Casa Vicens can without exaggeration be called the brightest attraction in the Gracia district of Barcelona. It used to be a small town consisting mainly of factory and industrial buildings, but in 1897 it became part of the capital of Catalonia. And this beautiful house appeared a little earlier, thanks to a commission from one of the most successful manufacturers in the neighborhood - Manuel Vicens.
Take a close look at the design of the building and try to guess what exactly Senor Vicens did for a living? That's right, he produced bricks and ceramic tiles! That is why the house is so richly decorated with all kinds of tiles and bright ceramic decor. And all this beauty was built by none other than Antoni Gaudi - the world-famous Spanish architect. Moreover, Casa Vicens became his first serious work after receiving his diploma. But even in this building, one can already sense the new and highly unusual for that time Art Nouveau style.
The construction of Casa Vicens lasted 5 years. In 1888, the summer residence of the Vicens family was completely finished. Near the house, Gaudi provided a garden, a rotunda, and even a fountain; he himself designed the gate grilles, balconies, windows, and the interior decoration of the rooms.
After the reconstruction of 1925, the garden with the fountain and rotunda was lost, but the external appearance of the building did not change at all. Today, any passerby can admire it. But entering inside is allowed only once a year, on May 22, Saint Rita's Day.
