Casa Fuster, Barcelona

The fabulous Casa Fuster, constructed between 1908 and 1911, is located on the upper end of the Jardins de Salvador Espriu and the prominent Passeig de Gracia in the affluent district of Eixample, central east Barcelona.

It represents architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner’s last work in the city, in tandem with his son Pere Domènech i Roure, that was fashioned on account of wealthy Mallorcan Mariano Fuster as a hefty gift to his wife Consol Fabra.

The edifice applies a subtle neo-Gothic touch to its modernista frame and features two façades bound through a cylindrical turret on the southwest corner as well as characteristic pink columns, trilobate windows and floral motifs shaping a fine example of Catalan Modernism.

Largely refurbished in 2004, it has been converted and operating since as a luxury hotel containing as many as a good 105 rooms.

Butrón, Biscay (Basque Country, Spain)

The picturesque Butrón is a castle located on a hill at the town of Gatica in the province of Biscay, on the coastline of Basque Country, and dates as early as the middle ages.

Its name actually means something like ‘fortified farmstead’ and is rendered as ‘Butroeko gaztelua’ in Basque.

All the same, the castle’s modern fairytale look comes on account of Francisco de Cubas, an architect and politician, who had it largely revamped in 1878 on Bavarian castle models.

It was initially a tower house back in the 13th century before it was expanded into a castle by the Fifth Lord of Butrón a century later.

The old castle saw plenty of action in intense struggles between the two rival sides of Biscay’s nobility until the early 16th century before it was eventually abandoned.

The current structure is further encompassed by a grove that features palms and other exotic plants.

Virtual tour of Casa Vicens, Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain)

Casa de las Bolas, Madrid

The colourful Casa de las Bolas, constructed between 1885 and 1895, lies on Calle de Alcalá (Alcalá Street) in the Salamanca District of central Madrid, Spain.

The edifice was designed by Julián Marín and was expanded as well as refurbished a decade after its completion by Luis Sainz de los Terreros Gómez between 1905 and 1906.

It was fashioned in neo-Mudejar style and actually comprises several blocks of houses set on a triangular plot featuring two circular towers on the far ends of its facade on Alcalá Street.