Antoni Gaudi's Barcelona

Antoni Gaudí was a Spanish-Catalan architect who has left a legacy of intricately designed and fantastical buildings for the world to adore and enjoy throughout all of Barcelona. Located on the eastern coast of Spain, Barcelona is the country's second largest city and a major hub of cultural heritage. Teeming with historical affluences and a myriad of nooks and crannies to construct idiosyncratic buildings, it's no wonder Gaudí chose Barcelona as his base of operations to wow the world with his style.

While Barcelona has seen the likes of many-a brilliant architect who all bestowed their work on the city, Gaudí is a name that rolls off the tongue fluidly, easily, often. All of Gaudí's work is located in Spain (with the exception of a project commissioned in 1908 in New York City for a hotel that was too outlandish for its time), and the majority of the buildings can be found in Barcelona.

In the Eixample district of the city is one of the most revered undertakings: the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, known simply as Sagrada Família. With construction beginning as early as 1882, the Roman Catholic church is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Spain. Gaudí devoted the last 15 years of his life to the church, using influences of biomorphism (organic shapes and the power of natural life) and rich Christian symbolism to stretch the expanse of the entire building. Sagrada Família is a work in progress and the current architects propose that it will be completed in 2026, which is the 100 year anniversary of Gaudí's death. Funding for this project comes directly from ticket sales and private funding from patrons.

Also in the district, known for its Modernista architecture, is Casa Batlló. Identified by the locals as Casa dels ossos - House of Bones - the restored middle-class family house is a culmination of visceral, skeletal influences. The original building was constructed in 1877 and re-imagined by Gaudí and Josep Maria Jujol, who both seemed to focus on never keeping to strict, straight lines. The facade is what catches your attention first, as the balconies resemble skulls and the walls are made up of broken tiles, creating a colorful mosaic. Though the entire building is remarkable, the best feature is the rooftop - a scene of Saint George (patron saint of Catalonia) slaying his dragon, as abstract as it may appear.

Located just down the street along Passeig de Gràcia is Casa Milá, or La Pedrera ("The Quarry"). Built for Rosario Segimon and her second husband, Pere Milá. Gaudí designed the home to be flamboyant, to match the style of renowned Señor Milá. Construction began in 1906 and was officially finished six years later. The exterior is plain, compared to other works of Gaudí's throughout Barcelona, but the true intrigue and brilliant concepts of the architect are prevalent inside and on the rooftop. More instances of biomorphism can be found throughout, following naturally occurring lines, vague hints of biology, almost bordering on the surreal. The highlight of La Pedrera are the oddly shaped chimneys on the roof, resembling masks and twisted lumps of clay.

In the Gràcia district, north of the Eixample, is Park Güell, named for a Catalan patriarch, Eusebi Güell, who looked to Antoni Gaudí as the one to fill his life with his own uniquely designed buildings. The park was originally meant to be a housing complex that failed due to the lack of interest from buyers. Gaudí swooped in to buy one of the homes and began the designing of the municipal gardens in 1900. Construction took nearly 15 years. The whole of the park incorporates motifs of Catalan nationalism and religious mysticism.

There are several areas of interest in Park Güell, including the main terrace with its serpentine lines of the seating area, which are created with crushed tiles. A fantastic draw to the park is the famous mosaic dragon that was damaged in early 2007 when a group of teens took a bat to its face. There is also the colonnaded pathway that spans a great length of the park. This was the setting for the hit television show America's Next Top Model final showdown in Cycle 7 between CariDee and Melrose.

Gaudí's ideas knew no boundaries, obvious in the final products scattered throughout Barcelona. Though as tourist attractions they are costly to visit, they should definitely be part of any visitor's itinerary. The magnificence of the architecture alone is worth more than any dollar amount placed on it. The creativity is priceless.