Free Gaudí Bike Tour

Description of the route point to point:

1,3 Km: Güell Palace

The first stop of this Gaudí bike tour is just a few meters away from our By-Cycle shop. Güell Palace is the first big commission asigned to Antoni Gaudí. Palau Güell (said in catalan language) is situated in Nou de la Rambla street, one of the most famous and crowded streets in Raval neighborhood. Gaudí made a great effort with this building because it was his first big order. Palau Güell can be placed in the “orientalist” period of Antoni Gaudí’s work, where the architect was inspired by islamic and asian art (India, Japan, Persia, hispanic-islamic…). He uses a lot of ceramic and tiles. Gaudí designed 25 different façades for the building before starting the construction.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

1,6 Km: Plaça Reial lightlamps

Crossing the Ramblas and just a few meters away from Palau Güell there is Plaça Reial, one of the most crowded and busy spots of Barcelona city center. Most of the people go to Plaça Reial for the nightlife of restaurants and clubs, but just a few people know that the lightlamps of this beautiful square were the very first work of a very young Antoni Gaudí. They were placed in the plaza in 1879.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

3,2 Km: Casa Calvet

Continuing our Gaudí Bike tour it is time to get out of Barcelona city center. 1,6 km away from Plaça Reial, out of the busy old town and in a relatively quiet area we can see Calvet House. This house was built in year 1900, under comission of a textile businessman, mr Calvet. This building is one of the most classic styles of Antoni Gaudí, inspired by shapes of nature, plants and animals. This is a private building and we can’t access inside, so the only pictures you will be able to take are those from outside.

4,6 Km: Casa Batlló

From the quiet area of Casa Calvet, we will go now to one of the most renowned and famous streets in Barcelona: Passeig de Gràcia. Here we will find two of the most visited Gaudí’s works, worldwide famous both of them. The first one is Batlló house. Built after Calvet house, is part of the “naturist” period of Antoni Gaudí, when he was inspired by nature’s shapes. Batlló house was a reformation of an already existing building in that same place and not a new building from scratch. In that time Gaudí was already a well known and famous architect with many works going on at the same time in Barcelona and other cities of Spain. Batlló house can be visited inside (we recommend you to get the ticket in advance). You will find Batlló house easily because in front of it you will see a crowd of tourists queueing and taking pictures of the façade. The Batlló house celebrated its 100th aniversary in 2006.

5,6 km: Casa Milà (La Pedrera)

Two streets away from Batlló house and still in Passeig de Gràcia Street we can find the second jewel: Milà house as known as “La Pedrera” (the quarry in english). It was built straight after finishing the works in Batlló house, between 1906 and 1910. Since its opening to the public in 1987 has received over 20 million visitors, making it one of the most visited monuments in Spain. Like many other buildings made by Antoni Gaudí Milà house was a commission from a well positioned family of Barcelona, who became rich thanks to the textile industry (like many other families around Catalonia). Milà house is a 6 floor house divided in two different buildings but placed inside the same structure. It can be placed in Antoni Gaudí’s “naturalistic” era, his most prolific period of his life when he created all the most famous works of his life. Milà house is specially famous for its magnificent terrace, where Gaudí placed the chimneys and ventilation exits. Those chimneys have different shapes, some of them similar to the helmet of a warrior. In fact this shapes inspired George Lucas for the creation of the helmets of the imperial soldiers of the Star Wars saga. 

7,8 km: Sagrada Familia

How are you doing at this point of the Gaudí bike tour? Still haven’t had enough of art and bike riding? You should be ready now to visit one of the most well known catholic temples in the world: Sagrada Familia. It is one of the most visited monuments in Spain, together with Prado museum in Madrid and Alhambra in Granada. Sagrada Familia is the second most visited catholic church in Europe just after Saint Peter’s in Vatican city. In Sagrada Familia you can see all the work and knowledge Antoni Gaudí accumulated during his whole life, and is the best example of all the techinques and technical solutions he had been applying in other works during the previous years. Still under construction, Antoni Gaudí worked in Sagrada Familia during the majority of his professional life till the day of his death. Sagrada Familia, like other works from Antoni Gaudí, is listed as World Heritage sites by UNESCO. All the knowledge and influences that are characteristic of Antoni Gaudí are found in Sagrada Familia. As well, the level of detail of every single corner is absolutely incredible: along with Gaudí designs many other sculptors and artists placed their works inside and outside the building. Sagrada Familia will be finished by 2026, when will make 100 years of the death of Antoni Gaudí. Don’t miss it while your visit in Barcelona!

10,5 km: Vicens House

After visiting the Sagrada Familia the next things you will visit will seem so simple. But putting everything in context every work of Antoni Gaudí is important for a reason. Vicens house was the first big commission held to Antoni Gaudí, in 1883. By that time Gràcia was an independent city from Barcelona (now has become a neighborhood) with its own city council and administration. Being this the first big work of Antoni Gaudí, just a few years after finishing his studies, we can distinguish a more simple structure of the building, full of straight lines and a clear asian influence on shapes and colours. 

Image: Wikimedia Commons

12,5 km: Park Güell

After Casa Vicens we are arriving to the last stop of our Gaudí bike tour. From Casa Vicens be ready to face 2 more km and a little bit of uphill till reaching Park Güell. From Casa Vicens you will cross the Gràcia neighborhood: make a drink or take a rest there if you want. Just over Gràcia neighborhood is situated Park Güell. Park Güell is a public park but at first it was created to become a high standing urbanization with equipment for the inhabitants. It was a commission of catalan businessman Eusebi Güell. As many other works of Antoni Gaudí, Park Güell was built during the first decade of the 20th century, and can be placed in the “naturalist” period of Antoni Gaudí. Park Güell is the best example of that inspiration: every shape found in the park remembers to some shape found in nature. Since 2016 the access to the park is limited for avoiding overcrowdings that may cause damage to the premises, so get your ticket in advance!