Shortly after graduating as a master architect, and in the span of one year, Gaudi's brother, mother and sister passed away. Deeply religious, one of Gaudi's first commissions was the project management and construction of the cathedral "La Sagrada Familia" in Barcelona. Although already under construction in 1883, the cathedral remained unfinished even after Gaudi's death in 1926. However, during his lifetime, Gaudi changed the face of Barcelona with his 'fantastical' creations. His provocative works stirred political, religious and social passions and controversy during, and after, his lifetime. In his biography of Gaudi, author Gijs van Hensbergen writes: "His imagination burnt holes through the musty pattern books...his gift was an amazing capacity to imagine a building and then transform it into reality." The last episode of this great man's story is one of the darkest in contemporary Spanish history. During the Spanish Civil War, the police desecrated Gaudí's tomb and it remained opened until 1939 when a group of his friends identified his remains and resealed the tomb.

Major works:

• La Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Barcelona, Spain (1889-1926)
• Palacio Güell, Barcelona (1885-1889)
• Parco Güell, Barcelona (1900-1914)
• Casa Mila, Barcelona (1905-1907)

• Les Rambles
  
  Barcelona is equally famed for its best loved street, La Rambla, which ranks as one of the world's greatest boulevards. It's made up of five wide streets, strung together and stretching from Placa Catalunya down to the Christopher Columbus monument at the harbour.
  
  This tree-lined walkway has been described as an open-air theatre in which everyone is an actor. It's one of the best places on earth to people watch... just make sure one of your fellow "actors" doesn't pinch your wallet while you're soaking up the atmosphere! La Rambla is packed with buskers, flower stalls, mime artists and itinerant vendors who'll try to sell you everything from birds and pets to cheap watches and gold. Cheap gold? Hmmm. Jason would love Spain.
  
  Beaches
  
  The vast majority of Spain's border is ocean coast and as a result, some of the world's most beautiful and popular beaches are found here. But in 2002 the long stretch of beaches in the North were seriously threatened after a huge oil spill out in the ocean.
  
  More than 25 species of birds were affected by the "Prestige" spill, and the $300 Million fishing industry was nearly destroyed. The "Prestige" went under about 210km (130 miles) off Spain's northwest coast, six days after being caught in heavy seas and gale-force winds off Cape Finisterre.
  
  The politics that pestered Gaudí throughout his life were at play after this disaster as well. No-one wanted to accept responsibility, and assigning blame was almost impossible. Why?
  
  The broken ship flew a Bahamian flag, it was Liberian-owned, operated by a Greek company, and leased by a Russian company based in Switzerland with offices in London.
  
  The slick was so affected by the cold ocean that the sludge had the consistency of chewing gum. Over 200 beaches were affected, and 9 were permanently closed.