Two great Spanish architects, although you have probably only heard of one of them.
Antoni Gaudí
Gaudí is perhaps best known for his majestic and somewhat bizarre Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona. There is no doubt that he was a genius, a visionary and arguably Spain’s most famous architect.
In 2010 the Catholic Church declared him to be a Servant of God, the first step towards an eventual canonization.
Three buildings indirectly associate the Catalán architect with the Camino: the Episcopal Palace in Astorga, the Casa Botines in León and El Capricho in Comillas.
There is a wonderful statue of the Gaudí in León, sitting on a bench busy at work.
Antonio Palacios
If it had not been for Gaudí, Palacios may have rightly been Spain’s most renown 20th century architect. Sadly though, although his work includes many of Madrid’s iconic buildings, Spaniards and visitors from abroad have usually not heard of him.
Palacios was contemporary to Gaudí and lived most of his life in Madrid.
However, unlike Gaudí, he is closely associated with the Camino as he was born in the town of O Porriño, on the Camino Portugués, where he designed the Town Hall.
Palacios also designed the monumental Templo Votivo del Mar in Panxón, near Vigo, and also on the Camino Portugués.
