The first house designed by Gaudí attracts visitors from all over the world... and the ARA Premium Club
Casa Vicens, designed by a young Antoni Gaudí in the Vila de Gràcia district, was first a summer house and later a residence. Today it can be visited.
"You have to imagine everything around you without any buildings," says the guide. We're at Casa Vicens, on an exclusive tour for the ARA Premium ClubIt's a jewel of Modernism that attracts visitors from all over the world every day. For many tourists, it's common to visit the Sagrada Família and then this treasure nestled among other buildings. Gaudí had a wonderful time, and he had a large team of artisan collaborators (and workers who probably labored in appalling conditions). When this house was built—in just two years, between 1883 and 1885—Gràcia was still an independent town, not yet annexed to Barcelona. It was built as a summer home for Manel Vicens, a stockbroker, and his wife. When Vicens died, it became their residence. Currently, Casa Vicens is owned by the Andorran bank MoraBanc and is open to the public.
Nature is one of the essential elements of the house. It's a resource that Gaudí would continue to use in his works. The iron fence of the garden facing Carolinas Street imitates a dwarf palm. Inside the house, the ceiling of the dining room's gallery overlooking the garden—a very sensory, calming space—is painted with palm trees. Furthermore, the garden has a good amount of vegetation (such as a large magnolia tree). It's a shame that the garden has shrunk due to development. There used to be a chapel and a fountain, which It has been reconstructed in the Water Museum of Cornellà.
"This house offered every comfort. It had, for example, running water. It was expanded by a disciple of Antoni Gaudí, Joan Baptista Serra Martínez, chosen by Gaudí himself, who was involved in other projects," the guide explains.
Members of the ARA Premium Club have toured all the rooms of this house, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from the first floor to the rooftop, where there are several towers that look like minarets.
The whole group couldn't fit inside the smoker's room and had to enter in groups. The smoker's room is a small, corner space, multicolored and covered in paper. macheIt has been thoroughly restored and has regained all its original splendor..Only men were allowed access to them. Above the smoking room, on the upper floor, in the same location, there is a space of the same size that was designated for women. They probably rehearsed music there. It is much more austere, which speaks to the discrimination against women at the time (which still persists to some extent).
In conversation with ARA, the guide commented that, of all the groups he has led, this was one of those that asked him the most questions.
The visit ended with a delicious snack, as night fell. The Premium Club members admired this beautiful modernist house again, now beautifully illuminated, with its Orientalist and Moorish influences. At dusk, Casa Vicens seems to have stepped out of a fairy tale.
The ARA Premium Club remains very active, with numerous experiences, including informative meetings with journalists from the company, as well as guided tours of the natural and cultural heritage of the entire country (castles, wineries, museums, natural spaces, major exhibitions...), in some cases with an aperitif or lunch included.
If you're a subscriber and want to experience things like this, take advantage of the Premium Club offer that ends today and join with a 50% discount. premium.ara.cat.