Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
temporary exhibits (generally free, open daily 10:00-20:00, may be closed between exhibi-
tions).
Nighttime Visits:
The building hosts guided after-hour visits dubbed “The Secret
Pedrera.” On this pricey visit, you'll tour the building with the lights turned down low (€30;
late June-early Sept Sun-Wed 21:30-24:00, none on Thu-Sat; March-late June and early
Sept-Oct nightly 21:30-24:00; Nov-Feb Wed-Sat 20:00-22:30, none on Sun-Tue; last entry
1.5 hours before closing).
Concerts:
On summer weekends, Casa Milà has an evening rooftop concert series,
“SummerNightsatLaPedrera,”featuringlivejazz.Inadditiontothemusic,itgivesyouthe
chance to see the rooftop illuminated (€25, late June-early Sept Thu-Sat 20:30-23:00, book
advance tickets online or by phone, tel. 902-101-212,
www.lapedrera.com
)
.
Visiting the House:
A visit to Casa Milà covers three sections: the apartment, the attic,
and the rooftop. Enter and head upstairs to the apartment. If it's near closing time, continue
up to see the attic and rooftop first, to make sure you have enough time to enjoy Gaudí's
works and the views.
The typical bourgeois
apartment
is decorated as it might have been when the building
was first occupied by middle-class urbanites (a seven-minute video explains Barcelona so-
ciety at the time). Notice Gaudí's clever use of the atrium to maximize daylight in all of the
apartments.
The
attic
houses a sprawling multimedia exhibit tracing the history of the architect's
career with models, photos, and videos of his work. It's all displayed under distinctive
parabola-shaped arches. While evocative of Gaudí's style in themselves, the arches are
formed this way partly to support the multilevel roof above. This area was also used for
ventilation, helping to keep things cool in summer and warm in winter. Tenants had storage
spaces and did their laundry up here.
Fromtheattic,astairwayleadstotheundulating,jaw-dropping
rooftop,
where30chim-
neys and ventilation towers play volleyball with the clouds.
Back at the
ground level
of Casa Milà, poke into the dreamily painted original entrance
courtyard.
While the buildings listed above are the best Modernista facades in this area, fans of this era
may want to seek out a few more examples:
Just around the corner from the Block of Discord, at Carrer d'Aragó 255, the
Fundació
Antoni Tàpies,
dedicated to a 20th-century abstract artist from Barcelona, is housed in a
Lluís Domènech i Montaner-designed building that sums up the Modernist credo. Construc-
ted of modern brick, iron, and glass, it's decorated with playful motifs and is spacious, func-
