Today we are going to see the masterpiece of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. Born in 1852, Gaudi designed 17 buildings over his lifetime, and most of his works are in and around Barcelona. Gaudí’s work enjoys global admiration and ongoing study. His masterpiece, the still-incomplete Sagrada Família, is the most-visited monument in Spain. Between 1984 and 2005, seven of his works were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Our guide today was Maica from Tours by Locals. She has lived her whole life in Barcelona and recounted stories from her youth.

But first, we visited another famous landmark, the Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau. This modernista style complex was designed by one of Gaudi’s professors, Lluis Domenech I Montaner. Built between 1905-1930, and now registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this “garden city” was designed to inspire and uplift the sick. It is an over-the-top complex, filled with intricate design, underground tunnels and unusual aesthetic considerations. The hospital was operational until 2003, when a larger facility was constructed just north of the original hospital.

After touring the hospital and grounds, we headed to Gaudi’s masterpiece, Sagrada Familia. Started in 1882, the Catholic Basilica is still not complete, though much of it will be completed in 2026, the 100-year anniversary of Gaudi’s death. Designed with 18 spires (of which 13 are built), the tallest spire stands at 570 ft. Built with several different types of stone, the inside pillars and buttresses were designed to mimic trees. Everywhere you look, there are elements of nature, which was important to Gaudi. The church was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI on 7 November 2010 in front of a congregation of 6,500 people.

For dinner, we enjoyed tapas at the restaurant Canete, noted as Best Tapas in Barcelona in 2025 and also a Michelin Star restaurant. We had some interesting things of which most of us tried; steak tartar, baby shrimp in egg, fish with bacon, green beans with parmesan, tomato toast, cheeses and hams.

Tomorrow: Monserrat