Casa Batlló is an architectural masterpiece by Antoni Gaudí, located at number 43 of Paseo de Gracia in the city of Barcelona. It is a wonderful, colorful building that has been awarded by UNESCO. It was originally built in 1877 by Emilio Sala Cortés and was purchased in 1903 by the industrialist Josep Batlló. Batlló commissioned Gaudí to completely renovate the building in 1904, giving him complete creative freedom. Gaudí transformed the building into a true work of art.
Both the exterior and interior of the building are mesmerizing. It is crafted from a fascinating blend of materials, including stained glass, wrought iron, wood, ceramics, and stone tiles.
The most interesting aspect of this work is its symbolism. It is dedicated to Saint George. Legend has it that Saint George slew the dragon to save the princess and the people, making him the patron saint of Catalonia. As you walk through the corridors of the house, you find yourself among hanging chains that together form patterns giving the illusion that you are inside the dragon's skeleton.
The house is also known as the "House of Bones" or the "House of the Dragon." The crown of the facade is made of tiles shaped like scales, resembling the back of a dragon. A spear pierces through the ridge, topped with a cross with four arms pointing in all directions. The balconies, shaped like skulls, symbolize the dragon's victims, as do the columns of the large central window, which are shaped like bones.
On the left side of this large window was the office area, so Gaudí created very large windows with an elaborate internal mechanism of shutters to allow light to penetrate. Additionally, it was adorned with beautiful stained glass resembling the water lilies in Claude Monet's paintings. These stained glass windows, apart from their decorative value, were also used as a filter to soften the light.
Overall, the interior of the building is designed in such a way that light passes through the entire house. This is aided by the light well located centrally in the building, where light enters and continues through the organic shapes that help it flow across surfaces. Light even passes through the closed doors, as they are decorated with stained glass.
What makes this tour magical for every visitor is that Gaudí did not explain everything that lies behind each creation, leaving each person's imagination to come alive.