Casa Batlló

by Katherine

          Casa Batlló is a must for any Gaudí fan. It really shows his unique design perspective both in and outside the house. Conveniently, the audio guide is included in the price as you definitely will want to hear about all of Gaudí's nature-based inspirations.  The outside of the house contains bone-like columns and balconies resembling the skulls of creatures. The upper part of the building and roof are said to resemble the scales and spine of a dragon, supposedly representing the legend of Catalunya's patron saint Sant Jordi and his fight against a dragon.

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          Once you enter, the tour starts with an ascension up a stairway that resembles the backbone of some giant creature that curves around. Once upstairs, you see a mushroom-shaped nook in the wall that contains benches and a fireplace.

          The glass in the windows and doorways resemble a pattern of a tortoise shell, and reflect light differently depending on which room you are in, drastically changing the colors you see. I think my favorite part of this floor was the giant light fixture and adjacent ceiling, which spirals outwards of the light to mimic the lines in a snail shell. And the light itself is intricately decorated like some sea creature.

          It's really incredible how much thought Gaudí put into the design. The center area, which consists of the elevator and stairway, was designed for optimal natural light intake. The tiles start out with light blues and whites and gradually get darker as you near the top because the light would reflect much more significantly on the darker tiles near the light entrance, creating an effect that brightens the chamber and causes the tiles to appear similarly colored. The windows also start out much bigger and gradually get smaller as you near the top because it's already so much brighter at the top.

          Similar to the attic at La Pedrera, the loft of Casa Batlló contains a series of catenary arches, which seem to represent the dragon's ribcage. The white walls further enhance the light that fills the space. The roof contains more colorful structures and a couple of bulbous towers similar to a thalamus flower. One consists of a four sided cross, which emphasizes the religious side of Gaudí. Overall, Casa Batlló is a nature filled adventure that is a great complement to La Sagrada Familia!

Visiting Information:
          Cost: €20.35 for adults, €16.30 for kids 7-18, free for kids 7 and under   
          Hours: Mon-Sun: 9am-9pm (last entrance at 8pm)

                          *occasionally it closes at 2pm, check here to 
          Time to self-tour: 1-2 hrs
          Note: Definitely buy your tickets ahead of time as lines can get long.      
                      Tickets are good for any day and any time making it very    

                      convenient. And the audio guide is included in the price.