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15 Things to Know about Gaudi in Spain

Tho Nguyen
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Spain Gaudi
Source: SBA73

If you have toured Spain, you may have seen several works of Antoni Gaudi. And if you haven’t know anything about him, this article will provide some interesting information about his life and most famous work. Antoni Gaudi was a favorite Spanish architect for the face of Catalan style. Both his work and life certainly are surprising information to most of the tourist.

1. Antony Gaudi Biography

https://twitter.com/CatalunyaFR/status/670263181596561408

Antony Gaudi was born in Reus, Spain in 1852 but there’s no record of the birth of the artist. He suffered from the rheumatic pain during his life. In 1868, Gaudi moved to Barcelona to study architect; then he was in the Spanish military between 1875 and 1878. Because of the health problem, he avoided the Third Carlist Wars.

2. Gaudi was a Strict Vegetarian

Gaudi had a weak body since the childhood, so he paid attention to the health care during the life. Following by Dr. Kneipp, a priest who had a belief in the natural medicine, Gaudi refused the help of medical for his ailment while accepting the natural method including lettuce leaves, some nuts, and olive oil. Unluckily, this way made him weaker and indirectly lead to death.

3. Gaudi was a Strong Proponent of Catalan Culture

https://twitter.com/Eulogio_HP/status/735385222896877571

As all Catalan men, Gaudi has a strong love of Catalan culture and a belief in a self-governing Catalan state. However, he refused the entry of politics because of the love of the architect and art. You can find a lot of his work in the Catalan style.

4. Young Gaudi

https://twitter.com/scottish_katy/status/724307885820391424

Since the youth, Gaudi was a stylish man with expensive, modern suits. Unluckily, he slowly changes by the time passed after having economic troubles and the sadness from deaths of loved people. Then, he became a saving person who forgot his suits. The young Gaudi suffered from the serious illness, and both his religious faith and strict vegetarianism made the situation worse.

5. Gaudi was a Bad Student

Because of the poor health, Gaudi left from the fight in the Third Carlist War. During this time, he studied architect and graduated from the Barcelona Higher School of Architect and the Llotja School in 1878. His grades kept only acceptable and sometimes Gaudi failed courses. When he received the degree, the Director said: “We have given this academic title either to a fool or a genius. Time will show.”

6. Gaudi’s Masterpiece – Park Guell

One of the best masterpieces of Gaudi is Park Guell, built in 1900 and declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. It’s a housing development influenced by the English-style garden city in the early 20th century. Gaudi planned on a self-contained community including local package, green space, agricultural, and residential. His assistant built the only buildings in the land, and one of those is used as Gaudi Museum today.

7. Dali Loved Gaudi; Picasso Hated Gaudí

With several masterpieces, Gaudi gets many fans and appreciations these days. One of his biggest fans is Salvador Dali, the master of the mind-bending surrealist art. Those two Catalan men certainly had the similar viewpoint on their work. Dali admired the Sagrada Familia and gave many good comments on it and its author. However, Picasso, who was less enthusiastic about the surrealist art, showed the negative feeling to both Gaudi and the Sagrada Familia.

8. Gaudi Preferred 3D Models

12 Death
Source: zenilorac

Gaudi preferred 3D models to create the definitive work instead of flat designs for his buildings. He said that had this spatial conception since he saw his father working during the childhood. Gaudi did the same way for creating the church of the Colonia Guell when he built a model with strings hanging small bags. Then he noted every detailed of the building: decorative, architectural and stylistic.

9. Gaudi – God’s Architect

He got a nickname “God’s Architect” because of many religious images that he created in his works. You can see his unique designs, especially in the Sagrada Familia, such as the Greek letters alpha and omega, statues of Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Francis of Paola and the Holy Family.

10. The First Project – Lampposts in the Plaza Real

Gaudi made the first project, the lampposts in the Plaza Real. In 1910, he was required to make the lanterns in celebration of the birth of Jaume Balmes in the city’s Plaza Major. The lampposts had vegetable themes and included the dates of birth and death of Balmes. They were destroyed in 1924 because of the poor maintenance.

11. Gaudi – A Single Man

Gaudi spent most of the time for the architect, remaining single until death. In 1884, he was said to love a teacher, Josefa Moreu at the Mataro Cooperative, but this was not answered. Therefore, Gaudi spent too much attention into the Catholic faith for the peace of mind. His friends described Gaudi as a friendly, polite, funny, and faithful person.

12. Death

13 Basilica of the Sagrada Familia
Source: SBA73

Gaudi passed away after a few days when he was hit by a tram on June 10, 1926. The accident happened when he was walking on the habit routine. However, nobody helped Gaudi since he wore in rags. Finally, the police found and took him to the hospital for the poor. At that point, he was 73 years old. Many people came to bid farewell to him in the Sagrada Familia.

13. The Last Project – Basilica of the Sagrada Familia

Gaudi’s last work, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is his most famous architect and masterpiece still in under construction. He started building in 1883 and continued the work until he died. Nowadays, the church has been formed on Gaudi’s model. The estimated finish date for the entire structure of the church is around 2026.

Information

  • Name: Basilica of the Sagrada Familia
  • Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona, Spain
  • Phone: +34 93 208 04 14
  • Hours: 9:00 – 20:00
  • Recommended length of visit: 1-2 hours
  • Fee: Yes
  • Website: http://www.sagradafamilia.org

14. Legacy – Gaudi Experience

Gaudi supported the greatest legacy for the architectural world. Today, you can visit museums holding his works in Barcelona, including Gaudi Experience, Gaudi House Museum, and Gaudi Exhibition Center. We highly recommend the museum Gaudi Experience where you can explore his creative universe through 4D technology.

Information

  • Name: Gaudi Experience
  • Address: Larrard 41, 08024 Barcelona, Spain
  • Phone: +34 932 85 44 40
  • Hours: 10:00 – 19:00
  • Website: http://www.gaudiexperiencia.com

15. World Heritage

15 World Heritage
Source: Shaun Dunmall

Nowadays, seven of Gaudi works were stated World Heritage sites by UNESCO between 1984 and 2005. Then, those masterpieces will be honored and maintained as similarly as the other particular monuments on the list of UNESCO, such as the Vatican City, Stonehenge, and more. Gaudi’s seven works are the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s Casa Vicens, the Funky Home in Park Guell Barcelona, Palau Guell, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, and the Church of Colonia Guell. You can see all of them during your next visit to Spain by joining the guided tour or driving a car by yourself. Every site will certainly earn your gratefulness.

When people talk about the Spanish architect, they must remember Antoni Gaudi and his masterpieces. If you’re interested in architect and planning on a tour of cathedrals in Spain, the Gaudi tour is must be necessary to know about the art and culture of Spain. Until today, the man of the surreal parks and buildings maintains relatively mysterious.

Have a good trip and travel!

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