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Three great cities in Europe to visit if you love design and architecture

Three great cities in Europe to visit if you love design and architecture

Venice, Vienna and Barcelona

 

I love architecture and when I am travelling I let me inspire by lots of different buildings, art and design. The cities I will tell you about below are maybe not the first cities you think of when you think of architecture. That is one of the reasons that I point them out to you. The other reason I point them out is because I love those cities!

 

Venice
The whole city is one piece of art. Built on the water and how the rivers flow organic through it. There is also a lot of great design, from classic to modern. For example a modern bridge by Calatrava and the old Rialto bridge by Antonio da Ponte. Venice has a lot of old buildings, the most famous style here is the Venetian Gothic architecture.
 
Every year there is a Biennale in Venice from half May till November. Every opposite year there is is Art and the other year there is Architecture. It is definitely worth visiting! When the Biennale is in the city there is even more art and design that you can mesmerize and it is spread out over the city. When was in Venice during the art Biennale I had the feeling that I was walking in one big museum.

Venice
'Support' artwork during Art Biennale 2017, Venice
Rialto Bridge, Venice

Vienna
Vienna has a lot of nice architecture. Think classic, think palaces but also known for the art and architecture of Hundertwasser. I love Hundertwasser because of his refreshingly difference in his architecture, the freedom he gives the architecture. He has almost no straight lines in his work. From whom you could say he was innovative and created his own style, also known as very organic and colourful. You will definitely recognize his work from all the colours and the trees that grow out of the buildings.
 
But Vienna is more than only Hundertwasser, what I said think classic, think palaces. Hofburg palace is where Elisabeth in Beieren (aka Sissi) was Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary by marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph I. Also known from the Sissi movies, maybe more for my followers from Europe, the movies are filmed at Schloss Schönbrunn what you can also find in Vienna. Both palaces worth visiting.

Hundertwasserhaus, Vienna
Schloss Schönbrunn, Vienna
Hofburg, Vienna

Barcelona
If I think Barcelona I think Gaudí! Antoni Gaudí took over the city with his beautiful buildings. He is famous for his Sagrada Família, a big church which they started building in 1882 and plannend to be finished in 2026.
In Barcelona you can find several pieces of his work for example; Park Güell, Casa Batlló, Casa Milà, Colegio Teresiano. He is considered a founder of organic architecture. His work belongs to the Art Nouveau / Jugendstil.
 
What I like most about Barcelona except from the beautiful architecture from Gaudí is the diversity of buildings. The other thing I like is the fact that the city is directly next to the beach. The city has great vibes but also crowded with a lot of tourists.

Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor, Barcelona
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
Park Güell, Barcelona

Enjoy your travels, enjoy the architecture / design and enjoy Venice, Vienna and Barcelona!