The incomparable beauty of Barcelona's Golden Square

Introduction

If there's one thing Barcelona is famous for, it's its architecture. The city is home to some of the most impressive and iconic buildings in the world, many of which are located in the Golden Square.

This quadrant in the heart of Barcelona's L'Eixample district is home to some of the city's most famous modernist buildings, including works by Antoni Gaudí, Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Lluís Domènech i Montaner. Each architect competed with the others to create the most extravagant and luxurious house possible, and the results are impressive.

Stroll through this historic square and admire the beauty of Barcelona architecture at its best.

When the walls that choked the old Barcelona were destroyed in 1863, the new Eixample, designed by the urban planner Cerdà, was inaugurated and wealthy families moved to the new neighbourhood, which gave rise to the almost fantasy that can be seen today walking through its streets.

What is the Golden Square of Barcelona?

The bourgeois Barcelona of the 19th and early 20th centuries unfolds in the famous Golden Square of L'Eixample, which brings together jewels of modernist architecture. Bounded on the sides by Carrer de Aribau and Passeig de Sant Joan, by Avenida Diagonal at the top and Plaza de Catalunya at the bottom, the Golden Square has the famous Passeig de Gràcia as its artery, avenue of recreation for the wealthy classes of the early twentieth century.

Barcelona's Golden Square, also known as L'Eixample, is a beautiful neighborhood of the city that is home to some of the most emblematic buildings in the world. This square owes its name to the golden buildings that line its streets. Here are the works of Antoni Gaudí, Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Lluís Domènech i Montaner.

These architects were famous for their modernist style, and their works are some of the most celebrated in Barcelona. If you're looking for a taste of the city's history and culture, be sure to visit the Golden Square. You won't be disappointed.

How the architectural explosion of Gaudí, Puig i Cadafalch and Domènech i Montaner is concentrated in the Golden Square

When you walk through Barcelona's Golden Square, you are walking through the heart of the city's modernist movement.

Here you can find the works of Antoni Gaudí, Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, three of the most emblematic architects of the city. Each of them left their mark on this square, considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The buildings in this square are a testament to the creativity and competition between the bourgeois families of Barcelona at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. They wanted the most luxurious and extravagant houses possible, and they were willing to fight for them. This gave rise to some of the most beautiful architecture in the city.

Discover the competition between bourgeois families to have the most luxurious and extravagant houses

According to the guides, the Golden Square was the result of competition between bourgeois families who wanted to have the most luxurious and extravagant houses. The most prestigious architects of the time, such as Antoni Gaudí, Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, set to work so that each family would have their own mansion in the neighbourhood.

The facades of these houses reflect the opulence and purchasing power of the families that inhabited them. Some of the most important houses are Casa Amatller, designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch, or Casa Lleó Morera, built by Lluís Domènech i Montaner. Both architects had their own identifiable style: Puig i Cadafalch was characterized by his organic forms and Doménech i Montaner by his Art Nouveau details.

Visiting the Golden Square is a unique opportunity to discover the origins of modernism in Barcelona.

The Battle Between Three Prestigious Architects: Gaudí, Puig i Cadafalch and Domènech i Montaner

Walking around the Golden Square is admiring the best work of the three great architects. Gaudí dazzled with the impressive Güell Palace, built for an industrial family, and with the Calvet house, which impresses as it is a very successful building in terms of the proportion and shape of its façade. Puig i Cadafalch distinguished himself with his superb Casa Amatller, a work that combines modernist influences with Arab elegance. Domènech i Montaner's most outstanding work was the Casa Lleó Morera, a sober example of Catalan modernism. In addition, the three architects competed working on the same site: Casa Fuster, designed by Gaudí and built in 1905.

Marvels emerged from this competition in the form of modernist buildings, with stylistic refinement and impressive façades that spared no expense in the use of materials such as ceramics, wrought iron, wood, and glass. Infinite stained glass windows of multiple colors, flowers and impossible shapes on each façade, large windows with organic shapes, majestic doors. A spectacle for the eyes and the memory and a legacy of luxury and modernism.

Appreciate the beauty of art from another era in Barcelona's Golden Square

There is nothing more impressive than being able to appreciate the beauty of art from another era in Barcelona's Golden Square. These modernist buildings are full of extraordinary details that allow you to travel back in time and discover the culture, lifestyle and artistic ideas that characterized that brilliant era.

From the famous Gabrieli balconies to the exquisite columns, the detailed and visually appealing designs are worthy of admiration. You can also feel the rich colors of the mosaic and ornamental decorations with which facades were decorated; they all add to the intense harmony created by these masterpieces. Of course, there are also some more humble constructions, which still retain that unique charm of yesteryear thanks to the meticulous care with which they were built.

Conclusion

The incomparable beauty of Barcelona's Golden Square is a must-see for any visitor to the city. With its magnificent architecture and history, it is a sight to behold. Come see for yourself why this place is so special!