Scratching the Surface of Modernism

Since I ended up with my nose in a book in a warm (and dry) tapas bar instead of making it all about Gaudí the day I went to Parc Güell, I decided to give it another try today in the hopes that the weather forecast was accurate.

This time I joined a free walking tour (de facto pay-what-you-want) on Modernism starting at Plaza Catalunya, making stops at Casa Batllò, Casa Lleó Morera, Casa Monet and Casa Millá to get an overview of the Modernist movement in Barcelona before heading to the Sagrada Familia. The tour didn't include entry to the church, but I had tickets to go in later that week.

Even if you're bored of western European churches (since so many of them are so similar), the Sagrada Familia definitely is one you shouldn't miss out on.

Stepping into the church, it truly felt like stepping into a forest of fossilized prehistoric trees, the pillars transitioning into a canopy of palm leaves and light in unreachable heights. Luckily, I went relatively early in the off-season, meaning I was able to take everything in without having to deal with massive, loud crowds dripping sweat from the singeing Barcelona sun. This also meant there was an awed, hushed silence - with only soft whispers that might just as well be the wind moving softly through the leaves.

There are so many details to discover, it's well worth while staying for a bit - even if it just to sit on the benches and see how the color changes with the light of day.Read more