Casa Amatller, Modernist mansion in Eixample, Spain
Casa Amatller is a Modernist mansion in the Eixample district of Barcelona, built with a Gothic-inspired facade featuring ceramic tiles, stone columns, decorative reliefs, and detailed balconies. The building stands on Passeig de Gràcia and now functions as a museum, with its interior preserved as it appeared in the early 1900s.
Chocolate manufacturer Antoni Amatller hired architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch between 1898 and 1900 to redesign an older structure originally built in 1875. The architect transformed the existing house into a showcase of Catalan Modernisme with northern European influences.
The mansion belongs to a stretch known as the Block of Discord, where rival architects placed their competing visions of Modernisme side by side. Its facade combines Gothic arches and floral ornaments that reflect the taste of Barcelona's turn-of-the-century bourgeoisie.
Visitors can tour the preserved 1900s interior through guided visits or explore the permanent exhibition at their own pace. The mansion also houses the Amatller Institute of Hispanic Art, which offers research and study opportunities.
The entrance displays sculptures by Eusebi Arnau depicting Sant Jordi alongside references to chocolate making, a nod to the original owner's trade. Inside the courtyard, a colored glass skylight channels natural light through the entire stairwell.
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