Casa Mila Casa Batllo

You should definitely pre-purchase a ticket for either of these, as the ticket-buying lines are long. When I went, the Casa Batllo ticket was not for a set entry time; I know this has changed, but don't know details of the various tickets now available (it keeps changing).

I only saw Casa Batllo, so I can't directly compare them. Casa Batllo is not currently occupied, and it was a private house for one family, so you can see almost the entire interior, as well as a terrace and the roof. You get an iPod video/audio guide, which explains all kinds of things (for instance, how the door handles may look weird but are actually ergonomic; you are encouraged to test them yourself to see this). I loved the experience, and felt the crowds and high entry price couldn't ruin it. You certainly get a good impression of Gaudi's "interior design panache," as well as of how wealthy the Batllo family must have been to be able to afford to have the house gutted and completely redesigned by Gaudi.

Casa Mila is still an occupied apartment building, so my understanding is that you can only see a few areas inside the building as well as the roof. However, the roof looks far more spectacular than the roof of the Casa Batllo. And while Casa Batllo is a preexisting building that Gaudi gutted and redid, Casa Mila was designed by Gaudi from the ground up (one writer said it looks like it was hatched from spores rather than built). I do plan to go to Casa Mila next time I'm in Barcelona.

Check the websites to see what areas are actually seen on each visit. If that doesn't answer the question adequately, see if there are any YouTube videos of visits (there often are, and they can be very helpful).

I liked both sites. Both were full of visitors; Casa Batllo was more crowded than Casa Mila. I agree with Harold, though, that you could still see what you wanted to see.

One difference between the two is that Casa Mila has a display about other Gaudi buildings (not all in Barcelona) on the top floor. It includes some videos on laptop-size screens. I spent quite a bit of additional time in that exhibit. I'd try to schedule Casa Batllo first so that if you find the supplemental material at Casa Mila interesting, you'll have time to see it rather than having to rush off to Casa Batllo.

It takes quite a bit of time to see those sites. I'd estimate at least 90 minutes each, excluding the supplemental exhibit at Casa Mila.

I did them both and enjoyed them both immensely.

I have been to Barcelona five times since Casa Batllo first opened its doors to the general public in 2002, and am still to enter inside. I do however make a point to always pass by. Further up the street to Casa Mila, where I thoroughly enjoyed the visitor experience. Small details in the plasterwork and timber joinery as well as the sinuous form to the building really let you appreciate Gaudi's inspiration. The roof top is a joy, and I think I spent about an hour venturing back and forth amongst the chimney pots.

Perfect responses, thanks to all. Since you folks know your "casas", does anyone know if Casa Vicens is open (to the public) all I can find is it is scheduled to open "Autumn 2017". On another architectural note; we're planning to visit the Hospital de la Santa Cruz (on a different day). We plan to get there when it opens at 10:00; what would be a reasonable amount of time to spend there. From what I can tell it looks like it could be a nearly-all-day affair.

Jon

I think you are referring to the Sant Pau modernista site. I loved it and wished for more time, because it turned out that at the end of the visit there was quite a bit more to see in the main building. However, I don't think you'll need anything like a full day, even allowing for the fact that I believe they've opened an additional building since I was there in August of last year. Although I don't know what additional spaces may be open, I'd guess 4 hours would be more than enough time. I am very slow at places like that, and i would have liked to have about 2-1/2 hours as things were set up last year.

As of that visit Casa Vicens was so shrouded in scaffolding and drapes that I could only see a bit of detailing on the side of the building. If you've Googled and found no news, I think it's safe to assume it is not open as of today. The situation may change before you get there. Keep Googling.

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Casa Vicens is yet being refurbished. Indeed opening is expected in Autumn this year.

The other name, Jon, you got it wrong... let me explain:

Firstly it's a matter of languages, Catalan is the local language here in Catalonia, not Spanish, therefore it should be referred to as "Hospital de la Santa Creu". Sadly, for decades, translations of names and places into Spanish were forced upon during the successive reigns by Spanish dictators (Franco, Primo de Rivera...). Thankfully these days things are back to normal and the names have returned to the original language, Catalan, as they were named when they were originally founded, many decades, even centuries ago. That's the way you'll find them written everywhere -except for a few obsolete guides, often by either lazy authors that don't upgrade their texts, or worst, by individuals melancholic of pre-democratic regimes.

