The COVID19 pandemic has forced us all to spend more time at home this year. Luckily for me, my home happens to be the amazing city of Barcelona! Therefore, I have decided to take this as an opportunity to write more about the city where I live. I will be sharing my discoveries with you so that you can travel with your minds, for now, and start planning your trip to Barcelona for when things go back to normal, hopefully very soon! 🙂 This post is about the stunning Casa Amatller.
The History of Casa Amatller
With more than 300 years of history, Chocolates Amatller is one of the most well-renowned chocolate brands in Europe. Antoni Amatller took the reins of the family chocolate company around 1872. One of his first decisions was to build a new factory equipped with the most up-to-date technology. Moreover, Amatller was also pioneering in his use of advertising techniques. He commissioned the best illustrators of the time to design the packaging and posters for the Amatller chocolate range.
In 1898, he decided to invest in the purchase of a property on Passeig de Gràcia. Designed in 1875 by Antoni Robert, the building had a classic style. However, Amatller yearned for a much more original property that could reflect his cultural interest and his privileged position. So he contracted the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch to carry out a complete refurbishment.
With the help of around fifty artisans, Puig i Cadafalch managed to radically transform the exterior and the interior of the house, incorporating details of Gothic influence as well as elements from Nordic and Flemish architecture, such as the stepped roof termination.
Completed in the year 1900, the work caused a sensation. Casa Amatller contributed to the popularization of modernist aesthetics and awakened the creativity of other architects, like Gaudí.
The Exterior
One of Puig i Cadafalch’s most striking examples of Modernism in Barcelona, Casa Amatller combines elements of Gothic and Dutch urban architecture.
The façade is full of symbolism and decorative elements. The architect placed different constructive and ornamental elements at various heights to create careful asymmetric effects. It is decorated with graffitis inspired by nature, such as the flowering branches of the almond tree, “Ametller” in Catalan, which sounded very similar to “Amatller, the property’s owner surname.
The sculptural arrangement decorating the first floor of the facade is of Gothic influence and refers to the legend of Saint George and the dragon. Other details are a reference to the activities that the chocolate entrepreneur was involved in, such as reading, photography and the collecting of antiques.
Thanks to these ornamental solutions, the architect could create a complex iconographic program in which references to Catalan traditions and the medieval era alternate with allusions to the figure of Antoni Amatller.
The Interior
Puig i Cadafalch employed ceramic work, carpentry and carved stone to create a stately home of medieval inspiration. The courtyard of honour, where your visit will start, was inspired by Barcelona’s gothic palaces. Look down and notice the unique floor. The architect decorated the tiles of the entrance with almond flowers, an allusion to the surname of the owner due to the assonance between the word ‘almond’ in Catalan and the owner’s surname. The staircase leads to the main floor, which was the home of the Amatller family. Look up and admire the beautiful stained glass skylight before entering the house.
To decorate the interior of the house, the architect made the most of his highly skilled team of craftsmen and designed a large range of compositions based on nature that combined a striking chromatic range with a wide variety of textures and materials.
Most of the original furniture and decorations are still there and available for visitors to see, which makes a visit to this house is a very special trip back in time.
The dining room is definitely one of the most beautiful rooms in the house. Above the spectacular fireplace is a sculpture in which an Aztec princess joins a Castilian princess, symbolising the journey of cocoa across the ocean since its discovery in the 16th century.
The study room is also stunning. It was at the heart of the house so that the owner could always have the situation under control even when working or reading from there. The windows are made of colourful stained glass, making the atmosphere in this room pretty special.
Amatller Chocolate Tasting
The visit of Casa Museu Amatler ends with a tasting of a cup of Amatller Chocolate. You can enjoy this delicious chocolate served with warm bread while sitting in the spectacular courtyard of honour. In case you want more, there is also a small cafè, Cafetería Faborit, and a shop where you can buy some chocolate and other souvenirs from Casa Amatller.
How To Get Tickets To Casa Amatller
The best place to buy your tickets is the website of Casa Museu Amatller. You get a 15% discount if you purchase your tickets online.
The tour lasts about 45 minutes and is offered in Spanish, Catalan, English, and French.
NB: To conserve the floors in their original condition, at the beginning of your visit you will be asked to wear shoe covers. Heels are not allowed, nor walking sticks or crutches.
Save Time & Money
If you want to make the most of your stay in Barcelona, I recommend buying the Barcelona Card. It gives you skip-the-line access to over 25 of Barcelona’s best museums and attractions and includes public transportation for 3, 4, or 5-days. You also get an exclusive guidebook in 6 languages and a free map of Barcelona. If you are only staying for a couple of days, then go for a Barcelona Express Card!
How To Get To Casa Amatller
Take the L3 or L5 to Diagonal Station and take the exit Aragó-Rambla Catalunya. Check out the Barcelona metro map
Where To Stay In Barcelona
Booking.comIn order to visit as many sights as possible during your stay, I recommend you book accommodation in these three districts: Sant Antoni, Eixample and El Born. All three districts are in the city centre and offer good connections to tourist attractions. These are residential districts: locals live here! This means that restaurants are not tourists traps like the ones on La Rambla. I recommend avoiding the Gothic Quarter, especially in summer when it gets very expensive and El Raval, which is definitely not one of the safest neighbourhoods in town.
Booking.comTip: the best way to get to the city centre from the airport is to get the Aerobús. The trip takes about 30 minutes depending on traffic. The first stop is at Pl. Espanya and the last is Pl. Catalunya. Buy your ticket in advance online. A single ticket costs €5.90 and a return ticket is €10.20. Free wifi available onboard.
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