A photographic exhibition set up in the heart of Costa Rica’s capital aims to bring the iconic Casa Batlló by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí closer to Costa Ricans, as part of activities promoting his artistic legacy 100 years after his death.
The exhibition, titled “Gaudí’s Casa Batlló: The Modernist Jewel of Catalan Genius,” features 34 photographic panels and is open to the public outdoors at the Plaza de la Cultura until November 15. It is organized by the Cultural Center of Spain with support from the Museums of the Central Bank of Costa Rica.
This showcase seeks to immerse Costa Ricans in the history, shapes, colors, and details of one of Gaudí’s most renowned works. It takes place within the framework of the Gaudí Year 2026, commemorating the centennial of the artist’s passing.
The images—which can be viewed free of charge in one of the Costa Rican capital’s busiest public spaces—invite passersby to appreciate a work that continues to amaze more than 100 years after its creation through its seamless integration of architecture, nature, color, light, and form.
Spain’s Ambassador to San José, Juan Ignacio Morro, told EFE that the exhibition is part of cultural cooperation efforts with Costa Rica. The goal is to allow a wide audience to appreciate the beauty of Casa Batlló, one of Barcelona’s most landmark sites.
“We are delighted to inaugurate this beautiful exhibition on Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Batlló—a magnificent, universal architect who has truly transcended decades and remains an object of admiration worldwide and a source of pride for Spain,” Morro declared.
Costa Rica’s Minister of Culture and Youth, Jorge Rodríguez, also attended the inauguration. He highlighted to EFE that Casa Batlló “is one of those monumental works that becomes a living heritage space that welcomes people and strives to educate.”
“This is an opportunity to view heritage as a living element, because those of us who have had the privilege of visiting Casa Batlló know that it isn’t just about its fabulous architecture, shapes, and spaces, but also about how it attracts new audiences,” Rodríguez expressed.
In addition to San José, 22 other images will be displayed at the Municipal Museum in the city of Cartago, about 20 kilometers east of San José, from September 19 to December 31.
The photographic exhibition will be accompanied by a cultural schedule including guided tours, talks, children’s workshops, storytelling sessions, and traditional mascaradas. It will also feature the concert “Gaudí’s Universe on the Sagrada Família Organ,” performed by Juan de la Rubia, organist at the Sagrada Família.
De la Rubia proposes a musical experience inspired by key themes in Gaudí’s universe—architecture, nature, light, liturgy, and spiritual dimension—creating a dialogue between the Catalan architect’s work and compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach, Jehan Alain, and Charles Tournemire.
