Last Updated on February 9, 2025 by Christian Heide
Away from the hustle and bustle of the city you will find an architectural gem in the tranquil neighbourhood of Sant Gervasi. Antoní Gaudí, Barcelona’s greatest architect of all time, constructed Torre Bellesguard from 1900 to 1909. The renowned Catalan architect was hired by Jaume Figueres to design this manor house. The name “Bellesguard” translates to “beautiful view.” He drew inspiration from the 15th-century medieval castle, Casa Figueres, which previously occupied the site and once belonged to Martin, King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona.
The architecture of Torre Bellesguard
The architectural style of the building is called Catalan Modernism. This used to be an art and literature movement connected to the search for a Catalan national identity. Learn more about this art movement in our blog post: Catalan Modernism – a romantic art movement.
The exterior façade reflects a Neo-Gothic style, as Gaudí designed it to honor the medieval castle that once occupied the site. Torre Bellesguard´s tower displays a four-armed cross that is very typical for Gaudí. It is decorated with red and yellow mosaics resembling the Catalan flag, with a crown at its base symbolizing the site’s link to the Crown of Aragon.
Catalan Modernism is characterized by several distinctive elements, including the use of mosaics. Gaudí, in particular, perfected a technique known as trencadís, which means “broken” in Catalan. He sourced low-quality tiles from factories, shattered them, and skillfully assembled the fragments into artistic mosaics. Beyond mosaics, tiles in general played a significant role in Modernist architecture, which flourished between approximately 1880 and 1915.
Another important aspect of Modernism is the connection to Catalan history and culture. One strong example is certainly the tower as mentioned above. Furthermore, the roof of Torre Bellesguard has the shape of a dragon. Gaudí makes a reference to famous St. George who is the patron saint of Catalonia. In addition he is the most important cultural figure of the region. According to the legend, George – Jordi in Catalan – slew a dragon and rescued a princess from being eaten by the creature. This is a recurring topic. Gaudí included Sant Jordi when constructing his masterpiece Casa Batlló.
The building is located in a quiet neighbourhood of Barcelona away from the main tourist routes. This makes it especially interesting as you also have small private groups while having a tour around the premises. It is worthwhile to spend some time in the little park around the building. Discover the art work such as vases, benches, fountains and iron works. Torre Bellesguard is a great site where to discover Gaudí while escaping the crowds.
How to get to Torre Bellesguard
The building is located at Carrer Bellesguard 20 in 08022 Barcelona. From Plaza Catalunya you can take the underground train (FGC line 7) to Avenida Tibidabo. It is a 15 minutes walk to Torre Bellesguard.
It is advisable to buy your ticket online: https://bellesguardgaudi.com/en/
Things to do at Torre Bellesguard
- Book a guided tour around the premises.
- Alternatively, buy the audio guide and discover the building yourself.
- Our colleague Angelika Heinbach from Mosaiccos offers regularly mosaic classes in Gaudí style in co-operation with Torre Bellesguard. It is a fun activity to create your own souvenir!
Restaurant recommendation close to Torre Bellesguard
La Balsa is a great restaurant just a ten minutes walk away. They offer Catalan high cuisine with a great quality. It is located in a unique space that won the FAD Architecture Prize in 1979. Its atmosphere is very special and the audience is very local. You will find colleagues on a business lunch or families celebrating a special occasion while having dinner. A truly off the beaten path location.
