Are you planning to visit Barcelona and looking for some cultural attractions? If you are a fan of Antoni Gaudí, the Catalan architect who designed some of the most iconic buildings in the city, you should visit the Gaudi House Museum Barcelona to your itinerary. This museum is located within the Park Güell, one of Gaudí’s masterpieces and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum was the home of Gaudí from 1906 to 1925, and it showcases his personal and professional life. The museum is also home to some of his furniture and some rare Gaudi objects.
In this blog, we will tell you everything you need to know about the Gaudi House Museum Barcelona. We will explain its history, its collection, its virtual visit option, and how to visit it. The great thing about the Gaudi house museum is you can visit Gaudi’s own house. Gaudi actually lived in this house until a few years before his death and contains many original items. A visit to this museum gives you a chance to view the life of one of Catalonia’s true geniuses. Read on and discover one of the most fascinating museums in Barcelona!
The History of the Gaudi House Museum Barcelona
The museum was originally built as a model home for the Park Güell development, which was conceived by Gaudí’s patron, Eusebi Güell. The project aimed to create a garden city with 60 houses on a hill overlooking Barcelona. The project was not successful and only two houses were built. One of them was designed by Gaudí’s assistant, Francesc d’Assis Berenguer i Mestres, and the other by Jaume Figueras. Gaudí bought the house designed by Berenguer in 1906 and moved in with his father and niece.
Gaudí lived in the house until 1925, when he moved to the Sagrada Familia workshop to devote himself fully to his magnum opus. After his death in 1926, the house was sold to a private owner. It was this owner who decided to open it to the public as a museum in 1963. In 1992, the museum was acquired by the Junta Constructora del Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família Foundation, which also manages the Sagrada Familia basilica.
The Collection of Rare Gaudi Items to View
The museum features a collection that aims to show visitors the more personal, religious side of Gaudí, re-creating some of the most private rooms of the house and displaying some of his personal items. For example, you can see his bedroom, his study, his dining room, his chapel, and his library. You can also admire some of his furniture and objects that he designed or that were executed under his guidance, such as chairs, tables, lamps, mirrors, vases, and sculptures.
Some of the best highlights of the collections are:
- The dragon gate, which was originally located at the entrance of Finca Güell, another estate owned by Eusebi Güell. The gate is made of wrought iron and features a dragon inspired by the legend of Saint George.
- The batlló bench, which was designed for Casa Batlló, one of Gaudí’s most famous buildings in Barcelona. The bench is made of wood and has an ergonomic shape that adapts to the human body.
- The calvet mirror, which was designed for Casa Calvet, another building by Gaudí in Barcelona. The mirror is made of wood and has a carved frame that resembles a plant.
- The gaudinian cross, which is a symbol that Gaudí used frequently in his works. The cross is made of four arms that form an equilateral triangle with a circle in the center.
The Virtual Visit to the Gaudi House Museum Barcelona
If you cannot visit the museum in person, you can still enjoy it from home with the virtual visit option. You can access a 360-degree tour of the museum on its website (http://www.casamuseugaudi.org/es/), where you can explore each room and see each object in detail. You can also learn more about Gaudí’s life and work with audio guides and videos.
The virtual visit is a great way to discover the museum at your own pace and from anywhere in the world.
How to Visit the Gaudi House Museum Barcelona
The Gaudi house museum is open every day from 9 am to 8 pm (last admission at 7:30 pm). The admission fee is 5.50 euros for adults, 4.50 euros for students and pensioners, and free for children under 10 years old. You can buy your tickets online or at the ticket office.
The museum is located within the Park Güell, which is also worth visiting for its beautiful gardens and structures designed by Gaudí. You can reach the park by bus (lines 24, 92, H6), metro (line L3), or taxi.
There are also guided tours for groups and schools, as well as special events such as concerts and workshops.
If you are interested in learning more about Gaudí and Barcelona, you can also visit other sites related to him, such as:
- The Sagrada Familia, his unfinished masterpiece and one of the most visited attractions in Spain.
- The Casa Batlló, a stunning building that showcases Gaudí’s organic style and imagination.
- The Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, a modernist building that features a wavy façade and a rooftop terrace with chimneys.
The Gaudi House Museum Barcelona is a must-see for anyone who loves Gaudí and his unique vision of architecture. It is a place where you can get closer to the man behind the genius and appreciate his creativity and spirituality. There are also some unique and rare Gaudi items to dicover in the museum. Overall, don”t miss this opportunity to discover one of the most influential architects of all time!
