CASA BATLLÓ

The Casa Batlló is located in a section of the boulevard, Passeig de Gràcia referred to as the “block of discord” because of the drastically different modernism architectural styles by Gaudi as well as architects, Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Lluís Domènech i Montaner. However, Gaudi’s Casa Batlló stands out and gets all the attention, with its bone shaped pillars and skull-like balconies, which led the locals to dub it the “house of bones".

The wealthy owner of the original building, Josep Battló hired Gaudi to renovate the ordinary house in a block of similar buildings in 1904. Gaudi completely made over the building by adding another floor and redesigned the entire exterior, roof and interior in his distinctive Gaudi way of using, organic curves, columns, nonlinear forms, color and light.
The wavy facade of the Casa Batlló is constructed in sandstone with an exterior of broken pieces of ceramic tiles in bright shades of blue and green, reminiscent of the ocean. The tile-covered roof with its colorful chimneys is arched and is said to represent the scales of a dragon. A three-dimensional cross on a roof turret is said to represent the sword of Saint George defeating the dragon. The bone shaped columns and skull shaped balconies on the front of the building are said to represent the dragon’s victims.

The interior of the Casa Batlló is a continuation of the waves and ocean theme of the exterior. Colorful mosaics and blown glass in shades of blue and green predominate throughout the rounded rooms with porthole windows, rounded columns and curved archways. Visitors can tour the first floor, the former Batlló family quarters, with its massive stairway, patio, skylight and ocean themed courtyard.

Tours are also offered of the attic and fantastic roof terrace with its imposing, sculpted tiled chimneys and magnificent view of the Eixample district. Appropriately, the rooftop tour ends in an attic room aptly named, Dragon’s Belly Room that features a whimsical illuminated fountain.

PRICES 2012

General: 18,15€
Children 0-7 years old: free admission
Resident in Catalonia: 14,55€


ACCESS

Metro: Passeig de Gràcia (Purple Line, L2 / Green Line, L3 / Yellow Line, L4)