ANTONIO GAUDÍ

 

city tour of Barcelona dedicated to Antonio Gaudí-Antonio Gaudí i Cornet is considered the most iconic architect of Catalan Art Nouveau, and his name is inseparable from the city of Barcelona.

Born in Reus (Tarragona) in 1852 into a family of boilermakers, Gaudí studied architecture in Barcelona. Shortly after graduating, he was invited to replace Francesc de Pau Villar i Lozano as chief architect of the Sagrada Família. At the time, Gaudí led the life of a dandy and was not particularly religious. Initially, he refused the commission, but eventually accepted.

The design he proposed bore little resemblance to his predecessor’s, and Gaudí had no interest in deadlines or budgets. Ultimately, the Sagrada Família became his life’s work. As he grew increasingly devoted to his faith, he invested his own fortune into the project and even sought donations to keep construction going.

Throughout these years, he also worked on other masterpieces—now admired and visited worldwide—including Park Güell, Casa Milà, and Casa Batlló, most of them located in Barcelona.

Gaudí died in 1926 at the Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona, after being struck by a tram near the Sagrada Família.

 

Quick History of the Sagrada Familia

In the late 19th century, the Industrial Revolution was transforming much of Europe, and Spain was no exception. A new working class emerged, bringing with it social movements, unions, leftist ideas, and revolutionary parties. In response, a conservative movement arose, led by Josep Bocabella, a Barcelona bookseller.

Bocabella and his followers, known as Los Josefinos for their devotion to Saint Joseph, sought to guide Spain back toward religious values. They believed that building a grand temple would serve this purpose. Their proposal was presented to both religious and civil authorities, but with little success—both Church and government had other priorities. Realizing they would need to fund the project themselves, they purchased land in the then sparsely developed Eixample district and began seeking private donations.

Construction began with the northeast, or Nativity, façade and the rear section of the church under the direction of Antonio Gaudí. After his death in 1926, work continued despite the loss of some of his plans during the Spanish Civil War. Subsequent architects completed the Passion façade and later the main entrance.

Until the 1970s, a nationwide fundraising day was held annually to support the project, and progress advanced at the pace of donations. Today, funding comes largely from ticket sales to the millions of visitors who tour the basilica each year. Modern materials like reinforced concrete, computer-assisted design, and heavy construction equipment—such as cranes—have greatly accelerated the work. If all goes according to plan, the Sagrada Família will be completed in 2026, marking the centenary of Gaudí’s death.

We invite you to join us for a tour of Gaudí’s most famous monuments, including those he designed and others to which he contributed.

">MAPA Gaudí Tour