Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Thebuilding,designedbyDomènechiMontanerforthepublishinghouseEditorialMontaner
iSimón(runbyacousinofthearchitect), combines abrick-covered ironframewithIslamic-
inspired decoration. Tàpies crowned it with the meanderings of his own mind, a work called
Núvol i Cadira
(Cloud and Chair) that spirals above the building like a storm.
Although it's difficult to understand the art of Antoni Tàpies, it's worth seeing the one-hour
documentaryonhislife,onthetopfloor,tounderstandhisinfluences,methodandthecourse
of his interesting life. In his work, Tàpies expressed a number of themes, such as left-wing
politics and humanitarianism; the practices of Zen meditation and its relationship between
nature and insight; incarnation as seen in Christian faith; and art as alchemy or magic.
He launched the Fundació in 1984 to promote contemporary art, donating a large part of his
own work. The collection spans the arc of Tàpies' creations (with more than 800 works) and
contributions from other contemporary artists. In the main exhibition area (level 1, upstairs)
you can see an ever-changing selection of around 20 of Tàpies' works, from early self-por-
traits of the 1940s to grand items like
Jersei Negre
(Black Jumper; 2008). Level 2 hosts a
smallspacefortemporaryexhibitions.Rotatingexhibitionstakeplaceinthebasementlevels.
Casa Lleó MoreraARCHITECTURE
Gràcia 35; adult/concession/child under 12yr €15/€13.50/free; icon-hoursgif
h
guided tour in
English 10am Mon-Sat; icon-metrogif
m
Passeig de Gràcia)
Domènech i Montaner's 1905 contribution to the Manzana de la Discordia, with Modernista
carving outside and a bright, tiled lobby in which floral motifs predominate, is perhaps the
least odd-looking of the three main buildings on the block. In 2014 part of the building was
opened to the public (by guided tour only), so you can appreciate the 1st floor, giddy with
swirling sculptures, rich mosaics and whimsical decor.
Casa AmatllerARCHITECTURE
41; tour €10; icon-hoursgif
h
tour Sat; icon-metrogif
m
Passeig de Gràcia)icon-free
F
One of Puig i Cadafalch's most striking bits of Modernista fantasy, Casa Amatller combines
Gothic window frames with a stepped gable borrowed from Dutch urban architecture. But
thebustsandreliefsofdragons,knightsandothercharacters drippingoffthemainfacadeare
pure caprice.
