One of Antoni Gaudi’s most important creations, Casa Batlló exudes magic, creativity and wonder at every turn. Each of its six storeys is a work of art in which Gaudi employed his mastery of wood, tiles and stained-glass on curved shapes. Joan, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Casa Batlló differs from Gaudi’s other designs in that it’s flanked by four other modernist buildings, while the others are standalone. So, in Casa Batlló he had to work harder to stand out.’

This private tour allows you to explore the building while getting the lowdown from an expert guide as well as an augmented reality SmartGuide. What’s more, with skip-the-line tickets, you avoid the queue and get straight into the action. Casa Batlló is the most famous of the terrace of five houses that makes up what locals call the ‘Block of Discord’. With its skeletal pillars, teardrop-shaped windows and balconies akin to gaping jaws, it’s popularly known as the ‘House of Bones’. Renowned Architecture website ArchDaily says it’s one of Gaudi’s ‘most poetic and artistic designs… a synthesis of animal shapes and vine-like curves’.

Gaudi was given free rein by his client, industrialist Josep Batlló, who wanted a prestigious home for his family. The dining room opens into a tiled courtyard, from where you can see that the rear façade is also a thing of beauty. While the rooftop, and its famed crooked chimney stacks, is known as the ‘Dragon’s Back’ because of its shape. Joan says, ‘The job was a refurbishment, and ironically the original architect had employed Gaudi when he was a young graduate.’