Going through all the books and videos I can find. If someone has a recommendation for a company or a more specific website to check, please let me know. Trying to locate a tour service or private guide that does a “Gaudí and Friends” style adventure that includes the stellar attractions but also some of the lesser known and possibly less crowded buildings, homes, parks, museums, shops.
Thx.
Posted by
WA State
3961 posts
This link may be helpful: Edited to add: Enric who was our go to for our Barcelona visit in 2016 commented on this subject. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/spain/gaudi-architecture-tour-guide-barcelona We always hire guides when traveling. The only time we did a free small group tour was in Barcelona & Madrid. We took the Gaudi and Gothic Tours in Barcelona. There were less than 10 participants and the guide was very knowledgeable and engaging. Otherwise we’ve done private or small group tours. Runner Bean was our tour in Barcelona. They advertise private tours as well.
Posted by
Washington DC
28083 posts
The Barcelona tourist office used to offer a modernisme tour. I don't know whether it still does. The cost was reasonable, and because it wasn't "free" the group was quite small.
If you're willing to devote a good bit of time to visiting modernisme-related sights, consult the website rutadelmodernisme.com. It publishes a guidebook and map that are very, very reasonably priced and accompanied by a discount-coupon book that will save you some money if you go to secondary sights. It's coverage extends beyond Barcelona. It's not practical to use the coupons at the big-name sights because the ticket lines are so long; you need to buy those tickets before showing up at places like Casa Mila/La Pedrera. Here's a link showing where you can buy the guidebook:
https://rutadelmodernisme.com/en/modernisme-route/#guia-preus
I don't mean to suggest that there would be no value in having a guide, but there are modernista buildings all over the place, and you could spend a lot of money covering the guide's time while in transit between them. Most if not all the Gaudi sites have audioguides available. In general, if you can go inside a modernista building in Barcelona, there will be an audioguide to rent. That included Colonia Guell as of 2016.
There are many other buildings with lovely exteriors that you will not be able to enter (though I suppose there may be a $$$ guide with connections to get you into a few of them). That's where the Ruta del Modernisme guidebook is so handy. You can use the map to pinpoint where to wander (mainly in the Eixample area), then read the brief write-up in the guidebook.
It's worth thinking about whether you want to pay a guide to take you to the very crowded places you can reach easily and visit on your own with an audio guide (assuming they even allow privately-guided groups), hire someone to do mainly walk-bys of the scattered exterior-only sights while providing commentary, or have a guide take you to the less-centrally-located spots (convenient but yielding fewer sights per day).
If you have a generous amount of time for this activity, consider a trip to Reus, Gaudi's hometown. There are no buildings designed by Gaudi there, but the Gaudi Center is worthwhile, and there are two very attractive Domenich i Montaner sites allowing inside visits--Casa Navas and the Pere Mata Institute.
Posted by
OP
Boise, Idaho
1258 posts
Acraven and Janis: Thanks to both of you! Very much appreciated.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
I think the problem is that there are so many sights, that to include the big ones and also just one or two of the lesser ones, would instantly fill a day.
I’d recommend a DIY over 2 days.
Anton Gaudi Barcelona Sites
The BIG FOUR paid sites …
1. Casa Batlló
2. Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
3. Park Güell
4. Sagrada Família
The LESSER FOUR paid sites …
1. Palau Güell
2. Casa Vicens
3. Torre Bellesguard
4. Colònia Güell (out of town)
Worth viewing from the exterior …
1. Teresians’ Convent & College
2. Casa Calvet
Free sites to track down …
1. Lamp Posts in Placa Reial
2. Gates of the Güell Estate
3. Gate & Wall at the Miralles Estate
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10627 posts
You can sign up for a guided tour with your tickets at La Sagrada Familia and Parc Gruëll. Then you can go to the other places and discover on your own as David suggested.
I'm saying this because I can't find a Modernisme your tailored to our needs. Our group of five has already spent a lot of time at La Sagrada Familia, so we want a tour of other structures. Can't find one that fits.
Posted by
3440 posts
I don't know if Gaudi and Montaner were friends, but Saint Pau is absolutely worth the 10 minute walk from Sagrada Familia. This and the Palace of Catalan Music were my favorite Modernisme sites in Barcelona.
Posted by
Washington DC
28083 posts
The convent is behind a solid wall . There's a guard at the gate, and I was not allowed to set one foot inside the gate. As I recall, you can't see much at all from the gate--so much so that I felt the walk over there wasn't worthwhile.
Edited to add: I'm 5'3". I don't remember how tall the wall is. I guess it's possible a really tall person could see over it. Or a dedicated person could buy a step stool. Maybe next time.