Casa Batlló is one of Antoni Gaudí‘s masterpieces; the famous Catalan architect was responsible for other iconic spaces and buildings in the capital of Catalonia, such as Casa Milà, Park Güell, or the Sagrada Familia. In reality, seven of them were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1984 and 2005!

Built on the luxurious Passeig de Gràcia avenue, Casa Batlló is part of one of Barcelona’s most irreverent blocks: the Illa de la Discòrdia. The “Block of Discord” is basically a row of houses designed by the most important architects of Catalan Modernism:

• Lluís Domènech i Montaner (Casa Lleó Morera)
• Enric Sagnier (Casa Mulleras)
• Marceliano Coquillat (Casa Bonet)
• Josep Puig i Cadafalch (Casa Amatller)
• Antoni Gaudí (Casa Batlló)

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Brief History of Casa Batlló

In October 1904, a wealthy industrialist of the textile sector called Josep Batlló i Casanovas commissioned Antoni Gaudí to renovate a building located at number 43 of Passeig de Gràcia avenue in Barcelona. The project was joined by two other architects representative of Catalan Modernism: Josep Maria Jujol and Joan Rubió i Bellver.

The modernization of Casa Batlló turned out to be one of Gaudí‘s most radical interventions. From the main façade to the owners’ noble floor – not forgetting the interior patios, attic, and roof – the extravagant details and “fanciful” elements of the Catalan master are multiplied.

Antoni Gaudí worked at Casa Batlló for three years, while carrying out other projects. For example, in 1904, he also started renovating the Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca and decorating the Sala Mercè in Barcelona. And the following year, he designed two works in La Pobla de Lillet (in the province of Barcelona): the Chalet of Catllaràs and the Artigas Gardens.

In addition, Gaudí maintained his activity as the main architect of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, a position he held for twenty years! So it’s quite remarkable to think about the number of creative and original ideas that he continued to develop. Casa Batlló was completed in 1907, but – as happened with Casa Milà in 1912 – the building was widely criticized by the locals, who called it the “House of Bones” and “House of Yawns”.

How to Get to Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló first opened to the public in 2002, when the Catalan city organized the Gaudí International Year. This year marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Antoni Gaudí, and the capital of Catalonia decided to promote various activities to celebrate the life and work of the architect.

During his intervention at Casa Batlló, Gaudí decided to add two floors to the upper part of the original building, which now has a total of eight floors (excluding the roof terrace):

• Basement
• Entrance (on the ground floor) – with access to the elevator and the residents’ staircase (the main floor has its own staircase)
• Batlló family apartment (on the first floor)
• Four floors of apartments for rent
• Laundry and storage area (on the loft)

Casa Batlló is less than 500 meters from another work by Antoni Gaudí: Casa Milà, located at number 92 of Passeig de Gràcia. Since this is one of Barcelona’s central avenues, access to Casa Batlló couldn’t be easier. You can arrive by metro (lines 2, 3, and 4, Passeig de Gràcia station), by bus (lines H10, V15, 7, 22, and 24), or by train (Renfe, Passeig de Gràcia station or FGC, Provença station).

Opening Hours & Ticket Prices

Casa Batlló is open every day of the year, from 9 am to 8:15 pm, the last entry being at 7:15 pm. At the monument, it’s possible to stroll through the noble floor, the attic, and the terrace. The visit lasts approximately 1h-1h30, but you can stay as long as you want.

As far as tickets are concerned, there are four types:

• General Visit – from €35 (adults), includes a visit with audioguide, immersive rooms, and the option to choose other extras during the purchase process
• Family Pack – €39 (adult + child), includes a visit with audioguide + tablet, and immersive rooms
• Be The First Visit – €45 (adults), includes a morning visit with audioguide, immersive rooms, very few visits, and the opportunity to take the best photos.
• Magical Nights – from €59 (adults), includes an evening visit with audioguide, immersive rooms, concert, and table + welcome glass of cava.

Check all the information about the different types of tickets on the official website of Casa Batlló!

What to See at Casa Batlló

Main Façade

The Main Façade of Casa Batlló faces Passeig de Gràcia. Despite being made up of three distinct parts, they are integrated in a balanced way, creating an atmosphere of marine, naturalistic, and fanciful inspiration.

The first of the three corresponds to the Batlló family’s noble floor, which features a Montjuïc sandstone balcony in the shape of a gallery. This is formed by exterior stone columns that imitate bones and flowers, as well as large sash windows that illuminate the entire space.

The second section of the Façade of Casa Batlló is marked by eight balcony railings that resemble masks or skulls. Made of cast iron, they were later painted in ivory and gold to blend better with the building’s aesthetics.

