Mançana de la Discòrdia, Barcelona

Illa de la Discòrdia (formerly known as Mançana de Discòrdia), which means Block of Discord, refers to the most famous, no doubt most visited, block on Passeig de Gràcia. It gained its name because of the close juxtaposition of three outstanding buildings, each of which is in a conflicting style, although they are all categorized as modernist.

Casa Lleó Morera, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner and decorated with the sculptures of Eusebi Arnau, is on the corner and has the beautiful round window that is hard to miss. Slightly further up is the Casa Amatller by Josep Puig i Cadafalch, and next door to it is the most famous Casa Batlló, which was remodelled by Gaudí in 1906 (pictured here).

The Casa Batlló is more than a building. It became a legend of art and architecture for all time. Today, the First Floor (the former home of the Batlló family), the Attic and its famous chimneys are all open to visitors. You can also be just as content admiring the splendid facades from the sidewalk. Lastly, this building also looks quite beautiful at night. So try to come back and see it then.

Manzana means apple but also block of houses....

Three buildings of the three great MODERNISTA architects, so differing from each other in style, characterize this special and famous MANZANA.

There is Monènech i Montaners CASAS LléO-MORERA on nr. 35.
The richly decorated and ornated interior are now the headquarters of the TOURIST OFFICE of Barcelona.

On nr. 41 is the CASA AMATLLER van Puig i Cadafalch with a crow-step façade, ceramic ornaments and a (not original of course) Medieval staircase.

Gaudi's CASA BATLLò on nr. 43 has a striking, eye-catching wave-like roof.

*** a place to go, let me recommend it to you!

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One of several buildings making up the Illa de la Discòrida, Casa Lleó Morera is a stunning modernisme interpretation of Gothic architecture. The structure was originally built in 1864 as an office building, but was redesigned as a residence in 1905 by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, when the Morera family acquired it. Domènech is one of Barcelona's most celebrated Modernista architects whose work includes the Palau de la Música Catalana. A most treasured feature of the building is the beautiful stained glass bay window in its dining room. Unfortunately, the building is not open to visitors, but the stained glass windows can be clearly seen from the back terrace of nearby Casa Batlló, which can be visited (see attached photos).

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Tastefully blending Moorish, Gothic and Flemish architectural styles, this late 19th century mansion now lies in the most famous Modernista block in Barcelona. With Casa Batlló on one side and Casa Lleó Morera on the other, the conflicting architectural styles earned this block the name Illa de la Discòrdia. The interior of Casa Amatller has a beautiful staircase and a stained glass ceiling (see photos). The building was completed in 1898 by the famous Catalan architect, Josep Puig i Cadafalch. In June/July 2008, Casa Amatller was covered in scaffolding for restoration work.

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This block of buildings (3) belongs to different architectural styles;

Casa Batllò was designed by Gaudì. It was built between 1904 and 1906.

Casa Lle'o Moreira. By Lluis Domenech i Montaner; 1902-1906. Inside you find a tourist office.

Casa Amattler was built in 1898. It is a creation by Puig i Cadafalch.

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The facade of CASA BATTLLO' (opened in 2002) rises to an uneaven blue tiled roof with a solitary tower. It's sprinkled with bits of blue, mauve and green tile, and studed with wave-shaped window frames and balconies. The roof represents Sant Jordi(St George) and the dragon, and if you stare long enough at the building - it seems almost to be a living being.

Casa Battllo' is the centerpiece of MANZANA DE LA DISCORDIA (Apple of discord - in a play on words, MANZANA means both city block & apple). According to Greek myth, the original Apple of Discord was tossed onto Mt Olympus by Eris(Discord) with orders that it be given to the most beautiful goddess, sparking jealosies that help start the Trojan War.

All three of the buildings were done by the 'Big Three' of Modernisme from 1898 to 1906.

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It's one of the most representative buildings of Modernism in BCN and one of the greatest works of Antoni Gaudi. It was raised in 1904-1906. Next to Casa Batllo there is Casa Amatller by Puig i Cadafalch.
It will surely make a great impression on everyone.

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This beautiful house was built in 1905 by Domènech i Montaner. Its decoration is specially rich in the windows and gates lintel, with vegetal garlands. I specially like the round big windows and the templete on the attic, making it one of the most elegant houses.

Esta bonita casa fue construida en 1905 por Domènech i Montaner. Su decoración es especialmente rica en los dinteles de las ventanas y las puertas, con guirnaldas vegetales. Me gusta sobre todo las ventanas redondas y el templete sobre el ático, siendo una de las casas más elegantes.

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The "Apple of Discord" is the popular name done to this block of houses (in Spanish we call it "Manzana" or "Apple") where there are three beautiful houses designed by three different architects: Casa Batllo by Antonio Gaudí, Casa Lleó i Morera by Domènech i Montaner and Casa Amatller by Puig i Cadafalch. This original name establishs a paralelism between these three houses and the mythological Judgement of Paris in which the goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite fought for the "Apple of Discord", the golden apple, a thropy for the most beautiful of them.
The Amatller House was built in 1900 mixing Gothic and the Dutch styles. Currently it hosts the Amatller Institute and the Modernism Centre, which plan guided visit to the modernist buildings in town.

La "Manzana de la Discordia" es el nombre popular que recibe este conjunto de bloques agrupados en una misma manzana, donde hay tres bonitas casas diseñadas por tres arquitectos diferentes: Casa Batlló de Antonio Gaudí, Casa Lleó i Morera de Domènech i Montaner y Casa Amatller de Puig i Cadafalch. Este original nombre establece el paralelismo entre estas tres casas y el mitológico Juicio de Paris en el cual las diosas Hera, Atena y Afrodita lucharon por la "Manzana de la Discordia" la manzana de oro que servía como trofeo a la más guapa de ellas.
La Casa Amatller fue construida en 1900 mezclando los estilos gótico y holandes. Actualmente alberga el Instituto Amatller y el Centro del Modernismo, que organiza visitas a los edificios modernistas de la ciudad.

This house was designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch for Antoni Amatller. He took a totally different approach from the other two houses and gave the design the look of a Dutch step gabled house but also threw in some Gothic touches. Look out for the carving of St George slaying the dragon - a little but of Catalan nationalism!