Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera, is the last private house Antoni Gaudí designed before he devoted himself to the Sagrada Família. Built between 1906 and 1912 on the corner of Passeig de Gràcia and Carrer de Provença, it caused a stir at the time for its undulating stone front, which reminded people of a quarry. The nickname, which means "the stone quarry" in Catalan, was meant as a joke but stuck. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most rewarding interiors in the city.
Why visit La Pedrera
The building has no load-bearing walls on its facade. Instead, Gaudí used a structure of stone and brick pillars and iron beams, which let him shape the front freely and give each apartment its own layout. The wrought-iron balconies look like tangled seaweed, and the whole facade seems to move as the light changes through the day.
The highlight for most visitors is the rooftop, where staircases and chimneys rise in sculpted shapes that some describe as warriors or helmeted guards. Below it, the brick-arched attic houses an exhibition about Gaudí's work, and one floor down you can walk through a recreated early twentieth-century apartment that shows how the building's residents lived.
Getting to La Pedrera by metro
The closest station is Diagonal, on Line 3 (green) and Line 5 (blue). Take an exit towards Passeig de Gràcia and the building is a short walk down the avenue, on the corner with Carrer de Provença. The FGC suburban trains also stop at Provença station nearby.
If you are starting at Casa Batlló or Plaça de Catalunya, walking up Passeig de Gràcia is pleasant and takes around 10 minutes from Casa Batlló, passing shop windows and modernista facades along the way.
La Pedrera tickets and opening hours
A paid ticket is needed to visit the inside and the rooftop. There are daytime visits with an audio guide, guided tours, and in some seasons evening experiences that include a light show on the rooftop. Prices vary by ticket type and time of day, and booking online is generally cheaper than buying on site. Use the official website, lapedrera.com, for current tickets and opening hours, which change through the year.
The rooftop can close in heavy rain or strong wind, so if the weather looks poor, check before you go or choose a different day if you can.
Best time to visit and how long to allow
Allow around an hour and a half for the full route of rooftop, attic and apartment. The first slots of the morning tend to be the quietest. Late afternoon visits can be lovely on the roof as the sun drops, and the evening experiences, when they run, give a very different atmosphere from a daytime visit.
In summer the roof is exposed to the sun, so bring a hat and water if you visit in the middle of the day.
What to see at La Pedrera
- The courtyards: two large light wells, painted with soft murals, which you see on arrival and which bring daylight deep into the building.
- The rooftop: an undulating terrace of stairs, ventilation towers and chimneys, some covered with broken tile or glass, with views of the Sagrada Família and the hills around the city.
- The attic: a sequence of slender brick catenary arches that is impressive in its own right and houses models and drawings explaining Gaudí's methods.
- The apartment: furnished rooms showing domestic life in the building in the early twentieth century.
The ground floor also hosts temporary exhibitions run by the foundation that manages the building, which are worth a look if you have time.
Nearby on the same metro stop
Diagonal station sits where Passeig de Gràcia meets Avinguda Diagonal, so there is plenty within walking distance:
- Casa Batlló: Gaudí's dragon-roofed house, about 10 minutes down the avenue.
- Gràcia: the former village just north of Diagonal, with small squares and independent cafés.
- Palau Robert: the Catalan government information centre on Passeig de Gràcia, with free exhibitions and a quiet garden.
- Casa de les Punxes: Puig i Cadafalch's castle-like building on Avinguda Diagonal, a short walk east.
For more around this stop, open Casa Milà on Around the Metro, or browse the full Barcelona metro map.