Cristòfor from Barcelona

About me I was born in Barcelona in 1991, just one year before my city celebrated the arrival of the memorable Olympic Games. Last year, I graduated from the Universitat de Barcelona (UB), with an English Literature and Linguistics degree, during which I spent half a year doing an Erasmus exchange in Warsaw, Poland, which is where I began learning Polish. I'm currently trying to...

Feb 28, 2025

Portal Miralles Barcelona

A rare Gaudí gem

""Portal Miralles" is one of Gaudí's works that even locals in the city aren't aware was made by the famous Barcelonin. It's a true hidden gem..."

Without Gaudí's architecture, Barcelona would have a completely different identity.

Everyone knows of Gaudí's work, and most people who have visited the city will probably have experienced at least one of his well-known works such as La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell or La Pedrera.

However, what many people do not know (not even barcelonins) is that Gaudí was responsible for some hidden gems around the city.

Portal Miralles, in Sarrià, is one of those gems.

In 1901, as Gaudí was starting work on Park Güell, he was approached by an industrialist, with whom he collaborated before, called Eugeni Miralles. Miralles commissioned Gaudí to design a private house with a perimeter wall in Sarrià. Gaudí started work but ended up only doing the wall and entrance gate. His assistant, Domingo Sugrañes, built the house, which does not exist anymore.

This huge, 8-meter-high arch, complete with wavy wall and trencadís, topped with a wrought-iron cross, seems to appear out of nowhere, almost surreally, because the original building has gone and it is surrounded by modern apartments.

There is a human-sized statue of Antoni Gaudí by sculptor Joaquim Camps, standing in the entrance.

If you continue walking along the same street, you'll find the impressive Pavellons Güell, another Gaudí gem, which is currently under renovation.

Being honest, I did not know about this architectural gem before; I came across it recently when I was exploring Sarrià with a friend, and I was really impressed. As I think you will be, too.

Art & culture

About this spot

Passeig de Manuel Girona 55

€

no-price

Website

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