The building was designed for the family of a local businessman, Pere Milà, and was constructed between 1906 and 1912. Mr, Milà had seen the house that Gaudí had recently completed on the same block, the Casa Batlló, and immediately commissioned the architect to build him a new home. The design of the building was considered quite controversial when it first opened, as it has an undulating stone facade with twisting wrought iron balconies and windows designed by fellow Modernist architect, Josep Maria Jujol. However, the building was quickly heralded as a work of art, and it was also recognized for the structural innovations, natural ventilation system, and the sculptural elements of the roof that were all groundbreaking for their time. The building was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
Casa Milà is one of Barcelona’s most visited sites, and the best way to fully appreciate Gaudí’s brilliance is to visit the interior of the house. Visitors can tour an apartment that recreates what the home of a bourgeois family would have been like when the building was constructed, and they can also tour the former residence of the Milà’s, which is now a temporary Exhibition Hall.
No tour would be complete without visiting the famous rooftop of Casa Milà, with its beautiful chimneys and vents, and its outstanding panoramic views of the city.
Casa Milà is open to the public daily from 9:00am to 8:30pm, and from 9:00pm to 11:00pm. Please note that opening hours may vary throughout the year, and they are closed on Christmas day. For more information, including updated opening hours, ticket prices and advance ticket sales, click here.
Book a private tour! You may want to consider booking a private tour with an English-speaking guide. Your personal guide can provide you with information on the city and its historic sites. For more information on our Gaudí tour, click here, and for information on all of our Barcelona tours, click here.
Photo credit: Thomas Ledl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.