Last but not least: the roof. Here, Antoni Gaudí intensified the wavy and fluid forms of the building by creating what appears to be the backbone of an animal. Many believe that it’s a dragon because of the legend of Saint George, the patron saint of Catalonia.

According to this legend, Saint George saved a princess and her people by killing a dragon with his sword. Another highlight of the roof is the four-armed cross that rises from a tower, which the same legend associates with the saint’s sword.

Did you know that the various ceramic discs and pieces of colored glass scattered around the Façade of Casa Batlló were prepared using traditional techniques? From baked clay, enamel, and glass, Gaudí created a texture and harmony that recalls the impressionist paintings by Claude Monet (in particular, the “Water Lilies”)!

Noble Floor

The visit to the Noble Floor of Casa Batlló begins in the family’s private entrance hall, which resembles an underwater cave. In addition, the handrail of the oak staircase was sculpted to imitate the vertebrae of a giant animal!

Once in the apartment itself, it’s easy to see its monumental dimensions: after all, there’s more than 700 m² of space! It’s possible to visit several divisions, such as the foyer, the main room, the lunchroom, the sewing room, or Josep Batlló‘s office, with a mushroom-shaped fireplace.

On the Noble Floor of Casa Batlló, the architect paid special attention to the lighting and ventilation of all spaces. For this, Antoni Gaudí designed unusual walls and ceilings, like the famous swirling ceiling in the main room.

Finally, it’s important to note that Gaudí also designed the private chapel of the Batlló family, as well as the entire furniture in the house. The tables, chairs, armchairs, and lamps you find during the visit – in addition to the windows, doors, handles, handles, etc. – were made by him!

Patio of Lights

The interior patios of the old building were also modified by Antoni Gaudí, who started by expanding them to facilitate the circulation of air and natural light. Therefore, a large skylight was built to illuminate all floors. However, the architect’s most brilliant idea for the Patio of Lights was the gradation of colors on the walls to create a kind of chromatic play.

At the top, he uses cobalt blue tiles, whose color loses intensity on the lower floors until it becomes white. To this effect, Gaudí also added larger windows on the lower floors, which decreased in size on the top floors. And these first windows have wooden slits, which can be opened or closed to control the ventilation.

All these ingenious techniques that the Catalan master incorporated into the Patio of Lights of Casa Batlló serve the same purpose: to ensure a uniform distribution of light and air. In the center of this space, you’ll also find the original elevator that Gaudí designed and which still works today. Interestingly, its traditional numbering was replaced by a letter system from A to I, so notice the special spelling of the letter G!

Indoor Garden

Antoni Gaudí also decided to renovate the Rear Façade of Casa Batlló and added wavy balconies and iron railings. Around each floor, the architect applied the trencadís technique, which became one of his trademarks.

But these fragments of colored glass and ceramic are used much more extensively in the Indoor Garden, that is, the terrace of the Noble Floor. This backyard – for the exclusive use of the Batlló family – was easily accessed through their dining room.

Here, you can admire the various plant pots and flower beds decorated with the same ceramic discs as the Main Façade and trencadís motifs. At the back, a wall of sinuous shapes and inlaid vases (reminiscent of a hanging garden) gives more privacy to the terrace.

Loft

The Loft of Casa Batlló was created around the Patio of Lights and served simultaneously as a laundry and storage area for the tenants of the various apartments. Built by applying simple shapes, Mediterranean influences (in the use of the color white), excellent ventilation, and natural lighting, it’s the perfect combination of aesthetics with functionality.

Considered one of the most unusual spaces in the building, this floor incorporates a series of sixty catenary arches, which Gaudí would later replicate in the Attic of Casa Milà. Again, many people interpret these arches as an animal’s rib cage. The room facing the Main Façade was even dubbed the “Dragon’s Womb”!

Roof Terrace

The Roof Terrace of Casa Batlló is what in Spain is called Azotea, that is, a “flat roof”. Here, it’s possible to admire up close the cross that is part of the Main Façade and understand some of its details. For example, the cross is supported on a bulbous ceramic base, almost as if it were a dome. In the tower that supports it, Gaudí included the monograms of the Holy Family: Joseph (JHP), Mary (M), and Jesus (JHS).

From this same perspective, it’s also easier to observe the tiles that make up the small roof in the upper section of the Main Façade. Arranged in a gradient, they were the great contributions of Josep Maria Jujol and Joan Rubió i Bellver and resemble the scales of a dragon.

In total, the Terrace of Casa Batlló has 36 chimneys distributed in four groups, over six meters high. These chimneys are decorated with pieces of colored ceramic and glass, forming various patterns. Its unusual shapes were a functional choice to favor air circulation.

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