Visit Casa Batllo
Casa Batllo was designd by Anton Gaudi and renovated in the early 1900s. The apartment building already existed but Gaudi was asked to redesign it and the result is stunning. Casa Batllo is located on the Passeig de Gracia near to the Placa de Catalunya in the Eixample district of Barcelona.
Explore Casa Batllo
Casa Batllo is one of the buildings in the block known as the Illa de la Discordia because the buildings in the block were all created by different architects and have quite different,'discordant' styles.
Casa Batllo was redesigned for Josep Batllo and its facade must be one of the most photographed buildings in history.
Gaudi's iconic mosaic designed are in evidence all over the facade and also throughout the lobby, stairwell and the main rooms inside. The incredible windows on the first floor with their organic rounded shapes and the fabulous balconies which look like eyes looking out from the building are typical of Gaudi who draws many of his ideas from nature.
On the roof the undulating scale covered design is thought to represent a dragon with one of the mosaic covered chimneys representing Saint George, who is the patron saint of Catalonia.
If you pay to visit you get to visit the roof and for me this was the highlight. The visit is expensive, frankly much too expensive we thought!
The visit starts in the entrance room with blue ceramic tiles giving an underwater feel and the stairs with a beautiful iron and wood balustrade leading upstairs. Next a room with light shows and features designed to show where Gaudi found his inspiration, often from nature and from the sea.
The visit then moves towards the main room at the other side of the wonderful windows which dominate the facade. Stained glass, beautifully carved wood and fluid shapes make this a beautifully designed space with great views over the busy Passeig de Gracia. The Batllo family must have loved sitting here watching the world go by from through these wonderful windows.
The visit then moves to the 'patio of lights', an inner lightwell covered in deep blue tiles and lit by a skylight at the top. This allows light and air to circulate through the building.
There is an outdoor patio which is overlooked from the family dining room and outside the floor is covered with decorative tiles and more gaudi mosaics can be seen.
At the top of the house the loft has a much different much simpler style and the large arches evoke the ribcage of a large beast. It used to be the service area of the house.
Outside on the roof is the magnificent domed structure evoking the shape of a dragon and there are a number of unusually shaped chimney pots covered in mosaics. You also get some great views from here over the street below. For more stunning Gaudi chimney pots be sure to visit the Casa Mila further up the Passeig de Gracia.
Casa Batllo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
More places to visit in Barcelona
Gaudi fans will also want to visit the Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, Casa Vicens , Palau Guell and Park Guell though considering the prices you may have to choose just one or two!
Eixample has lots of Modernista buildings by a number of reknowned Modernista architects.
Montjuic has some great buildings created for the 1929 International Exhibition.
You can find more local travel ideas in the Barcelona guide and the Catalonia guide.
Map of Casa Batllo and places to visit
Casa Batllo places to visit
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Gothic Quarter of Barcelona guide
Sagrada Familia
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Sagrada Familia guide
Barcelona
Barcelona is a city with fabulous art museums, Gaudi architecture and lots more. It is one of our favourite cities.
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Eixample, Barcelona
The Eixample district of Barcelona is home to the largest number of Art Nouveau buildings in Spain with many examples by Gaudi.
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Montjuic, Barcelona
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Montjuic, Barcelona guide
Sitges
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