9. It’s an Artistically Awesome City
Barcelona has long been renowned as a creative hub of the art world. The three most notable 20th century Spanish artists – Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro and Salvador Dali – all spent influential time in the Catalan capital. All three have must-see museums in or near the city, displaying some of the best cubist and surrealist art in the world. Impressive examples of Gothic, Moderniste and Art Nouveau architecture also give Barcelona a distinctive pedigree. As for a musical claim to fame, leading tenor José Carreras hails from Barcelona too.
10. Gaudi’s Project isn’t Done Yet
Any list of Barcelona Spain facts has to include some tidbits about architect Antoni Gaudi and his famous La Sagrada Familia church. The first little-known fact is that Gaudi was not the original architect on the project. Francisco de Paula del Villar was originally commissioned to design it. He started to build its crypt in 1882 but retired a year later. Then Gaudi took over and radically altered the original plans. Another fascinating tidbit is that the project is still a work in progress 132 years later. Current hopes are that this architectural masterpiece will be finished around 2026. It is taking significantly longer to build than the Great Pyramids of Egypt.
