Gaudi's Barcelona

Casa Batlló was built in 1877 and restored by Gaudi between 1904 and 1906. The local name for the building is Casa dels ossos (House of Bones), because of it's skeletal quality. Check out the chimneys, and the mosaics in the roof garden. I loved the 'Palabolic Archways' in the attic - what an ingenious way to let the light and air in.

















Park Güell, such a beautiful area to sit and enjoy a city view, was designed by Gaudi and constructed between 1900 and 1914. There is a large open area surrounded by these beautiful mosiac seats in the form of a sea serpent. The curves of the 'serpent bench' form a number of alcoves, which were designed to create a more social yet intimate atmosphere for visitors, and the whole thing is supported by columns with yet more decorative mosiacs underneath.

Benny and Naomi liked the dragon, now one of the famous Barcelona symbols, at the entrance to the park (and we now have a little one in our bag to take home;).















Casa Milà, better known as 'La Pedrera' (meaning The Quarry) was commissioned by Roser Segimon and Pere Milà and completed in 1912. The couple, who were part of Barcelona's rising middle classes at the time used the first floor as their own home and rented out the rest of the floors as apartments. On the tour we explored the rooftops, more interestingly shaped chimneys, and a fully furnished apartment which, incredibly for the time, could be all opened up to the owners preference, as there are no supporting walls inside the structure - open plan living, very cool!









Amazing!

Love
Est xxx