Casa Mila - La Pedrera, Barcelona

I definitely am a GAUDI FAN!!

I give you here 1 tip and intend to build a special Gaudi travelogue, perhaps 2!

Here you see CASA MILà, "LA PEDRERA", of which Gaudi was the architect.

Walk to this building and let yourself be surprised: you can buy an entrance ticket and go up to the roof (you see it in the picture)
where you can walk around freely and enjoy the panorama and especially the "creation" of Gaudi: the building itself....

I hope you will enjoy it as much as I always do, time and again!

BTW LA PEDRERA means: the quarry!

See my GAUDI travelogues STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW !!!!!

bUT PLEASE, DO COME BACK YOU WILL ENJOY IT, I PROMISE!

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Casa MIla / La pedrera / The Quarry is a very interesting building full of intriguing stories (about the original owners and the government restrictions about it's construction and design) designed by Antoni Gaudi.

Still it's a marvel to look at. Located at the famous Eixample district along the Passeig de Gracia.

Easily the most unique, most photographed, most famous image of La Pedrera is the terrace, with its hulking, oddly shaped structures. This roof looks like a concrete garden of sculptures, but despite its artistic and symbolic imagery, they were designed to fulfill a functional role. In this area can be found staircases, the ventilation towers and the chimneys. In all this, it is easy to observe Gaudi's style which was inspired by nature and elements from the natural environment, its angles and curves as found in plants, for example.

Some of these structures are intricately decorated by broken pieces of ceramic or trencadis, at least those which are easily visible from the street level. Those which are a less visible from below are only roughcast rendered and painted, although from that distance and angle it is a bit difficult to tell the material they are made of. The undulating floor was designed by Gaudi to be compatible with the general rhythm of the building's facade.

If possible, visit La Pedrera when it's not raining, as they close the roof area when it is, for safety reasons.

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Strolling the famous Las Ramblas I almost bumped into Antoní Gaudis famous creation, the Casa Mila house. It was night time and dark, but the house seem to have a life of its own. This is one of the most beautiful houses I've ever seen! Strange like the floating objects in a painting of Dalí.

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If you visit only one Gaudi building, Mila House, or La Pedrera is the place to choose. Built for the Mila family as a residence it earned the nickname 'La Predera' as a derogatory term. It means 'the quarry'. It was not well received in 1910 by the public and they chose to call it 'la pedrera' because its outer limestone walls and wrought iron balconies reminded them somewhat of the cliffs of a stone quarry.

Today it is considered the prime example of Gaudi's civil (as opposed to religious) works. Inside there are some really nice models of his planning and of the building with its revolutionary staircase and chimneys. The model of how he invented a means to plan the unusually shaped vaulted ceilings is fascinating - well before his time.

There is a choice of a complete audio guide or a shorter version, both are free. The complete version is excellent - about 1 hour if memory serves me. The free short videos, with some seating scattered about, are both educational and entertaining.

There are examples of the furniture he designed for the family home and a couple of rooms with period furnishings.

To my regret I was there on a rainy day and the roof was closed because it is slippery when wet. But I did manage to view some of the chimneys through the windows.

The building is handicapped friendly except for the roof.

It is a World Heritage site since 1984.

Open:
November to February: Monday to Sunday, 9am-6.30pm
March to October: Monday to Sunday, 9am-8pm
Senior and student discounts.

Closed: 25th and 26th December, 1st and 6th January and usually 1 more week in January

Nothing about Gaudi is ever plain or simple. Here is his most famous house Casa Mila. The facade has a wonderful wave like effect. Although not my favorite Gaudi house, it still is a beautiful masterwork.

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La Pedrera—'The Quarry'—is the name given to it by the local people. Gaudi’s masterpiece was completed in 1910 and its Art Nouveau ‘wavy’ style stands out in its neighbourhood setting. This is definitely more form over function as residents always complained about how small and cramped most of the building is. It was named a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Sites in 1984. It is still a private apartment building, but guided tours are available. The Casa Mila is located in the L'Eixample District at Passeig de Gracia 92. Guided tours operate 7 days a week, but I suggest you get there early as you will wait a long time in a HUGE crowd to get tickets.

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Most definitely worth going to see, as there is no other place (unless it's another GAUDI exhibit) to equal. There is much to see here, so don't fail to give it enough time; also there is a good shop to browse for that something-special souvenir.

Antoni Gaudi was born in 1852; his architecture can be found all over Barcelona. Gaudi was greatly influenced by forms of nature and this is reflected by the use of curved construction stones, twisted iron sculptures, and organic-like forms. Using colored tiles arranged in mosaic patterns, also added another dimension, that of color, to his buildings.