But even then, you might be referring to different sites. One of the first hospitals as such in Europe (hospitals as institutions to heal the sick AND for the study of medicine, both of which were the main purposes of the first ones), was HOSPITAL DE LA SANTA CREU, literally the Holy Cross Hospital, and which was founded by Catalan King Martí l'Humà in 1401 here in Barcelona by bringing together under one roof several health disciplines spread among different religious institutions of the city. This complex is located in Carrer Hospital, in the El Raval neighbourhood of the city.

Yet in the late 1800s, as the needs had outgrown the complex, the hospital was moved to another location in the city, in Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167. The move was sponsored by a rich banker, Pau Gil i Serra, which invested a small fortune to have the new hospital designed by one of the star architects of the city, Lluís Domènech i Montaner. In honour to this patronage, the name "Sant Pau" (English: Saint Paul) was added to the original name hence resulting in HOSPITAL DE SANT PAU I LA SANTA CREU. This hospital was one in the networks of hospitals that have treated Barcelonians of all walks of life ever since as can be seen in this picture, circa 1910s.

This hospital complex was moved once again in the 1970s to a more modern set of buildings -regrettably more functional too so the architectural beauty had to be compromised- located a few hundred yards from there. In recognition of its singular architectural and artistical beauty, in 1997 UNESCO declared the complex a World Heritage site.

The original complex in Carrer Hospital now houses, among other, a famous art school (Escola Massana), the Royal Academy of Pharmacy of Catalonia, the Royal Academy of Medicine of Catalonia -which has a magnificent anatomical amphitheatre intended for the training of 18th-century surgeons that can be visited on Wed and Sat I believe- and the Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya (National Library of Catalonia). The latter can be visited, as well as the cosy patio in the middle of the complex.

And the former Hospital de Sant Pau i la Santa Creu complex has now been renamed SANT PAU CENTRE MODERNISTA and it's open to the public for visits in order to see its magnificent works of architectural art. I believe this is what you must be referring to.

Enjoy!

PS: If you're really interested in the history of the Hospital de la Santa Creu, the original site, use Google Translate for this good article: https://deartesethistoria.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/hospital-santa-creu/

Acraven and Enric: You two found me out; yes, I used an old--but trusted--Michelin Barcelona atlas (BARCELONA Plànol de carrers/Plano callejero). The “cruise” was because of spell check I think. I’m eager to see the place; from what photographs I’ve found I’m surprised it is not listed near the top of the “must sees”. I’m sorry we will be there on a Thursday so won’t be able to visit the anatomical amphitheatre. Back to the atlas; when I consulted it for another area of the city we plan to visit--the “forum” area-- that is only “white space”, how the passing years will change a map.

There was a slightly inaccurate post on the descriptions for each house; the following is more detailed on what each offers.

Casa Mila - This was a large apartment block and you may visit the roof, with all its decorative chimneys and surreal landscape. You may also tour a restored apartment that is fully furnished and gives you a very nice sense of what a Moderniste apartment might have looked like. It is decorative but not over the top. There is also a nice exhibition on Gaudi's work and design approach in the attic space, which is itself a cool space of brick parabolic arches and vaults.

Casa Batllo - This was a private home with some apartments on the upper floors. You may visit the main apartment which is dramatic with Gaudi's design, but unfurnished. Architecturally, it is more impressive than Mila but lacks furnishings for context. You may also visit the attic and roof. The attic is nice but not overwhelming and the roof has an up-close view of the tiled "dragon's back" but is not as dramatic as Mila. The stair hall is very nice with all its tile and decorative stair.

Ideally you should see both as the roof is more interesting at Mila and the apartment more interesting at Batllo. If only time for one, you'll have to decide based on what might be most interesting for you.

Man, Jon, need to update the atlas, LOL!.... the area of the Forum has been built for a number years now and is full of apartment buildings, hotels, museums, a shopping centre, even a marina!

I love this forum, there is so much information in here!
Thanks a lot for the detailed information on the Casa-s.