Gaudi Beyond the City

This little bronze man you see is the only statue known to exist of Barcelona's most famous architect - Antoni Gaudi.  The builder of the Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell and the Casa Batlló, his name is synonymous with the modernist period that makes the city's buildings seem more a fantasy than a reality.  Tucked away in a remote neighborhood called Sarria, I had no idea it even existed until last Friday. Same goes for this dragon gate of his:
                        



Not to mention a church outside of Barcelona erected completely out of recycled building material both outside...

  and inside.

Plus, the most comfortable bench I'd ever sat on:








To see these and visit a village Gaudi took part in designing, you can plan it out before hand and use public transit, or spend a little money and take a tour on an air-conditioned bus, where your knowledgeable guide can also fill you in on a little bit of the city's history.