Roman Occupation (03:25)

FREE PREVIEW

Barcelona has been conquered by the Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Bourbons, and Carolingians. Roman aqueducts brought water into the heart of the town. Subterranean Barcelona contained ruins from ancient occupations.

Les Drassanes Reials (02:24)

Builders erected the medieval shipyard in the 14th century and improved the harbor. The Archduke of Austria defeated the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto on a ship constructed in Barcelona. Wealthy traders built palaces on Carrer de Montcada.

Santa Maria de Mar Church (05:10)

Berenguer de Montagut and Ramon Despuig designed the church without flying buttresses. Ildefons Cerda was a progressive planner who created the "Eixample." Passeig de Gracia contained buildings by Antoni Gaudi, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and Josep Puig i Cadafalch.

Casa Batlló (02:15)

The building, mistaken as the Turkish Consulate, represented the dragon killed by St. George. Gaudi redesigned the building to add curves and tiled walls.

Palau de la Musica Catalana (01:56)

Designed by Domènech I Montaner, the concert hall was a leading force in the Catalan cultural movement that came to be known as "the Renaixença." The hall was constructed for Orfeó Catalá and other choral societies.

Casa Mila (06:19)

Located on the Passeig de Gracia, the building was Gaudi's last secular work before dedicating his life to La Sagrada Familia. The Josephine's initially funded the church project and Gaudi completed "The Nativity" and the "The Passion" facades during his lifetime.

Hospital de Santa Creu i de Sant Pau (05:01)

Domenech I Montaner designed the last completed modernista building. Josep Lluís Sert I López was the architect for Casa Bloc. The Barcelona Pavilion served as the German Pavilion for the 1929 International Exposition. Francisco Franco's rule obliterated the Catalan spirit until the 1992 Olympic Games.

Credits: Barcelona (00:30)

Credits: Barcelona