Where did Gaudí die? The tragic death of Antoni Gaudi

Where did Gaudí die?


Gaudí died in L'Antic Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in the Raval area of Barcelona on Thursday 10th June 1926.  He was hit by a Barcelona tram on the street Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes between the streets of Girona and Bailen (click for map) on Monday 7th June 1926. Gaudí died 3 days later in hospital on Thursday 10th June 1926. He was 73 years old. 

Below: photo of Gaudí's death mask.

Death mask of Anton Gaudi in Barcelona

The fatal tram accident happened while Gaudí was walking to his daily confessional at the church called 'Església de Sant Felip Neri' on plaza Sant Felip Neri in the Gothic area of Barcelona.

This walk was his daily custom and that day as Gaudí was crossing the tram tracks on the road he was hit by a tram.

A tram driver later testified that Gaudí had been crossing the tracks and had actually taken two steps back, when he saw a tram coming towards him - but then Gaudí was struck by a tram coming in the opposite direction.

Trams in those days only travelled at around 10 kph, but the collision was still very serious.

Gaudí suffered broken ribs, a bruise on his right leg and severe internal bleeding. 

At that period of his life Gaudi Gaudí was generally shabbily dressed and quite unkempt in his appearance. He was not carrying any identification papers and he was not recognized by anyone at the scene of the accident.

He was so shabby that local Barcelona taxi drivers refused to take the injured 'tramp' to hospital. The taxi drivers at the scene were later fined by the Barcelona police for their actions. 

So Gaudí was taken to a Barcelona hospital for the poor called Antic Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. It was - and still is - located the Raval district of Barcelona's old city Ciutat Vella - quite near to Las Ramblas street. At the hospital Guadi was not recognised either and the great architect was given a bed with the indigent patients.

Gaudí's close friends only found him three days after the accident on Thursday 10th of June 1926.

Sadly that was to be the day that Gaudí died from his injuries. The last words Gaudí spoke were, 'Amen, my God, my God'.  A death mask was made of Gaudí's face, which is on display at the Gaudí house museum inside Parc Guell.

Where is Gaudí buried?
Gaudí is buried in the crypt of the Sagrada Familia. Around 5,000 people gathered at the temple for his funeral, which became a great day of mourning for the city.

Antoni Gaudí's death mask was cast by Joan Matamala, who was Gaudí's assistent. Matamala extended the death mask to cover the entire head to be able to make a sculpture of Gaudí's face at the time of his death.

Gaudi had blue eyes and when Joan Matamala removed the cast from the left part of the head, Gaudí’s right eyelid stuck a little to the plaster, despite the oil that had been applied to the face avoid this. 

When the mask was removed, Gaudí's eyelid opened and his blue pupil appeared.

Those who were present said that it was as if Gaudí was sending his friends one last wink from beyond the grave.  

Biography Antoni Gaudí
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 April 2024 16:15
 

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