Casa Milà – La Pedrera

It is otherwise known as La Pedrera: an excitingly innovative building in Barcelona, designed by the great architect Antoni Gaudi. La Pedrera is an example of the Gaudi style: an undulating facade of stone and twisting wrought iron terraces. It is one of the famous buildings that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is not an architectural wonder only but also a cultural icon, since it embodies the artistic and architectural heritage of Barcelona in the early 20th century.

It's located at Passeig de Gràcia, 92, in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Spain.

Casa Mila could be said to be one of the most appreciated for its organic, stone facade that goes along with the models of nature itself- a key feature of Gaudi's modernism. The rooftop has a surreal chimney or sculptural element that offers a spectacular view of the Barcelona panorama. Inside, the design is in a completely new direction, with structures like a stone self-supporting facade joined to an open floor without any plan. It serves the purposes of engineering genius combined with being an image of Barcelona, being a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.

Best time to visit Casa Milà is early morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowd. Evenings can also be recommended as this place is beautifully lit up that highlights its unique architecture and provides a different perspective of the Gaudí masterpiece.

For disabled people, Casa Milà is made available. Along with elevators and accessible paths, the building includes facilities and adaptations for a comfortable visit. Some areas could be less accessible since it is old, and it is best to seek additional information beforehand with regard to particular requirements for access.

Because its rough stone facade resembles the very rugged surface of a quarry, it was popularly named by locals as Casa Milà but literally means "La Pedrera" in Catalan. Like time immemorial, its unconventional, undulating appearance starkly differed from the architectural styles of the past, an observation that led to the comparatively humorous and affectionate title by the locals. "La Pedrera" has over the years come to be as popularly and commonly associated with the building as with its official name, Casa Milà, expressive of its exotic and unforgettable design by Antoni Gaudí.

Known also as La Pedrera, the roof of Casa Mila is infamous for its kind of surreal, undulating form, as evidenced by the presence of a number of imaginary chimneys and ventilation towers. Each one of these objects is sculpted in such a unique way, that they seem like warriors in a stone forest. The rooftop landscape, so typical of Gaudi's imagination, would make a feast for the eyes, but it is something more: it is vistas over Barcelona. The marriage of functional architecture and artistic expression makes the roof of Casa Mila a truly stunning highlight of the house.

Generally, free entry to Casa Milà (La Pedrera) is not granted since it is one of the popular tourist attractions that charge an entry fee. However, there can be exceptions through some promotions where visitors could be granted free or discounted access. Free access sometimes occurs on such special occasions or cultural events. To add, some of the discount cards or tourist passes available within Barcelona might include Casa Milà as part of their offerings.