Barcelona City Tourist Guide 2008

Casa Battllo by Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona

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Casa Batllo, which stands at Passeig de Gracia 43 in Barcelona was originally built between 1875 and 1877. In the year 1900 the building was acquired by Josep Batllo i Casanovas, who gave the building the name that it retains to this day.

Casa Batllo by Anton Gaudi

Casa Batllo was not built by Antoni Gaudi. What we can marvel at today is actually Gaudi's refurbishment of the original building for the owner Josep Batllo from 1904 to 1906. Gaudi transformed Casa Batllo to a degree that brought him international fame and today this house is one of the buildings listed as a UNICEF World Heritage site along with several other buildings in Barcelona by Gaudi.

Casa Batllo by Antoni Gaudi Barcelona

Two attic floors were added to Casa Batllo during the refurbishment and a fantasy roof tower crowns the masterpiece

Roof of in Casa Batllo Barcelona

You can find a list of the other Gaudi world heritage buildings at the bottom of this page.

For the renovation of Casa Batllo Gaudi designed a splendid and fairytale like rounded front façade with a multi-coloured glittering surface of fish scale inspired ceramic pieces. Casa Batllo also has elegantly rounded balconies that resemble bird nests, or human skulls depending on your mood!

The front facade is a work of art that has been compared to the style in Monet’s water lilies painting. You could say that Casa Batllo was “painted” by Gaudi because he actually stood on the street and gave directions to the workmen when the front was being decorated.

Inside Casa Batllo Gaudi reorganised the rooms, added a new viewing gallery, unified the courtyards and the existing staircase in order to add more natural light and ventilation.

Main room in Casa Batllo Barcelona

Even the new doors in the building were made in the rounded style that became Gaudi's trademark.

Apartment door in Casa Batllo Barcelona

The fireplace room

Fireplace room in Main room in Casa Batllo Barcelona

That Gaudi found much of his inspiration in the beauty of nature can clearly be seen in the swirling shell design of the main room's ceiling.

Ceiling in main room of Casa Batllo Barcelona

Ceiling in main room of Casa Batllo Barcelona

Main room and gallery of Casa Batllo. Only since 2002 in connections with the celebration of Gaudi's 150th birthday has Casa Batllo been open to the general public.

Main room in Casa Batllo Barcelona

Back balcony on the rear facade of Casa Batllo

Back balcony in Casa Batllo Barcelona

The building porter was also given a "Gaudi" space to sort the mail in!

Porters office in Casa Batllo Barcelona