Casa Batlló

Josep Batlló commissioned Gaudí to remodel his building between 1904 and 1906, hoping to outshine the neighbouring mansions on the stretch of Passeig de Gràcia known as the Block of Discord. Locals soon called it the Casa dels ossos, the House of Bones, after its skeletal columns and mask-like balconies. Since 2005 it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Works of Antoni Gaudí.

The façade shimmers with trencadís, mosaics of broken ceramic, and the roof curves like the scaly back of a dragon, topped by a tower with a cross. Inside, the noble floor covers more than 700 square metres of flowing, organic rooms. The central light well is lined with blue tiles that grow lighter towards the bottom so that daylight spreads evenly, an effect Gaudí likened to the sea. In the attic, sixty catenary arches look like the ribcage of an animal.

On Tiqets you can choose a standard entry ticket, an early entrance ticket to beat the crowds, or an evening ticket with the illuminated building and a light display. There are also rooftop concerts and a guided tour that combines several of Gaudí's houses.

Mornings at opening time and evenings are the quietest moments. Casa Batlló is on Passeig de Gràcia, a short walk from Casa Milà (La Pedrera), so the two are easy to combine in one visit to Gaudí's Barcelona.