Casa Milà

This magnificent house with its undulating façade was Gaudí's last civil project.

TravelCurious Tip

Take the night-time tour for a unique experience, including projections in various rooms, an audio-visual display on the beautiful rooftop and a glass of cava to send you on your way.

La Pedrera

Casa Milà was commissioned by the extravagant businessman and socialite Pere Milà and his wealthy wife Roser Segimon. It is also known as ‘La Pedrera’ - an ironic reference to its undulating façade’s likeness to a stone quarry.

Construction was carried out between 1906 and 1910, and was architecturally groundbreaking. The building lacks load-bearing walls, being supported instead by a system of columns, girders and vaults, and features unusual twisting wrought iron balconies on its self-supporting façade. Due to its architectural and artistic significance Casa Milà was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

A tragic week

Casa Milà was intended as a showy urban residence, with extra apartments for rent. Gaudí, a devout Catholic, also included heavy Christian symbolism in his design. He had an excerpt from the Rosary placed on a cornice of the building and planned to add a religious statue of Our Lady of the Rosary and the two archangels, Michael and Gabriel. After the Semana Tragica of 1909, which saw a week of violent anticlericalism, Milà decided that these statues should not be included - perhaps fearing that such religious imagery could lead to the house being attacked as a convent or church. This left Gaudí on the verge of quitting the whole project, but he was persuaded to continue work by a priest.

Even on completion, the building was not without controversy. Many local homeowners became angry with Milà and stopped greeting him in the street, arguing that his odd construction would lower the land values in the area. Roser Segimon also reportedly complained that there were no straight walls against which to place her Steinway piano - Gaudí responded that she should take up the violin instead.

Twists and turns

After Gaudí's death in 1926, Roser Segimon got rid of most of the furniture that he had designed for the house and covered over elements of his designs with new Louis XVI style decorations. She sold off the building six years after the death of her husband in 1940, and it eventually fell into disrepair. A vigorous project of restoration was carried out in the late 1980s, during which some of Gaudí’s hidden original designs were uncovered, and the building was reopened to the public in 1990.

The house is formed of two buildings joined around a pair of courtyards, allowing light into all nine floors; unusually, the building’s exterior shape is reflected in its interior. The spirals and angular shapes of the chimneys, fans and skylights on the roof, while they are decorative, all also serve important architectural purposes. The interior décor features painted walls with colourful mythological scenes and sea motifs on the floors, and the attic has a stunning Catalan vault ceiling.

Casa Milà is one of the crowning achievements of Gaudi’s Modernist project. A wonderfully realised vision of his Naturalist and geometrical interests, his hand is in every detail, from the structure and façade to its furniture and accessories, resulting in a remarkably liveable work of art.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Barcelona
Sagrada Familia
Gaudí's towering architectural achievement, and the most iconic building in Barcelona.
Casa Batlló
Yet another Gaudí treasure, Casa Batlló is a masterpiece of colour and light.
Plaça de Catalunya
The historic central point of Barcelona.
Casa Vicens Gaudí
Considered one of the first buildings of Art Nouveau, this is the first house designed by Gaudí.
Tapas
Fast food - the Spanish way.
Shopping
There's no shortage of shopping opportunities in the Catalan capital.

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;
  • Pass by Plaza España, the Olympic ring and Mirador del Alcalde and see the castle from the outside;
  • 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 you 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 houses before arriving at 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.
The Best of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona: Private Full-Day Tour

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;
  • Travel along Passeig de Gracia in a private vehicle to Park Güell, with breathtaking views of the city;
  • Stop briefly to see two architectural marvels of Gaudi’s work: Casa Vicens (his first house) and Casa Milá;
  • Walk together with your guide along Park Güell and admire the ceramic animal sculptures and architectural designs that make it so iconic;
  • Take a short comfort break before returning to the vehicle for a private hassle-free transfer to the Sagrada Familia;
  • Enjoy a one-hour guided tour of La Sagrada Familia, the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world.

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, historical and cultural metropolitan city it is today.

In Dreta de l'Eixample view the world-renowned Casa Batlló, Casa 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 leisure.

Join us on the tour and you will be transformed into another world as you enter the intricately designed spaces.
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