Casa Battló

When it comes to Gaudí, let’s be honest — you don’t really need a sign to know you’ve arrived at one of his creations. Here it is: the famous Casa Batlló, arguably his most iconic house. There’s a twist though — Gaudí didn’t build it from scratch! The original building was actually designed in 1877 by Emilio Sala Cortés, one of Gaudí’s former architecture professors, for a wealthy businessman. Then, in 1903, Josep Batlló bought the property and asked Gaudí to give it a second life. And when you come to think of it, what a brilliant idea!
At first, the plan was to tear the whole thing down. Finally, Gaudí and his magical hands managed to completely transform this building — reworking the interior and reinventing the façade — without demolishing a single wall. Thanks to his overflowing imagination, you now have in front of you a house that looks like it came straight out of an underwater fairy tale.
There’s something joyfully childlike about it — a kind of wild creative freedom, untouched by limits. The undulating façade seems almost alive, and the trencadís mosaics, made of shattered glass and colourful ceramic, catch the daylight and shimmer with movement. It’s often said to be one of Gaudí’s most original façades, so it is no surprise that it’s now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside, you’ll step into a world of fantasy — a space that feels like it came right out of a Jules Verne novel. No wonder over a million visitors walk through its doors every year.