Casa Mila

Casa Milà, nicknamed La Pedrera (“The Quarry”) for its rough, quarry-like exterior, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage building in 1984. Now the apartment block designed by the famous Barcelona architect Antoni Gaudí has been turned into a museum and exhibition space which is open to the public. Visitors can view the courtyard, attic, ground floor and roof terrace, as well as one of the apartments which has been restored to its original ground-breaking design.The building was constructed between 1906 and 1912 as a private home with apartments for rent on the upper floors. The curvy, embellished design of the exterior features many of Gaudí’s iconic quirks, including intricately wrought chimneys and ventilator shafts which emphasise the building’s unique profile.After admiring the period artworks and furnishings in the show apartment, take the lift to the roof from where you can get a closer look at the curious spiralling shapes of the chimneys and enjoy a great view of the city. A small museum in the attic houses drawings, plans and videos showcasing the genius of the man who put Barcelona on the world map of architecture. Finish your visit in the ground floor gallery, which features exhibitions of work by local and international artists.Admission to Casa Milà is by ticket and there is often a long wait to purchase them on site, so beat the queues by pre-purchasing in advance from the official website. For a small additional charge you can hire an informative audio guide which will help you navigate around the building and pinpoint its most interesting features. The house is open daily and is easy to reach by public transport. Walk along the elegant Passeig de Gràcia boulevard to see this and three more Gaudí buildings, including Casa Batlló.