I’ve been a Gaudí fan for a long time, since before I was in architecture school, since before I changed my major to Interior Design, since before I really even knew design was in my future.  His sense of whimsy in his designs are always inspiring to me, a trait I try to keep in my own designs to this day.  I was always drawn more towards his smaller works like Casa Batlló, but his grand scale on La Sagrada Familia is definitely something to take note of as well and well worth the attention.  I often used him as a precedent concept in school projects throughout college and have always had a soft spot for him among the world of famous architects.

So when we decided on Spain for our Spring trip and added Barcelona to that list, I knew I had to see for my own eyes the work of Gaudí and what he brings to this already fabulous city.  To be honest, before seeing the buildings in their city settings, I had always imagined them to stand out.  The wavy shapes, the crystal tiles, the strange hues, the whimsical iron work, but in all honesty, I now see why he perhaps chose Barcelona as his canvas or perhaps why Barcelona modeled itself within his whimsical confines.  Gaudí’s buildings are beautiful no doubt, but they don’t stand out per se, in stead they add a different quality to Barcelona’s already whimsical style, they offer a genuine bit of history.

I was blown away not by how they stood out agains the backdrop of the city, but because Gaudí seemed to possess a quality that is rare in famous architects today – drawing on the vibe of the place, making a building live both within its surroundings and yet shout out at the same time.  In a world where every building seems to have to be better than the next and stand out more and more against an already crowded skyline, I found Gaudí’s Barcelona both inspiring and refreshing.  In the process, my dream of seeing Gaudí’s famous works brought a new found respect and admiration for the famous artist.

Don’t Miss These Gaudí Spots in Barcelona:

-Sagrada Familia – The lines were long to get into the church, so go early!

-Casa Batlló 

-Casa Milà

-Parc Güell – We took the metro here, but keep in mind, it’s still quite a trek from the metro stop up to the Park.  We opted to walk up and take a taxi back to our hotel – totally worth it!

Where to Stay in Barcelona

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Where to Stay in Barcelona

By now, it’s no shock to anyone how much I fell for Barcelona after professing my love for this special city a couple days ago and on our first morning there as we started exploring the city, it was clear right away that the love we had for it was immediate.  Upon leaving our hotel next to Sagrada Familia, we headed a few blocks down the street to grab the orange L4 Metro line at Verdaguer.  We took the Metro to the Barconeleta stop, near the Parc du Ciutadella, but before heading to the park, our first stop was necessary at Can Paixano (La Xampanyeria), a tiny little hole in the wall spot about a five minute walk from the Park.  This place was a recommendation from an Instagram friend who studied in the city, that I had saved long ago and wow, did it not disappoint.  A standing room only spot, huge damon and queso breakfast sandwiches and completed with filled to the brim glasses of cava, our morning started off oh so Spanish.

After being blown away by our first breakfast in Spain, we wandered to the Parc du Ciutadella for a casual morning stroll.  With locals and tourists alike, we explored the gardens, the palm tree lined walkways, and the buildings that are scattered throughout.  The sun was shining, the wind slightly blowing and we fell more and more in love with Barcelona as we wandered.  Next, we headed on foot towards the El Born and Gothic Quarters of the city.  We wandered through alleyways, ancient cobblestone streets and the buildings in impeccable order that must have been hundreds of years old.  Without much trash on the roads or buildings in disrepair, we were blown away by how Spain in general is kept up, a huge commendation to the country for keeping their history alive and repaired.

Our wandering ended as we came onto La Rambla and La Bouqueria Market, but that’s a topic for another day (no need to wait long, that will be tomorrow’s post).  But needless to say in all our exploring of Barcelona, El Born and the Gothic Quarter were my favorite spots; neighborhoods filled with history but also brimming with cheerful locals, windy cobblestone roads that lead to more windy cobblestone streets, small cafes here and there, old churches thrown in the mix throughout.  It was the perfect first day in Barcelona, the perfect first day to get our feet wet in everything Spanish.

Don’t Miss in El Born and Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter

-Can Paixano (La Xampanyeria) for breakfast

-Strolling through Parc du Ciutadella

-Spending an hour getting lost in El Born’s alleyways

-Photos of the many covered walkways in the Gothic Quarter between buildings

Where to Stay in Barcelona

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Where to Stay in Barcelona

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the famous Barcelona.  I’ve heard good and bad, horror stories of pickpockets and food poisoning and stories of how gorgeous it is, how good the food is and everything in between.  I truth, I was a little nervous that I wouldn’t like it at all, that it would be too laid back, that I’d have my wallet or passport stolen, that the food wouldn’t be as good as we hoped.  In fact, the total opposite I feel is true.  I fell in love with this famous Spanish city, the crown of Catalonia.

Barcelona is one of those places that just spoke to me, its whimsy, its cool vibe, its incredibly ornate architecture and yet its under the radar personality, sort of like saying “I’m so cool, I don’t really need to say it.”  You just know Barcelona is cool…enough said.  One of my immediate reactions to Barcelona was that is France and Italy had a love child, it would be this city.  The class and chicness of France mixed with the whimsy and flamboyance of Italy creates an incredibly special city filled to the brim with life, lovely cheerful locals and clean cosmopolitan streets, packed full of incredible buildings and unique moments.

There are certain places in this world that make an impression on us, that speak to us on a level that other destinations just don’t.  Barcelona was a place that left a great impact on me, a city that I loved immediately.  And not just because we didn’t have any issues with pickpockets or because the food was incredible, but because this gem of a city on the Mediterranean is just a very special place, a whimsical and yet ornate city with a rich history and culture.  I couldn’t have picked a better introduction to the gorgeous country that is Spain and our few days in Barcelona will not be our last.  There is no doubt we will be back to explore this gem of a city much more in the future, but for now, I’ll relish our time spent in this special city.

Traveling to Spain?

See all of my posts on the country!

Where to Stay in Barcelona