7 iconic facades to (re)discover in Barcelona
There are times when the proximity of a landscape causes us to underestimate its importance or its representativeness if we are used to seeing it every day. Thus, we would find thousands of cases of Barcelona residents who have not set foot in places like the Sagrada Familia or Park Güell since they did so with their school during their childhood, or even more extreme cases where they have not even visited the place.
Therefore, knowing the enormous value of the Barcelona brand, and the many charming places that our city treasures, we decided to share our love for its architecture and our know-how about it with a group of Instagrammers. The proposal was very clear: to rediscover the city through some of its most emblematic facades.
About fifteen Instagrammers dedicated to the architectural sector, the gastronomic sector, as well as other lifestyle influencers, responded to the call. Among them, the presence of @martanorgaard, @victor_arriazu, @roser_n, @fecstime, @oscar_bcn, and the winner of our #lovebarcelona contest, @elenasarinena, stands out. The meeting point was at the intersection of Córcega Street with Paseo de Gracia, in front of La Casa Milà, popularly known as 'La Pedrera', a unique building constructed between 1906 and 1912 by Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. It is probably one of the most well-known buildings from the modernist era around the world and one of Gaudí's most significant works.
From there, an exciting tour began in which we were able to travel in a convertible minibus, provided by We Barcelona, through some of the most beautiful areas of Barcelona. We discovered Casa Vicens, the latest modernist gem restored for the city, also designed by Gaudí, and what would be one of the first commissions of the modernist genius. Once at Kennedy Square, the majesty of the Andreu Tower, La Rotonda, welcomed us by illuminating its facade as night fell. After a long process of recovery and rehabilitation, the emblematic modernist building once again becomes part of the collective memory of the Sant Gervasi neighborhood and Barcelona as an architectural and historical legacy of the splendid 19th-century Barcelona. Its new image, with the restoration of much of the original facades and pavilion, has once again become an icon of the neighborhood and a tourist attraction for visitors.
And after admiring the beauty of some residential houses in the upper part of the city, we returned to Paseo de Gracia. There, the flashes from the cameras and mobile phones of Instagrammers ceaselessly illuminated the well-known 'Block of Discord'. It is hard to find a greater concentration of architectural beauty than that treasured, both collectively and individually, by Casa Lleó i Morera, Casa Amatller, and Casa Batlló. Pure Modernism. Gaudí, Domènech i Montaner, and Puig i Cadafalch side by side. Or rather, brick by brick, as the three great exponents of Modernism coincided in time and space with three of their main creations.
We continued the tour, passing by the Granvía Hotel, a 19th-century mansion located next to Paseo de Gracia, which was converted into a hotel in 1935. For decades, it was one of the cultural and social hubs of Barcelona, hosting meetings, galas, and dances of the Real Círculo Artístico de Barcelona and the Liceo Theater at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.
From the most glamorous past of Barcelona, to the present and future of our city, we arrive at Hotel REC Barcelona, a three-star establishment designed for an adult and urban clientele who enjoy discovering the most authentic corners of the city, such as undoubtedly the El Borne neighborhood. Hotel REC is located above the old layout of the REC Comtal, the great work of civil engineering built by the Romans and which lasted for centuries.
Located in the lower levels of the hotel is Fismuler, a grand eatery that has just landed in Barcelona after two years of resounding success in Madrid. There we celebrated a great tour closure, enjoying a delicious meal, simple, with fresh products from small local quality suppliers, with haute cuisine preparations that enhance traditional recipes or simple creations worthy of nouvelle cuisine. Cajun spiced steak tartare, sea anemone omelette, sautéed chickpeas with beef and langoustines, or their incredible three-cheese tart are some of the most sought-after dishes at the moment. Ideal recipes to end a special day with a good taste in your mouth.
Even though we took the tour in a minibus, Barcelona's excellent public transport network makes it a great experience to enjoy the very best of our city on any spring weekend. Never has a T-10 ticket gone so far!
