Index
The architecture of Barcelona is so special that it can be considered a unique, great work of art. If you value the aesthetics of buildings, visiting the Catalan capital could be a dream come true.
What are the main architectural styles of Barcelona and who are the most famous architects? We at Casavo tell you about them in this article, where we also indicate which areas are home to the most modern houses in Catalonia.
The architectural styles of Barcelona
Given the number of architectural styles that rapidly follow one another through the city's streets, strolling through Barcelona's neighborhoods is a bit of a challenge. like taking a journey through time.
Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and Art Nouveau are sometimes separated only by small urban gardens: a spectacle waiting to be explored.
The Roman influence
Barcino, the fortified citadel of Roman origins, is one of the oldest areas of Barcelona: it was founded way back in the 2nd century BC.
In what is now Plaza de Sant Jaume, you can observe some Roman buildings that Barcelona has inherited from this era. Some examples? The Porch of the Bisbe or the Temple of Augustus.
The Romanesque style
The Romanesque style was adopted for the buildings of Barcelona constructed between the 11th and 13th centuries.
The barrel vaults and semicircular arches are characteristic of the buildings of this period, as are the large transept, the ambulatory and the apses of the Romanesque churches.
There are many Romanesque buildings in Barcelona: the monastery of Santa Ana, the church of Sant Llàtzer, the monastery of Sant Pau del Camp, the chapel of Santa Llúcia or the Palace Episcopal Church.
The Gothic Style
Among the styles that characterize the different areas of Barcelona, the Gothic style is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular in the city. In fact, there is an entire neighborhood dedicated to it: the Barrio Gótico.
Although there are many Gothic buildings, the two most important churches in the city deserve particular attention: the Basilica of Santa María del Mar and the Barcelona Cathedral.
Characterized by pointed arches, cross vaults, buttresses, flying buttresses, rose windows, and colorful stained glass windows, the Gothic style is also often found in Barcelona's interior architecture. In the field of civil architecture, the Palau de la Generalitat and the Palazzo Reale Mayor stand out.
The Baroque style
Although it is not a predominant style, examples of the Baroque style can also be seen in Barcelona in buildings dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
Among these, the Church of Betlem, the Basilica of La Mercè, the Palau Moxó, the Casa de la Seda and the Casa de Convalescència.
The predominant characteristics of this eccentric architectural style are curved shapes, windows, ornamental decorations and the extensive use of painting.
The Baroque style Art Nouveau
If we had to choose just one, Art Nouveau would probably be the defining style of Barcelona. Typical of the 19th and 20th centuries, despite being an international movement, it was in the Catalan capital that it developed most.
Art Nouveau rejects symmetrical patterns and favors curved and wavy shapes. It does not copy classical elements but is inspired by nature both for the decorations and for the very structure of the buildings.
It is a hymn to complete creative freedom, to the use of new materials and new construction techniques: and it is precisely between the lines of this innovation that we find written the most important names in Catalan architecture.
The architects of Barcelona
Among the best-known architects of Barcelona appear names that you have surely heard dozens of times: revolutionary figures who have marked an important chapter in the history of international architecture.
One of them is Lluis Domènech i Montaner, designer of the Sant Pau hospital, the Palau de la Música Catalana and the Casa Lleó Morera. Or Josep Puig i Cadafalch, who built the Casa Terrades and the Palau de la Generalitat de Cataluña.
And also: Enric Miralles i Moya, who designed the Santa Caterina market; Ricardo Bofill, who built the famous W Barcelona Hotel; Alfred Arribas Cabrejas, who was responsible for the renovation of the Rotunda.
A special mention, however, goes to Antoni Gaudí who, due to his importance, is considered almost the patron saint of the city. He is responsible for some of the works of art – because that's what it's all about when we talk about his buildings - which have contributed to making Barcelona one of the most visited cities by tourists from all over the world.
Gaudí: a new style in Barcelona
Antoni Gaudí is one of the greatest representatives of the Art Nouveau style and, more than An architect, he is considered a true genius: seven of his works have even been declared World Heritage Sites.
He designed some of Barcelona's most famous monuments, such as the Casa Milà, the Casa Batlló, the Casa Vicens, and the Palace Güell. He is also the creator of Park Güell, a 12-hectare park where architecture and nature blend together in a timeless spectacle.
And then, her. The masterpiece that is the symbol of the entire Catalan region, the Sagrada Familia basilica, whose construction began in 1882 and is still not finished. 18 towers, three facades, a crypt, and approximately 140 years of construction are some of the figures that characterize this priceless jewel.
The distribution of Barcelona's streets: a successful structure
The urban planning and destruction of Barcelona's streets is also noteworthy.
Following the sharp population increase of the 19th century, work began on the Cerdá Plan: conceived by Idelfonso Cerdá in 1860, it gave rise to the city as we know it today - much larger than the original nucleus.
Some ancient settlements that were not part of Barcelona - Gràcia, Horta, or Sants - were built in the 19th century. They have been absorbed by the city over time and today can be considered peripheral neighborhoods of the metropolis.
Have you ever looked at a map of Barcelona or the city from above? It's amazing: the streets form an almost perfect grid, with the exception of the Diagonal, which cuts across it at an angle. The houses are grouped into square-shaped blocks, which makes it much easier to orient yourself and move around the city.
Finally, Barcelona is still a city overlooking the sea. After the 1992 Olympics, the La Barceloneta area was also strongly re-evaluated: large green parks and a rich entertainment offering make it a perfect area for nightlife for all ages.
The most modern houses in Barcelona
To conclude our journey, it is worth mentioning the houses that best represent modern architecture in Barcelona.
Some can be accessed for guided tours and interior tours; Here are some of them:
- Casa Amatller, on Paseo de Gracia, was built at the end of the 19th century by Josep Puig i Cadafalch;
- Casa Batlló, next to Casa Amatller, is one of Gaudí's most famous works and a World Heritage Site;
- Casa de la Seda, so called because of its walls covered in the finest silk, was built in the 18th century by Joan Garrido i Bertrán;
- Casa Terradas, also known as the Casa de les Punxes, is the work of Josep Puig i Cadafalch and is located on Avenida Diagonal.
All the houses mentioned are perfect examples of Art Nouveau: if you like this style, you can't miss them.
If this overview of Barcelona's architecture has piqued your interest in real estate, learn more by reading Casavo's guide to the city's 6 trendiest neighborhoods.