Culture and traditions

Casa Batlló, the Sagrada Família, the Pedrera and, beyond Gaudí, the Catalan modernist site of the old Hospital of La Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Casa Amatller and the Palau de la Música Catalana... Catalan modernism will be your faithful companion throughout your trip to Barcelona. But you should bear in mind that it this movement is not confined to the capital city. Do you need proof? Here are three little-known buildings in the province of Barcelona where you can discover other variants of Catalan modernism: a refurbished mediaeval castle, the house of an upper-class family and even an industrial building. As an extra, enjoy a garden designed by Gaudí himself that predates his world-famous Park Güell.

At the beginning of the last century, Art Nouveau was all the rage in Paris: wavy facades, floral motifs on signs, wrought-iron staircases ... This new aesthetic depicted modern city life and had a huge impact in Catalonia. However, when the winds of Art Nouveau blew across the Pyrenees, Catalan architects reinterpreted it in their own way. This is what we know as Catalan Modernisme.

The history books chart the profound transformation that Catalonia – and, in particular, the regions of Barcelona – underwent at the turn of the 20^th century, when all areas of life were turned upside down: art, literature, architecture, public space, the economy... In fact, there’s no better way to gain an understanding of the era than by visiting its architectural gems. Catalan modernism represents a time when a series of families set out to be modern and flaunt it.