Casa Vicens

An integral part of Barcelona’s Gaudi trail, Casa Vicens was built between 1883 and 1888 and was one of the architect’s first major works. The man responsible for commissioning this luxury four floor house in Gracia was stock-broker Manuel Vicens i Montaner, a friend of the architect’s who had recently inherited the property after his mother died.

Gaudi wasted no time in setting out his artistic stall with this dare-we-say-it ‘gaudy’ little number, full of ostentatious brickwork, Moorish trills and the architect’s trademark over-the-top chimneys. Some argue it’s the first true example of the Catalan art nouveau architectural style.

In 1899 Casa Vicens changed hands, and the family who bought it lived in the house for three generations, meaning that it has never been open to the public… until now that is. After going up for sale in 2007, this cultural treasure has been extensively restored and finally opened its doors to the public in 2017.

Completely unique, even amongst Gaudi’s other work, this dazzling UNESCO-listed masterpiece is destined to be as popular as the architect’s surreal ‘House of Bones‘ and magnificent La Pedrera, so it might be worth putting on your itinerary sooner rather than later, before the crowds descend en masse.

Opening Hours

Casa Vicens is open every day, including Sundays, from 10 am to 8 pm (last entry at 7 pm). The house is closed on 25th December, 1st and 6th January for holidays.

Casa Vicens Tickets

You can buy tickets via the official Barcelona Tourism website