Barcelona has a vast history of architecture with many buildings in the Gothic Quarter dating back to Medieval times.  Barcelona is also home to several World Heritage Sites including the Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and also many works by Antoni Gaudí: Park Güell, Palau Güell, Casa Milà, Casa Vicens, Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, and the Crypt in Colonia Güell.

Antoni Gaudí is probably best internationally known for his still unfinished church of the Sagrada Família, which he began construction on in 1882.  He devoted more than 40 years of his life to its design and construction before dying in 1926.  The church is currently scheduled for completion in 2026.

Two other notable architects are Lluís Domènech i Montaner, who designed the Palau de la Música Catalana, the Hospital de Sant Pau and the Casa Lleó Morera, and Josep Puig i Cadafalch, who’s Casa Ametller can be seen on Passeig de Gràcia.

As a result of the 1992 Summer Olympics constructions, building such as the Hotel Arts and its next-door twin the Torre Mapfre have turned Barcelona into a center for avant-garde architecture.  The also famous, and possibly infamous, Torre Agbar has received conflicting reviews.  Due to its unusual shape, the building has earned many derogatory nicknames from both locals and tourists. 

Barcelona won the 1999 RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture.  As of 2007, this was the first and only time a city itself, and not an individual architect, has won the award.

Barcelona Modernisme Route (La Ruta del Modernisme)

This exciting itinerary takes you through the Barcelona of Gaudí, Domènech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch, the architects who, together with others, made Barcelona the world capital of Modernisme. This Route lets you discover impressive palatial residences, amazing houses, the temple that has become a symbol of the city and a huge hospital, but it also includes humbler and more everyday buildings and items such as chemists’, shops, lampposts and benches - 115 works in all which show that “Art Nouveau” put down strong roots in Barcelona and today “Modernisme” is still an art that is alive and part of life in the city.

You can follow the route with the help of signs on the street pavement. These are small paving stones that mark out the main treasures of the Route. To do the itinerary you will have to buy a copy of the Modernisme Route guidebook which you can find in all the best bookshops and all the Modernisme Centres. All profits from the sale of the Modernisme Route guidebook go towards protecting the city’s Modernista heritage.

The Modernisme Route was organised by the Municipal Institute for Urban Landscape and Quality of Life, with the support of the Route’s Honorary Council, as part of a campaign run by Barcelona City Council under the title of “Barcelona, posa’t guapa” (Barcelona, Make Yourself Pretty) to improve the urban landscape.