Moderniste or Modernist

Wherever you go, it’s an architecture festa. The world’s top architects have graced the city with their works such as French architect Jean Nouvel’s shimmering Agbar Tower (amazing both by day and by night), the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia by native Antonio Gaudi or Ameri­can Frank Gehry’s gigantic steel lattice fish. (The fish is actu­ally part of the one of the most luxurious hotels in town, the Hotel Arts [see Where to Stay].)

Gaudi was a Moderniste, a major style in Barcelona bet­ter known in the rest of the world by its French name, Art Nouveau (think Tiffany lamps or Paris metro entrances). But Gaudi pushed Modernisme in a very personal direction that went far beyond anything existing or that has come since. His Sagrada Familia (still in construction 125 years after the first stone was laid) is one of Spain’s most visited monu­ments, but his true masterpiece is the Casa Batllo (Passeig de Gracia 43, +34 93 216 03 06, 9am-8pm). Its organic shapes, textures and aquamarine colors whisk you away to a Jules Verne-esque dreamscape. On the same avenue, you can hit some high-end luxury boutiques like the Spanish luxury brand Lowe (Passeig de Gracia 34, +34 93 216 04 00), the not so luxurious (and ubiquitous) Zara or international names like Vuitton and Chanel.

If you’re more into the hard-cutting lines of Modernism (the English word this time, nothing to do with Modern­isme) head to Mies Van der Rohe’s Berlin Pavilion (Av. Mar­quès de Comillas, 10am-8pm, +34 93 423 4016), built in 1929 for the Barcelona World’s Fair. The single-story “less is more” structure divides space and light with a perfection that continues to be the model for every chic minimalist architect and interior designer out there. Other modern gems include the Olympic Flame (Olympic Stadium) and the Joan Miro Foundation (Parc de Montjuic, +34 93 443 94 70), which also contains the artist’s masterpieces, of course.