Barcelona Weekend Break

Casa Bellesguard

Gaudi started work on this building in 1900 and left it, still not fully completed, in 1909. At this point the work was taken over by Domenec Sugranes and the structure was finally finished in 1917. (Most of Domenec Sugranes inclusions were cosmetic and many were unattached to the building itself.)

The Bellesguard, which is also called the Torre de Bellesguard and sometimes the Casa Figueras has an interesting history to it. It is built on the ruins of the last king of Catalonia's palace and many site this as yet another example of Gaudi's regional nationalism (i.e. to Catalonia and it provinces). The Torre de Bellesguard was constructed as a private house.

The Bellesguard certainly has many "Gaudiesque" features, but it is also very different to most of his better known, grander and later designs.

Firstly, the Bellesguard is built in a brownish, greyish, red terracotta brick and lacks the mosaics and bright colours of his later designs. Even so, the building's shape, windows, roof and tower make it an obvious example of Gaudi's work.

The second element that, if not absent - is less well defined, is the curvy and almost Islamic influence from the Moors. The Bellesguard building does have this, but you have to look for it. Gaudi's later works boasted curves and reflections of structures like the Alhambra, but at this stage he was still exploring these themes.

Once inside the Torre de Bellesguard, Gaudi's style and design are obvious, though again in a more subtle way than in some of his later designs. The building is bright and airy, but stained glass, mosaics, columns at strange angles and many of his other later trademarks are absent.

Visiting this building will take you away from central Barcelona, but if you are a Gaudi fan, it will be worth it.