Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera, is Antoni Gaudí’s extraordinary apartment building on Barcelona’s Passeig de Gràcia. Completed in 1912, its rippling stone façade and wrought-iron balconies were so unconventional that locals dubbed it “the quarry.” It was Gaudí’s last major secular work and is now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site encompassing several of his buildings.
The rooftop is the highlight of a visit: chimneys and ventilation towers rise like a gathering of armoured figures above the Eixample. Below, the brick-arched attic houses an exhibition on Gaudí’s methods, while a furnished apartment evokes the life of a prosperous Barcelona family in the early 20th century. Casa Milà was designed as a working residential building, and some apartments remain private homes today.
Book tickets online ahead of time, particularly in summer, and allow time for both the roof and the interiors. The rooftop is exposed, so bring sun protection or a layer depending on the weather. Look out for seasonal evening visits and rooftop concerts if you want to see La Pedrera after dark.