La Pedrera is the nickname by which Casa Milà is known, one of the houses designed by Antoni Gaudí that can be visited in the centre of Barcelona and the last of his civil works in chronological terms. The building stands in the Eixample district, a district of the Catalan bourgeoisie in the 19th century, a short distance from Casa Batlló. It was called Pedrera, or stone quarry, both because of the appearance of the façade made of rough stone, with the recesses of the windows resembling natural caves. It is one of seven works by the Catalan architect to have been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site and is one of the highlights of a trip to Barcelona.
Opening hours and prices
Hours: open every day, at different times depending on the type of visit chosen. Standard hours are from 9am to 6pm, extended until 8pm for premium visits and from 9pm to 11pm for the night experience.
Best time to avoid queues: The busiest times are late morning and from 4pm to 6pm. If you choose the standard visit, it is therefore best to schedule your visit in the morning, between 09:00 and 11:00.
Ticket price: the standad entrance to La Pedrera costs €22.00 and includes an audio guide in Italian. Premium entry, on the other hand, allows a visit without daytime restrictions from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, while the night experience costs €34.00. All these costs are valid for purchasing tickets online, while the ticket in the ticket office at the entrance of Casa Milà will have a surcharge of €3.00. Buy the priritary ticket with audio guide online
Reductions: €16.50 for students with student card; €11.00 for children up to 11 years old. For City Pass holders the ticket price is reduced by 20%(Buy online)
Online tickets and guided tours
What to see and how to visit Casa Milà
1 - The façade
The visit to Casa Milà starts from the exterior, to which it owes its name Pedrera. The building has six floors and three façades, at the junction of carrer Provença and Passeig de Gracia. You will recognise the building without any doubt: the wide façades are not bordered by edges and straight lines, but united by sinuous waves and curved lines that develop on the stone, worked to appear porous, and on the wrought iron. The maritime inspiration of the house is also evident in the engravings of marine flora and fauna.
2 - The roof
Gaudí imagined the roof of Casa Milà as a living space, a terrace, rather than merely functional. There are more than thirty chimneys rising from the roof of the Pedrera, and all bear witness to Catalan expressionism, twisting around themselves in soft, chiselled forms or topped with crowns and military-looking shapes. Observe the chimneys carefully: on one of them is engraved a heart in the direction of Reus, Gaudí's hometown, and a tear in the direction of the Sagrada Familia, his most famous but unfinished work.
3 - The Attic
Descending from the roof, you will find yourself in the attic, where various models, videos and photographs chronicling the Catalan architect's career are on display. Walking under the narrow arches of the attic gives the impression of walking through the roofs of a cathedral or the back of an enormous dragon, but in reality this space was initially simply used for the common services of the flats, such as the laundry room. For a long period after World War II it was divided into flats, but was later restored to its original condition in the 1990s and became the exhibition space we know now.
4 - The flats
La Pedrera is not only a museum, but still fulfils its original role: some of the flats are still inhabited. However, it is possible to visit on one floor the interior design and a reproduction of the furnishings from the early 20th century, modelled on the real residences of the Catalan bourgeoisie. Inside, we find the same sinuous forms and intense natural light. In fact, Gaudí created an internal courtyard that allowed not only access to the floors, but also the lighting of them.
Where it is located and how to get there
On foot: only 700 metres from Casa Batlló. It is equidistant from the Sagrada Familia and the Barrìo Gotico, 2 km from both, placing it at the centre of every itinerary and in the very centre of the city - Get directions
By bus: the nearest bus stops are Pg de Gràcia Mallorca and Pg de Gràcia Rosselló, reached by lines 34, H10, H8, V15.
By metro: with lines 2 and 4 get off at Passeig de Gràcia, while with line 5 take the Diagonal stop. Both stops are also on line 3.
Useful tips for visiting the attraction
Get up early: Ideally you should reach the entrance by 09:00, when it opens, to avoid the long queues that start late in the morning and continue until closing time.
Combined ticket: If you are a Gaudí fan there is a combined ticket available for visiting Casa Milà, Casa Batlló and Casa Vicens for €59.00
Priority ticket: Buy your tickets online, avoid the long queues at any time of the year, and save €3.00 on each type of entrance(Buy online now)
Watch out for restrictions: some of the flats are private and still inhabited, be careful not to knock on doors and disturb the residents.
History, trivia and practical info: what to know in brief
Why Pedrera? The appellation Pedrera actually has derogatory origins: initially the citizens did not appreciate its innovative forms, and it is said that in addition to the characteristic façade this was also due to the fact that the long construction works made the area impassable for their entire duration (four years), making the street a veritable stone quarry.
Influences in pop culture: Casa Milà has also exerted its influence in the world of film and literature: it seems George Lucas was inspired by the chimneys for the design of the stormtroopers in Star Wars, while author Dan Brown included it in his novel Origin published in 2017.
Watch out for the entrances: Casa Milà has two entrances. If you bought your tickets online skip the line and go to the one on carrer Provença, while if you intend to buy your ticket on the spot go to Passeig de Gracia
Where to stay
If you're planning to visit La Pedrera and are looking for a comfortable stay near the attraction, we recommend the Olivia Balmes Hotel. This stylish hotel is just a 10-minute walk from La Pedrera and is located in the heart of the Eixample district. The hotel offers modern rooms with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and a flat-screen TV. It also features a rooftop pool, a sun terrace, and a gym. Book your stay at the Olivia Balmes Hotel and enjoy the perfect location to explore the best of Barcelona.
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