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Torre Bellesguard Review
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Torre Bellesguard
- Address: Bellesguard 16-20, Sant Gervasi, Barcelona, Catalonia | Map It
- Phone: 93/317-7652
- Category: Houses/Mansions
- Location: Sant Gervasi
Fodor's Review:
For Gaudí to the last drop, climb up above Plaça de la Bonanova to this private residence built between 1900 and 1909 over the ruins of the summer palace of the last of the sovereign count-kings of the Catalan-Aragonese realm, Martí I l'Humà (Martin I the Humane), whose reign ended in 1410. This homage to the king has a bell arch, tower, gargoyles, and crenellated battlements that are all Gaudí winks to Gothic architecture; the catenary arches and the puzzles of trencadis (broken bits of stone) of colored slate on the facade and over the windows are pure Gaudí. Built of rough slate from the Collserola hills up behind the site, Torre Bellesguard blends into the background in what seems an early example of low-impact environmental design. Look for the stained-glass red and gold markings of the Catalan senyera (banner) on the tower, which is topped by the typical four-armed Greek cross favored by Gaudí. Over the front door is the inscription sens pecat fou concebuda (without sin was she conceived) referring to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, while above on the facade appears a colorful Bell Esguard (beautiful view). On either side of the front door are benches with trencadis mosaics of playful fish bearing the crimson quatre barres (four bars) of the Catalan flag as well as the Corona d'Aragó (Crown of Aragón). The fish are a reference to Catalonia's medieval maritime empire, during which it was said that "not even a fish dared swim the Mediterranean without showing the colors of the Catalan flag." The surprisingly colorful and ornate interior of the residence is rarely viewable, though at the Càtedra Gaudí on Avinguda de Pedralbes photographic studies show the architect's interior supporting catenary arches in a number of sizes and shapes.
- Open: For visits consult the Ruta del Modernisme
- Metro: Sarria
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