Onix Mag
Modernist gems in the Eixample you won’t find in every guidebook
The Eixample is much more than just the Sagrada Familia or La Pedrera. If you’re staying at Onix Rambla, you’re just a few steps away from countless modernist buildings that don’t appear in every guide and that capture the most authentic side of Barcelona. Here are five stops to discover this architectural style without queues or crowds.
Palau Macaya is one of those modernist gems that surprises with its elegance and understated style. Designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and finished in 1901, this building was commissioned by Romà Macaya i Gibert, one of the industrialists of the time.
Its white façade, decorated with sgraffito, wrought iron details and sculptural elements, is a perfect example of the most refined modernism. Beyond its beautiful exterior, Palau Macaya holds stories from early 20th century Barcelona, when modernism was not just a style but a statement of identity.
Since 1976 it has been listed as a Cultural Asset of National Interest and a historic monument. Walking past is like discovering a living piece of Eixample history.
Address: Passeig de Sant Joan, 108
Also designed by Puig i Cadafalch, this house with its medieval look and six pointed towers looks like something out of a fairy tale. Built in 1905 for the Terradas sisters, Casa de les Punxes stands out for its ceramic details, stained glass and wrought ironwork. While its façade is the most famous part, it’s worth exploring its legends, like that of Sant Jordi, reflected in the decoration.
Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 420
At the junction of Diagonal and Balmes, Casa Comalat surprises with its double personality: a sober façade on Diagonal and another, on Carrer Còrsega, bursting with colour and curvy shapes. Designed by Salvador Valeri, it’s an example of how modernism played with fantasy and ornamentation. Its curved wooden balconies and brightly coloured mosaics are a spectacle worth stopping for.
Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 442 / Carrer de Còrsega, 316
Juan María Pérez Samper
One of Antoni Gaudí’s earliest commissions, Casa Calvet is perhaps the least known of his Barcelona works. Built between 1898 and 1900 as a home and headquarters for the Calvet family’s textile business, its façade combines simplicity and originality, with wavy balconies and sculptural details full of symbolism. The building now houses a restaurant, so you can take a peek inside and soak up the atmosphere.
Address: Carrer de Casp, 48
Designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner in 1895, Casa Thomas is a refined example of decorative modernism. It was originally the workshop and home of a printer and publisher. Its façade blends stone, iron and ceramics in perfect harmony. The balconies, ironwork and stained glass stand out, showing the attention paid to artistic crafts that are typical of this style.
Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 291
A walk through history without the crowds.
These five modernist gems offer a different way to explore the Eixample. They’re buildings that capture the spirit of a time when architecture was pure art, and you can discover them at your own pace, away from the busiest spots. Step outside, look up and let yourself be surprised by a Barcelona you won’t always see on postcards.
