Casa Amatller

The beautiful Casa Amatller, designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch between 1898 and 1900, is located right next to Gaudí’s Casa Batlló. Therefore, it is not uncommon for this part of Passeig de Gràcia to be constantly filled with visitors and admirers.

What to See and Do at Casa Amatller

The Casa Amatller is often overlooked because it has a major competitor next to it; Gaudí’s Casa Batlló. Nevertheless, this beautiful building is just as beautiful and interesting to visit as its famous neighbor. A guided tour of Casa Amatller is therefore highly recommended for fans of Modernism. Also interesting to know: directly in front of the entrance of Casa Amatller, a tile on the ground marks the beginning of the European Route of Modernism.

The Casa Amatller

The Casa Amatller, along with the adjoining Casa Batlló, designed by Gaudí, and Casa Lleó Morera, by Domènech i Montaner, is part of the Illa de la Discòrdia, or Block of Discord; so named because the three buildings are so strikingly and differently from each other. An interesting detail is that none of the three buildings was a new construction project, but the result of the remodeling of an existing house. Casa Amatller was the first of all three to be remodeled to its current form.

From the outside, Casa Amatller is a beautiful sight. The most striking element of the building is the stepped façade that resembles a bar of chocolate; a clear tribute to its owner, who was also a chocolate manufacturer. Puig i Cadafalch was clearly inspired by the Netherlands and mixed those influences with Catalan Gothic. The various sculptures were made by, among others, Eusebi Arnau and Alfons Jujol, two of the best artists of the time.

The house itself consists of a ground floor with a garage, kitchens, and staff rooms. On the first floor lived the Amatller family, with associated bedrooms, living room, and music room. The building consists of three more floors and a roof terrace.

During a tour of Casa Amatller, you visit the house of the Amatller family as they lived there in the early 20th century. The house retained all its original furniture and decoration, as well as a remarkable collection of its owner.

Faborit Café

On the ground floor, next to a chocolate shop where you can buy the original Amatller chocolates as a souvenir, there is also a super nice café called Faborit Café. Here, after your visit, you can enjoy a cup of coffee or a bite to eat, order a fresh orange juice, make your own salad, or eat a wrap.

History of Casa Amatller

The original building of Casa Amatller was built by Antoni Robert in 1875. The Amatller family, one of the most powerful families of the old Catalan bourgeoisie, commissioned the architect and politician Josep Puig i Cadafalch to renovate the building in 1898. The property was remodeled in a modernist style, with a design that mixed Catalan neo-Gothic style with characteristics of Dutch mansions.

The renovation by Josep Puig i Cadafalch led to a radical transformation of the building: the entire façade was remade, its roof restructured, the ground floor was redesigned and expanded, an elevator, a garage for the car, and a photo studio were added, and the bathrooms and kitchens were modernized.

The chocolate manufacturer Antoni Amatller, also an avid art collector and photographer, lived here with his daughter Teresa Amatller. She sold the chocolate brand after her father’s death in 1910 and established a foundation to preserve the house and documents of her family.

Since 1941, Casa Amatller has been the headquarters of the Fundació Institut Amatller d’Art Hispànic, an organization responsible for collecting and preserving photographs, books, documents, and bibliographic material on the visual arts of Spanish-speaking countries.

It wasn’t until 2015 that Casa Amatller opened its doors as a museum for visitors.

Theatrical Tour at Casa Batlló

Highly recommended when traveling with children or if you want to experience Casa Amatller in a different way is to participate in a theatrical tour.

These take place every Friday at 7:00 PM and are a unique opportunity to take a look into the life of Antoni Amatller Costa and his daughter Teresa, the owners of Casa Amatller. Through these two characters, you will discover the history of this building, its residents, and of course, the chocolate empire.

A surprising tour, packaged in a play. Afterwards, you can enjoy a glass of bubbly in the lobby and further explore Casa Amatller at your leisure.

Especially recommended to do with children. Every Friday at 7:00 PM. Language: English. Duration: 1 hour.

Casa Amatller Tickets

It is advisable to order your Casa Amatller tickets online in advance to avoid long queues.

Skip-the-Line Tickets Casa Amatller

You can order your tickets for Casa Amatller online in advance to skip the long queues. You will also receive a video guide explaining what you see and can participate in a chocolate tasting. Free for children under 7 years old. Language: Spanish, Catalan, English, and French. Duration: 45 minutes.

Tours at Casa Amatller

You can also choose to participate in a guided tour. The tours are offered in Spanish, Catalan, and English, but only take place on certain days and times, and you need to buy special tickets for them. You can follow a guided tour or participate in a theatrical tour of 1 hour.

Book your tickets for a guided tour at Casa Amatller in advance online via the link below. This way, you are guaranteed a spot during a tour on your desired date (the tour is intended for groups of up to 12 people).

How to Get to Casa Amatller

Casa Amatller is located at Passeig de Gràcia number 41, very close to the Passeig de Gràcia metro station (L2, L3, and L4). From the outside, the house is very easy to distinguish, as it sits next to the famous Casa Batlló and also has a striking façade in the shape of a Dutch mansion.