Barcelona: Gaudí's curves and the Mediterranean blue

Barcelona is Gaudí's canvas, and also the prodigal of the Mediterranean. Four days and three nights, between curves and coastlines, you encounter a crazy city.

The Sagrada Família is Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, inside and out resembling a forest—stone pillars like trees, light and shadow like leaves. Climbing to the top of the tower, the city's grid unfolds beneath your feet—sacred and modern.

The mosaic lizards and wave benches in Parc Güell spread fairy tales on the hillside. Looking out over the Mediterranean, Gaudí's "naturalism" is at its most relaxed here.

Strolling through the Gothic Quarter, the medieval stone alleys are as enchanting as a maze. The colorful juices and hams at Boghelia Market are a feast for the senses.

Go to the beach in the evening, with Mediterranean blues paired with a glass of sangria. Night in Basque truly begins at sunset.

Barça's madness is about turning architecture into organic organisms. When you are struck by light in Sagrada Familia, you will understand: genius is often another paranoid expression.