Barcelona: Casa Milà (La Pedrera): Rooftop
Perhaps there are lots of traditional chimney pots that look like faces, but none as can be as spectacular as those on the roof of Casa Milà (La Pedrera) in Barcelona.
This modernist building in Barcelona, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, was built between 1906 and 1912. When it was built, its avant-garde style subjected it to much ridicule. This led to it being nicknamed “La Pedrera” meaning “The Stone Quarry”. It was also referred to as “The Easter Cake”.
Nowadays, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “The Works of Antoni Gaudi”.
As you approach it along the Passeig De Gràcia you can just about see the tops of a couple of chimney-pots:
La Pedrera: Street View ©HelenBushe
Then after a few hours marvelling at the interior of the building, you step out onto the roof. And WOW!:
La Pedrera: Panorama ©HelenBushe
La Pedrera: Rooftop ©HelenBushe
A Catalan poet described the roof space as “The Garden of Warriors” defending the skylights and the atrium:
La Pedrera: The Garden of Warriors ©HelenBushe
They are everywhere. And they are HUGE.
La Pedrera: Archway ©HelenBushe
I’ve just found the most amazing virtual tour on La Pedrera Website here, so if you can’t get to Barcelona right away, you can always wander around in the virtual world.
(I’ve wandered around a ‘virtual reality’ La Pedrera a few times in the last half hour as I couldn’t find how to get out (i.e. how to “Return to Full Screen”) on my MacBook.
Not that I’m complaining; it was a great way to spend 30 minutes. And now that I’m out, I think I’ll go back in.
Thanks once more to Cee for her Fun Foto Challenge, which this week is “Things that Look Like Faces”
I’m dying to see what all my fellow bloggers post for this challenge.
You can too, by clicking on this icon:
8 Comments
Cee Neuner · 15 February 2017 at 16:44
What a nice place to take photos. Beautifully captured.
HMB · 15 February 2017 at 17:45
Thanks Cee.
Ali Grimshaw · 15 February 2017 at 16:38
Thanks for sharing these amazing photos. I hope to see this in person. It looks fascinating.
HMB · 15 February 2017 at 17:43
Thank you Ali. I hope you get there soon
elleturner4 · 14 February 2017 at 20:25
Those Barcelonians sure know how to make a chimney! I really loved the shapes of pretty much everything in Barcelona!
HMB · 14 February 2017 at 20:26
Thanks for commenting, Liz. Yes Barca is a place and a half. We’re going back this year.
elleturner4 · 16 February 2017 at 20:48
Oooh lovely. And more photos!
HMB · 16 February 2017 at 20:49
You bet!