Unique buildings
Strangely enough, the Palau de la Música Catalana, the so-called "building that epitomises Catalan art nouveau" wasn"t designed by Gaudí, but by his contemporary
Lluís Domènech i Montaner (Barcelona, 1850-1923). This concert hall in Barcelona, which is a designated
UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an artistic landmark of outstanding beauty and a highly prestigious music venue.
The Palau Güell was designed by the young Gaudí and is a wonderful blend of medieval opulence and the architect"s unique exuberant style. Completed in 1890, the building was the private residence of Gaudí"s patron, Count Güell. The Palau Güell is a designated
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Fantasy and technical innovation come together in the former gatehouses of the Güell Estate, on Barcelona"s Avinguda Pedralbes. The beauty and colour of the buildings don"t eclipse the main protagonist of the ensemble: the giant mythological dragon from the Garden of the Hesperides, a synthesis of Gaudí"s symbolism and craftsmanship.
Barcelona's
Museu-Monestir de Pedralbes is considered to be one of the finest examples of Catalan Gothic architecture and allows us to see the artistic legacy preserved by the community of nuns from the Order of Saint Clare throughout the centuries and to find out about the way they live.
Many of Barcelona"s squares in Barcelona"s Ciutat Vella district contain astonishing Romanesque landmarks. Time seems to have stood still in the heart of the neighbourhood of Sant Pere, where the church of the ancient convent of Sant Pere de les Puel·les still stands. A history dating back centuries marked by renovations which haven"t taken away any of the charm of the original building.