarkable example of ingenuity in civic architecture, with no two walls anywhere in the building meeting at a straight angle. Its roof, with dozens of chimneys shaped as fantastic sentinels, is delightful and even otherworldly.

Casa Batlló is also brilliant but I would rate its interior a notch lower than that of Casa Mila. The fish-scales exterior may be its most striking feature.

Finally, Palacio Güell, the earlier of Gaudí's major works is decidedly less exuberant than the other …

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First published: 28/07/15.

Tom Livesey

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Els Slots

I went to Barcelona for the Gaudí sites twice, in November 2014 and March 2015. On our first visit we took the train in from Girona, and on the second flew to El Prat airport and stayed in the city itself. We managed to visit every site but the Crypt at Colonia Güell.

Our first site on trip 1 was Casa Battló, which is the most expensive to visit, at €21.50. Wealthy textile manufacturer Josep Battló i Casanovas was fed up of his grand house being known as one of the most boring apartment blocks in the district, so he called Gaudí. The building is known for its avoidance of straight lines, and walking through its rooms makes you feel a little queasy.

We next visited Palau Güell, built for Gaudí’s most famous patron, Eusebi Güell - an industrialist and an extremely wealthy man. According to the in-house audio guide, he has been ranked by Forbes as among the top 20 richest people who ever lived, with a fortune of €75bn in today’s money. The building was Gaudí’s first major project, and is more restrained than his later works. Nevertheless, it has a wonderful roof covered in colourful chimneys.

Next up was La Sagrada Familia, which is a sight to behold. The sheer cavernous enormity of the space is something I have never experienced before. More so than most churches, the interior is full of colour.

Our final stop on trip 1 was Park Güell and its famous views over …

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First published: 19/06/14.

Hubert

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Hubert

The works of Antoni Gaudí are among the most visited sights in Barcelona and it is hardly possible to resist the fascination of these buildings, even if you are not a fan of modern architecture. On our trip to Barcelona in May 2014 we managed to visit all seven inscribed sites.

The entire façade of the Casa Milà is currently under scaffolding (according to the information at the ticket counter until early 2015), but this does not affect the visit of the interior. The highlight is the rooftop, a garden of spectacularly designed chimneys, ventilation shafts and staircase exits grouped around the two courtyards. In the attic is an interesting exhibition which explains Gaudí's architectural principles by means of models of his most important works. Finally, you can visit an apartment with furniture from the early 20th century, but it is not very interesting and has no connection with Gaudí.

Casa Batlló probably provides the most comprehensive impression of Gaudí's ideas. He redesigned an existing building in the style of Modernisme, including the interior, such as lighting, windows, doors, stair railings etc. I was most impressed by the central light well, which is completely covered with blue ceramic tiles. The colour of the tiles is darker at the top floor, and if you look from the ground floor upwards, you have the impression of a uniform blue colour. With an audioguide you can visit the former apartment of the Batlló family, the central staircase, the attic (also a highlight for …

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First published: 07/09/12.

Clyde

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Clyde

I visited this WHS in November 2007. Gaudí's masterpieces can be seen all throughout Barcelona. The city's landmark is obviously the Sagrada Familia, closely followed by Park Güell. However, the highlight of my trip was entering the Casa Batilló. It was like stepping into a cartoon or into another world.

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First published: 30/04/10.

John Booth

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by john booth

I agree with David's comments about the crypt at Colonia Guell. However it can be reached by FGC train S8 from Plaza Espanya to Colonia Guell station, from where you follow the blue footprints to the site.

Also, I would recommend Klaus visit the interior and the rooftop of Palacio Guell at his next opportunity. They are outstanding.

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First published: 13/11/08.

Assif

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Els Slots

That Gaudi is the most original modern architect is perhaps consensual. I truly loved what I saw (the usual Battlo, Milles, Park Guell and the Sagrada Familia). I had a lovely experience walking to the Pedralbes Convent (very nice to visit!) when on my way I passed a mansion which reminded me of Gaudi. It later turned out to be Guell Palace which was one of Gaudi's earlier works. Despite being typical and original in its language was more clearly related to the Wiener Secession movement. This palace too had its own twist in the columns, gilded gates and arches. It was nice to see one of Gaudi's less familiar works without so many tourists around. Afterwards I found out this palace was once a temporary royal residence and that it now houses a ceramic museum. I'm now looking forward to my next visit to Barcelona to see the interior of this house as well.

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First published: 03/08/06.

Els Slots

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Els Slots

Gaudi's monuments in Barcelona are easy to visit. On our trip in 2006, we started at the Sagrada Familia. I had been there before (15 years ago), and my impression is that the construction works have taken on some speed. I have memories of an empty church, but now both the exterior and interior have a lot of new features. It even has a roof nowadays. The tourist masses hadn't changed though: this must be the most visited sight in Barcelona (together with Nou Camp, Barcelona FC's football stadium).

