Casa Batlló looks alive. Between 1904 and 1906, Antoni Gaudí transformed an ordinary building on Passeig de Gràcia for the textile industrialist Josep Batlló. The result is one of his most imaginative works – a house without straight lines, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Works of Antoni Gaudí”.
The façade
Balconies shaped like masks and columns that look like bones have earned it the nickname “house of bones”. The shimmering façade of glass and ceramic changes colour with the light.
Inside
- The main floor, where the Batlló family lived, flows like water, with curved wooden doors and a large window over the avenue.
- The light well is lined with tiles that go from deep blue at the top to pale blue at the bottom, so the light is spread evenly.
- The rooftop is the back of a dragon, covered in scales of ceramic, with a tower topped by a cross – often read as Saint George’s lance.
How to visit
The visit comes with a smart guide that uses augmented reality to show the rooms as they were. On summer evenings, the rooftop hosts concerts.
Tips
- Book a time slot online – it is one of the busiest sights in the city.
- Come back at night to see the façade lit up.
- Combine with Casa Milà, a few minutes’ walk up the avenue.
