by mediterranean_girl on January 1, 2008
Anyone interested in Antoni Gaudi, the eccentric Catalan architect, should visit La Pedrera, designed in 1905. I know there is a mass of choice of Gaudi architecture to visit in Barcelona, including his more famous Sagrada Familia, but this little gem is unmissible. It's an amazing building packed with things to see, including a thoughtful museum, stunning roof-top views and (best of all, in my opinion) the recreation of a completely furnished, turn-of-the-century apartment. Even with my two trusty maps I found it difficult to find La Pedrera and had to ask for directions. If you look for the junction between Passeig de Gracia and Carrer Provenca you should be able to find it much easier then I did. It is quite distinctive when you do spot it. From the outside it looks like it’s curving stone edges have melted in the sun (La Pedrera is a nickname, Catalan for The Quarry or Stone Pile).I left it a bit late so there was a queue when I got there. At busier times of the year (I went in October) I would recommend you go as early as possible. The website www.lapedreraeducacio.org has information on opening time, which seem to vary throughout the year. It cost 8 Euros to get in – a bargain when you discover all there is to see. There’s also the usual gift shop, audio tour malarkey you find at major tourist attractions, though I will say I got on fine without an audio guide and thought that the prices at the gift shop were quite reasonable (a good place to stock up on souvenirs I’d say).After paying and admiring the beautiful courtyard you can go up to the main parts of the museum by elevator where can choose which part of the building to explore first: the rooftop, the Gaudi museum or reconstructed apartment. I ended up going through the museum first. It’s an excellent, informative museum about Gaudi and his architecture, including architectural models of his work and displays of natural materials that inspired him. Other state-of-the-art exhibits included video consoles highlighting different aspects of Gaudi’s design throughout La Pedrera: the woodwork, metalwork and tiling.I then wandered out onto the roof which has some excellent view of the Eixample and the Sagrada Familia. All the chimneys are elaborately decorated to the point where you have to think that Gaudi must have intended people to see and admire the details. Wandering back down to the museum I followed some signs to the floor below where the apartment was.The reconstructed apartment was truly fascinating. Inside you could see how every detail of Gaudi’s design was beautifully planned, from the art nouveaux friezes around the windows and doors, to the elegant curved handles and the small, but-perfectly-formed laundry room. They have taken great pains to recreate every detail of a turn-of-the-century apartment – including original furniture, wallpaper and decorations. Visiting La Pedrera was definitely a highlight for me and I would highly recommend
http://www.igougo.com/review-r1342707-La_Pedrera.html
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