What can I say about Casa Mila (aka La Pedrera) that hasn’t already been said? Very little.
My friend and I visited in a gloriously sunny week towards the end of November. Having been warned of long queues, we had purchased our tickets online beforehand, but when we arrived mid-morning, there was no queue in sight and we were admitted in seconds. We had booked on La Pedrera’s official website where there are currently nine different tour options available, but we only bought the Essential ticket with which you can walk through this astonishing building at your own pace and spend as much time as you like, using a free audio guide if you like. Tickets cost 28 Euro per adult and 19 Euro for seniors 65+ years. Not having been to any of Gaudi’s buildings before, I found the entry fee quite high but honestly, exiting Casa Mila after well over two hours spent inside and on the rooftop, I thought it excellent value for money and I would like to think that by paying our way in, we have contributed in some small measure to the upkeep of this amazing architectural gem. The publicly accessible parts of Casa Mila are in wonderful condition and spotlessly clean, including the visitor toilets. There is lots of staff, mostly young guides who are easy to approach and exceptionally friendly and helpful, with good to very good English. Obviously, such service comes at a price.
Anyway, the building: I’ve never seen anything like it. Gaudi’s love of nature and organic shapes and forms showed in everything we saw. The man was wayyyyyy ahead of his time, combining art and design with practical elements, including the first ever residential underground garage, ventilation of the apartments contained in the building, ergonomic door handles etc. The visitable apartment is incredibly gorgeous, particularly for lovers of Art Nouveau. The attic construction is nothing short of astonishing. The roof terrace is just magical, and if you can tear your eyes away from the beauty of the roof, spare a glance for the gorgeous old buildings of the surrounding streetscape and also the Sagrada Familia in the near distance.
I’m hoping to be back in Barcelona next spring to visit all of Gaudi’s visitable buildings and will definitely go and see Casa Mila again. My compliments to the welcoming staff, from ticketing to security screening, gift shop and housekeeping, and the young people from the visitor service team. Your genuine friendliness was much appreciated!