Casa Batlló

Yet another Gaudí treasure, Casa Batlló is a masterpiece of colour and light.

TravelCurious Tip

Keep an eye out for the labels on all the doors, written in Gaudí’s specially designed Modernist script.

House of Bones

Casa Batlló was commissioned by Josep Batlló i Casanovas, a wealthy textile industrialist who greatly admired Gaudí’s vision in Park Güell. Unlike Casa Milà, it is a redesign of a preexisting building rather than an original construction; but like all of Gaudí’s work, Casa Batlló is stunningly innovative in its design and displays the dreamlike quality that makes him stand out as the foremost artist of Catalan Modernism.

Never happy to settle for a conventional look, Gaudí had the building’s original external walls reworked to give an undulating façade. This frontage was then decorated with sparkling polychrome glass, as well as Gaudí’s trademark Catalan ceramic mosaic tiles. The magic reaches right up to the iridescent roof, which resembles the scaled back of a dragon and changes hue in the light depending on the angle it is viewed from. Even the cast-iron balcony railings are fantastical, resembling a gallery of dramatic masks. The vivid design and play of light and colour combine to give the building an overall impression of brightness and joy - although the local name for the building is Casa dels Ossos (House of Bones), in reference to its skeletal, organic qualities.

Light entertainment

The building’s interior has something of a submarine feel, and is a stunning display of Gaudí’s mastery of natural light. The house contains an incredible variety of stained glass throughout, modulating the building’s colours according to the viewer’s position. A huge skylight sits atop a central well; the well is decorated in Byzantine cut tiles that are darker blue towards the top and lighter towards the bottom, creating the illusion of even distribution of light, and its windows also progressively shrink as you climb higher.

In 2002, as part of the celebration of the International Year of Gaudí, the newly renovated house was opened to the public. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage site soon after in 2005. Visitors to Casa Batlló today can still admire its gorgeous and surprisingly ergonomic design, with new details to discover in almost every room. It is a marvel of form and function, and another jewel in the crown of the Catalan capital.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Barcelona
Casa Milà
This magnificent house with its undulating façade was Gaudí's last civil project.
Plaça de Catalunya
The historic central point of Barcelona.
Shopping
There's no shortage of shopping opportunities in the Catalan capital.
Palau de la Musica
This beautiful concert hall is designed in the Catalan modernista style by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner.
Albondigas
A meat ball dish known as "Mexican Soul Food", it originated in Spain and was taken to Mexico by the conquistadors.
Els Quatre Gats
Opened in 1897, it was a meeting place for avant-garde artists and writers to exchange ideas. A frequent haunt of Pablo Picasso.

Related Tours

Barcelona in a Day: Private Full-Day Highlights Walking Tour
Discover the best of Barcelona, from its famous Ramblas to the iconic Sagrada Familia, and explore its most famous highlights, panoramas and some well-hidden gems in a day! 

On your private tour you will: 

  • Experience the perfect combination of walking and driving to see the most popular landmarks, breathtaking views and famous neighbourhoods of Barcelona;
  • Enjoy a leisurely private walking tour of Barcelona’s historical Gothic Quarter
  • Walk along La Rambla and get immersed in the city vibes;
  • Refill energies with a lunch break before heading in the afternoon part of this tour;
  • Hop on your private car to take a panoramic driving tour and enjoy wonderful views as you head towards Montjüic;
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  • Continue your way in your private car along Passeig de Gracia with brief stops outside: Casa Milá and Casa Batlló, both designed by Gaudi, Barcelona’s darling and most famous architect;
  • Visit Park Güell, a beautiful hill-top park overlooking Barcelona where you will see Gaudi’s house, the aqueducts, the terrace and the market;
  • End your tour at La Sagrada Familia with a guided tour of the interior of this famous UNESCO-listed site

Barcelona has become a popular tourist destination for visitors around the world as it is home to some of the world’s most unique and beautiful historical buildings and sites, delicious food, and vibrant culture, not to mention the amazing 4km of beaches. Its’ warm and sunny climate also makes Barcelona a hugely popular place to visit! 

This tour is ideal for those who would like a taste of what Barcelona has to offer in a day. Whether you’re interested in history, taking a walk through the vibrant streets of the Gothic Quarter, indulging in various delicious cuisines, or soaking in the city’s uniquely designed buildings, you will experience a bit of everything through this tour. 

Start your tour wandering the beautiful streets of downtown Barcelona. Take a walk to the heart of the city at Plaza Catalonia, the bustling street of Las Ramblas, the unforgettable Gothic Quarter, and to the magnificent Church of Santa Maria del Mar.

After a lunch break, a private car will drive your group and guide towards a panoramic city tour to Montjüic to admire the city from above! On your way down back to the city you will enjoy a brief photo stop at iconic Gaudi's houses before arriving to Park Güell, a prime example of Barcelona’s modernism, and one of the highest points of the city to enjoy amazing panoramic views. 

Your tour ends with a privately guided tour of Barcelona’s crowning glory, designed by Antonio Gaudi, one of the greatest and most unique architects of all time: the UNESCO World Heritage site of La Sagrada Familia Cathedral, with tickets included. 

Please note: Your clothing must be appropriate to enter the Sagrada Familia. Your knees and shoulders, back, and stomach must be covered. See-through clothing and swimwear are forbidden.
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Explore the best of Barcelona on a private tour of Gaudi’s imprint on the city, with tickets to La Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, and Park Güell. 

On this walking and driving combined private tour, you will:

  • Learn all about Gaudi's work on a private guided tour inside Casa Battló;
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A trip to Barcelona would be incomplete without exploring Gaudí's imprint on the city. Not only was he one of the most influential architects of Barcelona’s modern and art nouveau period in the late 19th and early 20th century, but in history. 

His architectural masterpieces helped transform the city of Barcelona into the thriving, bustling, the historical and cultural metropolitan city it is today.

In Dreta de l'Eixample and view the world-renowned Casa BatllóCasa Milá, and Casa Vicens Gaudí. You will get a sense of Gaudí’s innovative and eccentric mind as you walk into the various edifices designed by him, from the cathedral spires at La Sagrada Familia to the gingerbread gatehouses, grottos and ceramic animals in Park Güell. 

Enjoy two hassle-free private transfers to Park Güell and Sagrada Familia and admire the city from the comfort of your car. Your tour ends with a guided tour inside the Sagrada Familia where you will then be free to stay at your own leisure.

Join us on the tour and you will be transformed into another world as you enter the intricately designed spaces
Gaudí & Modernism Live Virtual Tour
Known as the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernism Antoni Gaudí, born in 1852, created some amazing buildings in Barcelona many of which you'll visit on the tour. On this Live Virtual Tour, you will visit Gaudí's Barcelona to explore his work and admire his distinctive style across the city that gave Barcelona the name Mecca of Modernism.

You will discover:

  • Casa Batló: here you will admire a geometrically-impossible construction, where Gaudí managed to integrate light and colour with other materials like wood, iron, glass, ceramics and stone that were used for the construction of the building.
  • Casa Milá: also known as 'La Pedrera'. Its façade looks like waves moving in the sea, with balconies made from algae shaped forged iron handrails.
  • Casa de les Punxes or Casa Terradas: a residential block built in the shape of a medieval castle designed by the Modernista architect Josep Puig I Cadafalch 
Soak up the colour and design used by Gaudí during this inspiring virtual tour of Barcelona. Aspiring architects, first-timers to Barcelona and artists will be transfixed by Gaudí's Barcelona and his skill as both architect and artist. 
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