Second stop: the formidable Park Güell. Near the entrance, it was also very busy, but further into the public park you can pleasantly sit or walk around. Just to sit on those quirky benches! We also liked the plants (cactuses, yes I know, but we don't see those daily in the Netherlands).

And finally, new to me, Casa Battló. This is one of the fine modernist houses at the Passeig de Gracia, in the heart of Barcelona. A visit to its interior is rather costly (at 16 EUR), but it's definitely worth it. With an audio guide, you can tour about 16 rooms, all up to the top of the building. The house reminded me of the Town Houses of Victor Horta in Brussels, however larger and more over-the-top.

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First published: 27/12/05.

Joyce Van Soest

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Els Slots

Ah, beautiful Barcelona! I have fond memories of my visit to the Catalan city and whenever I think of Barcelona I think of the buildings designed by Antoni Gaudí.

Whether you like the look of it or not, the famous but unfinished Sagrada Familia cathedral is a masterpiece. Warning: if you are afraid of heights: do not climb the towers; going up is okay but going down is very scary ;-)

My favorite building was the Casa Mila with the magnificant roof where you can walk around for a long time. A stroll or a relaxing afternoon in Parque Güell is definitely worth your time, there are different areas in the park to discover and you have a nice view over the city.

Casa Batlló has an interesting façade, but the inside is also worth a visit.

Casa Vicens looks a bit different than the other Casas, and unfortunately the inside is not open to visitors, but you can spent some time just looking at all the details of the outside alone.

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First published: 05/11/05.

Klaus Freisinger

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Els Slots

For most people coming to Barcelona, seeing the numerous Gaudí sites is one of the main reasons for their trip. It´s definitely an acquired taste, and I can´t say I had previously been very interested in modern architecture, but these sites were really interesting and, yes, beautiful. The sites are spread all across Barcelona, but can be seen in a day if you take the subway. The Parc Güell is the largest, and in my opinion, the best of them. A public park on the north side of the city, it features many buildings, figures, statues, and other structures of the whimsical kind that Gaudí is famous for. The most famous building by this crazy genius is definitely the Sagrada Familia, officially called a temple, but really a church - one that will be finished in just a few decades... Apparently not the whole building is of WH value, but only the Nativity facade and the Crypt, which seems to be a bit small-minded by UNESCO...I found it unnecessary to brave the very long lines and to pay the entrance fee, since the good things about this building can really be seen from the outside. The site also comprises a collection of single buildings across central Barcelona, including Casa Mila, Casa Vicens, Casa Batlló, and Palacio Güell (still being renovated). Again, I thought it was sufficient to admire the facades and not see the inside (especially considering Casa Mila´s long lines and steep fees). Definitely worth the 20-minute trip to …

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First published: 01/11/05.

Rob Wilson

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Els Slots

The works of Gaudi are fascinating and are an excellent feature of the wonderful city of Barcelona. I'm not a massive Modernista fan myself, but I can recognise that these buildings are very important indeed.

Well, worth a look.

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First published: 07/06/05.

Anonymous

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Els Slots

I've lived in Barcelona for one year and I'm used to go there at least one time per year. I've visited all Gaudi's masterpieces (Parque Güell, Palacio Güell and Casa Milá) and also the Casa Batlló that opened for visits very recently. Further, I've been in other houses due to Gaudi in Barcelona (looked only the exterior) and also in the Palacio Episcopal in Leon (Castilla-Leon, Spain). In a single word: spectacular!

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First published: 01/05/05.

David Berlanda

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by David Berlanda

In our travel around Spain we have been to Santa Coloma de Cervelló to visit one of the seven works of Antoni Gaudí i Cornet included in this WHS, the crypt of the Colònia Güell. It was commissioned to Gaudí in 1898 and he reflected for ten years on the project before beginning the building in 1908; only the crypt was built when the work was interrupted in 1914.

We have seen only this Gaudí’s work because we haven’t been in Barcelona this time because it takes to much time to visit it for combining it with the tour of almost all Spain. We decided also to visit the church apart from the travel, programmed for the future, to Barcelona, because it is hard to reach it from the city by public transports, even if it isn’t far away.

We arrived to the Colònia Güell (from the motorway A2) when the church was closed, because its opening time is from 10 to 14 and from 15 to 19 (on Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 15. So we visited before it the village (about which you can find information on the web site http://www.santacolomadecervello.org/municipi/colonia/colonia.htm), where a community working in textile industry lived. I think that the whole industrial village, even if it isn’t even on the Spanish Tentative List, can be inscribed on the WHL separately from the WHS of Gaudí’s works (in which is inscribed only the church being the only one Gaudí’s building in the village). It is …

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First published: 01/05/05.

Anonymous

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Els Slots

I too have admired Gaudi's querky designs. But spare a thought for the poor builders. Gaudi's designs are a nightmare to construct. It is the reason why the Sagrada Familia church has been under construction for 125 years already, and still has some way to go.

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First published: 01/05/05.

Ian Cade

Works Of Antoni Gaudí

Works of Antoni Gaudí (Inscribed)

Works of Antoni Gaudí by Ian Cade

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 …

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