There are a few things that set Barcelona apart from many of its European metropolitan brethren. Beaches, nightlife and Gaudi architecture.

Over the course of his career, Gaudi veered from a gothic style to his own unique take on things, which incorporated natural forms and shapes. Those ideas, plus Gaudi’s work to incorporate new construction methods are what made his designs trailblazing. The colors and the shapes he pulls together are a far cry from most European buildings created during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

After suffering several personal misfortunes, Gaudi withdrew from public life and worked feverishly on Sagrada Familia, his unfinished masterpiece. In 1926, he died tragically after being hit by a tram and being left on the ground badly injured for an extended period of time. No one would pick him up because he was unrecognizable in pauper clothing.

Here are a few of his key works in Barcelona:

La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia is considered his masterpiece. It has different looks from each angle. One side is very much in a Gothic tradition and has aspects that look like a cave, on the side are huts appropriate for a hobbit and (below) an angular somewhat futuristic side that looks to me like the holy family is a group of robots. Some of it is very beautiful, some looks horrendous, but it’s undeniably fascinating.

Sadly, it will never be finished according to his vision. While it’s scheduled for completion in 2026 after nearly 140 years (it began construction in 1882), Gaudi’s final plans were destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. Much of what’s been added in recent years is guess work and extrapolation, not his actual design.

Casa Mila

In addition to the flowing arches, there are a couple of other unique features to the building below.

Gaudi designed it specifically to encourage the residents to socialize. It’s a roughly circular building with a large atrium in the middle, so all of the interior balconies look in on the other balconies. That atrium also provides a large gathering space on the ground floor. And in a flourish a bit more extreme, he provided lift access on every other level, forcing half of the residents to walk up or down a floor and meet residents from other floors.

Park Guell

One of my favorite spots in Barcelona. It’s a huge park up on the hillside, providing views of the entire city, especially if you make the trek all the way up to the Three Crosses, a natural peak that’s been enhanced with a monument and viewing deck.

Gaudi was tasked with designing the park, which extends well beyond the most known components such as the dragon and the serpentine mosaic benches. There are acres of footpaths (natural and man-made with a Gaudi touch). If you’re lucky (as I was), you might also stumble on a flock of wild parakeets that has steadily grown since they escaped captivity and started breeding in the 1970s.

Casa Battlo

This apartment building, originally built as middle class apartments, incorporates some of the best aspects of Casa Mila and Park Guell. Cracked tile mosaic patterns are spread throughout. Curves, stained glass, arches and irregular ovals fill the entire interior of the space.

Known as the Casa del Ossos (House of Bones), it definitely has a creepy skeletal feel to it, despite the bright colors weaved into every room and surface.