Casa Vicens, one of Antoni Gaudí's earliest architectural works, is opening to guests for one night only through Airbnb, complete with a Michelin-starred dining experience.
Barcelona wouldn't sparkle so brightly without the work of Gaudí. The Catalan architect of La Sagrada Família is synonymous with the city. His church, colorfully tiled Park Güell, and iconic apartment buildings, Casa Batlló and La Padrera, draw millions of visitors each year. Casa Vicens is the one that put Gaudí on the map and kickstarted his career. It was his first masterpiece, and one of the first buildings to launch the Art Nouveau/Modernisme movement in Europe.
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Now, for the first time in Casa Vicens' 136-year history, guests will be treated to an overnight stay through Airbnb. The once-off experience includes an exclusive tour of the Unesco-listed building and its summer garden; a Gaudí-inspired, Michelin-star menu in the dining room; a nightcap in the smoking room; accommodation in the master bedroom; and a full Mediterranean breakfast in the gardens the following morning. Doors will be closed to the public on the day.
Casa Vicens was commissioned in 1882 by stock and currency broker Manuel Vicens i Montaner, who took a chance on a then 30-year-old Gaudí who was fresh out of architecture school, to create a summer home for his family. Located in Barcelona’s Gràcia district, the building with its blend of Moorish, neoclassic and Asian-inspired architecture, opened to the public as a museum and cultural space in 2017 after a major restoration project.
Soon, it will be an extraordinary place to spend the night in Barcelona for two lucky guests. Booking for the Airbnb/Casa Vicens experience opens at 4pm CEST (10am EST) on July 12, 2021, for a one-night stay for two people this autumn. Bookings are on a first come first served basis and cost a symbolic €1 (necessary to process the booking). For more information, or to book, see here.
Spain is currently open for tourism after it opened its borders in June to vaccinated travelers. If you're not lucky enough to book a night in the Casa Vicens, you can still see it on your next visit to Barcelona. Visitors are free to wander through the building, however one-hour guided tours (in Catalan, Spanish, English and French) bring the building to life.
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