Els llibres d’història parlen de la profunda transformació que va viure Catalunya, i molt especialment les comarques de Barcelona, a principis del segle passat perquè va capgirar tots els àmbits de la vida: l’art, la literatura, l’arquitectura, l’espai públic, l’economia... De fet, poques coses permeten entendre tan bé la societat d'aquell temps com visitar les joies arquitectòniques d’aquella època: el Modernisme, uns temps en què una sèrie de famílies es van proposar ser modernes. I fer-ne ostentació. 

A començaments del segle passat, l’art nouveau triomfava a París: façanes ondulades, cartells amb motius florals, escales forjades... Una nova estètica que reflectia la vida moderna de la ciutat i que, a Catalunya, va arribar amb força. Però quan els aires de l’art nouveau van creuar els Pirineus, els arquitectes catalans van reinterpretar-lo a la seva manera. És el que coneixem com el Modernisme català.

La Casa Batlló, la Sagrada Família, la Pedrera i, més enllà de Gaudí, el Recinte Modernista de l'antic Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, la Casa Amatller, el Palau de la Música Catalana... El Modernisme serà el teu fidel company durant el teu viatge a Barcelona. Però has de saber que no s'acaba amb la Ciutat Comtal. En vols proves? Et portem tres edificis poc coneguts de la província de Barcelona per descobrir un altre Modernisme: un castell medieval reformat, una casa burgesa i fins i tot una obra industrial. I de regal, un jardí del mateix Gaudí, anterior al seu conegut Park Güell.

Very close to Barcelona you will find a great many examples of modernista works created between the 19th and 20th centuries. Urban palaces and holiday homes, churches and hospitals, warehouses and gardens, factories and cellars, all with the signature of the great architects of the movement in Catalonia: Antoni Gaudí, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and Josep Puig i Cadafalch, among others. To commemorate this cultural trend, different towns and cities are organizing festivals and fairs to recover their aesthetic quality. Want to find out more about them?

Industrial buildings, crypts, wineries, gardens... The imagination of the architect Antoni Gaudí knew no bounds and he applied it to any challenge he was given, always in his unmistakable signature style. A century later, we have the good fortune to enjoy several sites in the Barcelona area beyond the capital city. Let’s go on a tour of the works by this genius. Are you ready?

Would you like to travel in time? In the region of Vallès Occidental you can teleport yourself to the past and relive the Belle Époque through its architecture, art and cuisine! We’ve prepared a route through various cities on which you’ll discover constructions and designs that combine the elegance and creativity typical of Catalan modernism, embodied even in old factories. Fasten your seat belts and let’s get started!

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.

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.

In 2005, seven buildings designed by Antoni Gaudí were inscribed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Six of them are extremely well known: the Sagrada Família, La Pedrera, Casa Vicens, Parc Güell, Palau Güell and Casa Batlló. However, the seventh architectural gem in the list, the Crypt of the Colònia Güell, is much less famous. It’s an architectural masterpiece in which the author of impossible works tested his considerable intellect.