These are the most famous Barcelona tourist attractions & sight tours which sees thousands and millions of visitors each year:
Antoni Gaudi is one of Catalonia's most famous sons. An architect and designer whose flamboyant style was utterly unique, Gaudi created some of the most important buildings of the Catalan Modernisme movement. Casa Batllo and Casa Mila, two of the most recognisable buildings in Barcelona, were products of Gaudi's bold imagination.
Born in 1852 in Reus, Catalan, Gaudi was the son of a craftsman and studied architecture in Barcelona in 1878. The end of the 19th century marked the Catalanian Renaixenca, a period of rebirth. Catalonia was a creative force of its own and it was time the world recognised it. With the assistance of a wealthy patron, Gaudi built functional works of art that put Barcelona firmly on the world map as an architectural force to be reckoned with.
The Eixample district of Barcelona sprang up around 1850. A number of architects, all trying to create the most unique take on the Modernisme movement, designed and built fantastic houses in an area known as the Illa de la Discordia or Block of Discord. Casa Batllo and Casa Mila are the two most famous buildings in this city block and no trip to Barcelona is complete without a visit to see them.
How did these buildings come to be? Why are they two of the top attractions in Barcelona and how can you see them for yourself?
The Casa Batllo Story begins in the time of myth and legend. With Casa Batllo, Gaudi wanted to design a building that channelled the legend of Saint Jordi (Saint George in English), patron saint of Catalonia. Saint Jordi is best known for slaying a monstrous dragon that was terrorising the then-village of Catalonia. Striking the fatal blow with a lance shaped like a cross, Saint Jordi saved the village.
Gaudi's interpretation of Saint Jordi's courageous act, Casa Batllo has a roof shaped like a dragon's back. Multi-coloured tiles that look like shiny scales cover the huge, curved roof. There's also a tower on one side of Casa Batllo that's topped with a cross. Viewing the building from just the right angle, you can see Saint Jordi's lance piercing the dragon's side.
Casa Batllo was created for textile industrialist Joseph Batllo who kept the brief simple. Batllo wanted a house style that none of his other family members would have. Gaudi set to work and between 1904 and 1906 he completely remodelled an existing building, more than delivering on Batllo's brief.
Known as La Pedrera, the Quarry House, Casa Mila is the last house Gaudi designed before starting work on the Sagrada Familia. Casa Mila's nickname is fitting as the building resembles a beautiful, sculpted piece of rock. The facade of Casa Mila is made up of curving stone with no right angles whatsoever. To create this effect, stonemasons attached large stone slabs to the exterior of the building, before sculpting them to create a unique, fluid effect.
Casa Mila was built for Pere Mila i Camps and his wife, Roser Regimon who asked Gaudi to build them a house on the Passeig de Gracia like no other. The Eixample district was already known for its outstanding examples of Modernisme design so Gaudi made sure Casa Mila was something brand new. The house was completed in 1910 and Pere and Roser moved in in 1911. When Pere died in 1946, Roser sold the house and moved out.
Casa Batllo |
Casa Mila(La Pedrera) |
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| TripAdvisor |
4.5/5 stars
#4 of 775 things to do in Barcelona |
4.5 stars
#9 of 775 things to do in Barcelona |
| Youtube Link | ||
| Architecture |
The local name for Casa Batllo is Casa deis ossos, "House of Bones".
Casa Batllo's has a curved roof that resembles a dragon's back and is covered with mosaic. It was completed in 1906. |
Casa Mila is a Modernisme or Catalonian Art Nouveau building that resembles a giant rock.
The building has an undulating stone facade with balconies made from twisted iron. It was completed in 1911. |
| Experience |
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| How Long It Takes to See | It takes around 1 hour to tour Casa Batllo. We recommend spending 1.5 hours to make the most of the smartphone guide. |
It takes between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 minutes to see all of Casa Mila.
We recommend spending at least this long so you can visit the art gallery. |
| Opening Times |
9am - 9pm
Open 365 days per year. |
9am to 8.30pm every day between March and November.
9am to 6.30pm between November and February. For detailed holiday closures see here. |
| Best Times to Visit | Visit early in the morning or later in the day to avoid crowds. Last admission is 8pm | Take advantage of Casa Mila's early bird tour at 8am for a more peaceful experience. Avoid the midday and early afternoon rush. Last admission is one hour before closing. |
| How Much Does It Cost? |
Standard Admission (Blue) -€24.50 .
Skip the line Admission (Silver) -€30.50 VIP Admission (Gold) -€34.50 Seniors, Students and Juniors (under 18) can take €3 off the price of each ticket. |
Standard Admission - €25.00.
Buy Online - €22.00. Discounts are available (see below) |
| Is It Right For me? |
Casa Batllo is suitable for all travellers including those with children.
Tours take only an hour so are great for short break travellers. |
Like Casa Batllo, Casa Mila is suitable for all travellers including those with children.
Tours take only an hour so are great for short break travellers. |
| How to Get There? | You can take the metro, bus or drive to Casa Batllo. See details below. | There are a number of ways to get to Casa Mila. You can drive, take the bus or the metro. You can walk between Casa Mila and Casa Batllo. |
| Which Barcelona City Pass includes admission? | The Barcelona Pass offers free admission to Casa Batllo | Free admission to Casa Mila is only available with the Barcelona Pass. |
| Things to do Nearby |
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| Night Tour Available | YES | YES |
| Read more | A Complete guide to Casa Batllo | A Complete guide to Casa Mila |
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