Casa Amatller

The stunning Casa Amatller, designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch between 1898 and 1900, is located right next to Gaudí’s Casa Batlló. It’s not uncommon for this part of Passeig de Gràcia to be constantly filled with visitors and admirers. What many people don’t know is that you can also look inside Casa Amatller. Inside, you will find a café, chocolate shop, cultural center, and of course, the Amatller family’s home itself, which is open to the public.

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.

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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, office and music room. The building consists of three more floors and a roof terrace.

The Amatller family’s home

During the tour of Casa Amatller, you visit the Amatller family’s home as it appeared in the early 20th century. The house has retained all its original furniture, decorations, and a remarkable collection from the owner. This makes a visit to Casa Amatller a true journey of discovery.

Tip: Highly recommended when traveling with children or if you want to experience Casa Amatller in a different way, is to join a theatrical tour. These tours offer a unique opportunity to glimpse into the lives 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 inhabitants, and, of course, the chocolate empire.

Centre d’Art Amatller

At Casa Amatller, you’ll also find the Centre d’Art Amatller, a new reference space dedicated to art, culture, and especially Modernisme. This modern cultural center offers temporary exhibitions where audiovisual projections, augmented reality, and virtual reality are combined with traditional museum displays.

Be sure to check the schedule to discover which exhibition is currently on when you visit Casa Amatller. Tickets for these exhibitions can be purchased online or on-site.

Faborit Café

Finally, on the ground floor, you’ll find a beautiful café with a chocolate shop. Here you can buy various chocolate bonbons from the Amatller brand as souvenirs or enjoy a delicious cup of hot chocolate. It is served with pieces of bread for dipping, a favorite among many Barcelonans!

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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.

Casa Amatller Tickets

Visiting Casa Amatller is only possible through a guided tour, which can be done with an audio guide or a live guide. It is advisable to book tickets in advance, as the tours are scheduled at specific times. This way, you can ensure entry on your desired day and time. The visit to Casa Amatller lasts approximately 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.