Casa Amatller is considered one of the most important buildings located on the legendary Barcelona city block nicknamed “Illa de la Discòrdia”—where among other architectural marvels you’ll find Antoni Gaudí’s beloved Casa Batlló. Built by the famed architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch in the final years of the nineteenth century for the family of a wealthy local chocolatier, Casa Amatller stands today as a remarkably well-preserved house museum. Here you can learn all about the history of the Amatller family and the architectural stylings of Puig i Cadafalch while admiring some of the finest examples of Catalan Modernist design anywhere in the city.
History of Casa Amatller
Casa Amatller was built in 1875, but the structure we know and love today didn’t come fully into focus until Josep Puig i Cadafalch was hired by the successful businessman Antoni Amatller in 1898 to rework the structure for use as a private residence. Between 1898 and 1900 Puig i Cadafalch radically reimagined the building. Most notably, he gave the structure a striking, staggered façade adorned by an elaborate series of tiles, sculptures, and ornamentation. Careful observers of the façade will note its extensive use of symbols and iconography that reference the Amatller family, their businesses, and a variety of their favorite hobbies. This famous façade is now considered a unique amalgamation of the Gothic, Romanesque, and seventeenth-century Dutch architectural styles.
Though Antoni Amatller died in 1910, members of his family continued to live in the house for another half-century; this prolonged habitation ensured that much of the home’s interior remained in good condition. Between 2010 and 2017, a three-stage renovation process took place, during which time the entire building received a much-needed restoration.
Casa Amatller Highlights
Visitors to Casa Amatller will have their choice of two different ways to experience the house museum. A 45-minute, video-guided tour of the property runs every 20 minutes between the hours of 10:00am and 7:00pm, seven days a week. When you arrive at Casa Amatller, a staff member will provide you with a headphone-equipped tablet that plays an audio guide while displaying photographs, videos, and other informative materials as you move through the house. At the same time, the museum employee will accompany you throughout the site, making themselves available for any questions you might have or assistance you may require. The experience is available in English, Spanish, Catalan, German, Italian, Chinese, and French.
On the other hand, if you’d like to experience Casa Amatller via a more-traditional method you absolutely can, as every day of the week except Sunday Casa Amatller offers one-hour-long guided tours. Throughout the Casa Amatller guided tour you’ll hear all about the building’s history, its innovative design, and the lives of the individuals who once called it home. The guided tour is offered in English at 10:00am, Spanish at 11:00am, and Catalan at noon.
Among the many highlights of a visit to Casa Amatller are such features as the family room fireplace, which depicts an Aztec princess and Castilian princess alongside one another (as a symbol of cacao’s transatlantic cultural journey); a Romanesque altarpiece believed to date to approximately 1200 (it was acquired by Antoni Amatller during a fervent phase of collecting); and of course, the attraction’s colorful (and iconographically complex) façade. Furthermore, much of the home’s furniture is original—as are significant portions of the stained-glass collection on display here.
More to See and Do at Casa Amatller
Casa Amatller is one of Barcelona’s most visually striking architectural landmarks. Keep reading below for even more things to see, do, and know while at this inimitable attraction.
*If you’re visiting Barcelona during the summer months, you might be interested in Casa Amatller’s “Summer Nights” program. This special tour package bundles together admission to the museum and an audio-guide tour of the site with live music and a drink in the house’s picturesque courtyard garden. It’s a great option for those Barcelona visitors with a bit of extra space in their itinerary and a lot of love for Modernist architecture in their hearts.
*The chocolate-making tradition of the Amatller family continues today, with many locals being of the opinion that you can get the best chocolate in all of Barcelona here at Casa Amatller, where it comes in adorable vintage tins. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve got a sweet tooth or you’re more the savory type: no trip to Casa Amatller is complete with saving some room to try their famous chocolate.
*The Institut Amatller d’Art Hispànic was established by Teresa Amatller Cros in 1943; it occupies portions of the attraction’s second and third floors. This important research facility houses a library and photographic archive, and is a notable scholarly destination for academics from all over the world.
*The Casa Amatller app can be downloaded for free, straight from the attraction’s website to your device. It grants users access to historical information about various rooms throughout the house, as well as suggested Barcelona itineraries that visitors can deploy to explore other parts of the city at their leisure.
Why Casa Amatller Should Be on Your Must-See List
Along with Casa Batlló and Sagrada Familia, Casa Amatller is one of the most distinctive architectural achievements you’ll come across in a city that’s famous for numerous iconic works of innovative design. If you’ve already toured more than your fair share of Gaudí’s masterpieces but you’ve still got some time left over in your schedule, consider checking out Casa Amatller firsthand. Given how Gaudí and Puig i Cadafalch were contemporaries—albeit with differing approaches, styles, and techniques—a tour here will make for a stimulating architectural counterpoint.