What is it?
Imagine how a young Antoni Gaudí just out of university took on his first big job, a summer home for Manel Vicens, stockbroker and member of the Catalan bourgeoisie. Gaudí is faced with a field full of marigolds and palm trees, whose shapes would inspire him to use as decoration on the façade of the house and its fence. Casa Vicens is a reflection of the essence of the Gaudí universe – technique, decoration and symbolism – that years later would reappear in his most well-known works. This is innovative architecture, a prelude to modernisme, and when you visit it, you understand how Gaudí was ahead of his time, and that he was able to create much more than homes.
Why is it worth it?
It’s undergone years of restoration, and many challenges, such as getting the house back to what Gaudí envisioned in 1883; adapting into a museum space the extension that Joan Baptista Sierra de Martínez added in 1925 (which turned it into a multi-family house with one house per floor); and creating something closer to the garden idea that Gaudí designed. The garden is smaller than the original plan, but species that were popular in the 19th century have been planted, and the image of Santa Rita from the small temple built in 1927 has been placed here.
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Visiting info
You can visit Casa Vicens as part of a guided tour; or you can move about freely at your own pace, deciding whether you want to start on the rooftop or in the gift shop. There are no audio guides, but you will find staff here and there who are happy to answer your questions. There’s a permanent exhibition as well as a temporary exhibition to explore.
How much is entry to Gaudí’s first house?
General admission is €18. There’s a reduced rate of €16 for students aged 12–25, over-65s, members of the Barcelona Library Network, large or single-parent families, and visitors with disabilities. Children under 11, companions of disabled visitors, and members of Club Super 3 get in for free.
These prices apply when buying tickets online. If you buy at the door, there’s a €2.50 surcharge. If you’d like a deeper experience, you can also opt for a visit with an audioguide, a guided tour with an expert, or even an olfactory tour. All these options are available via the official website.
How long does the visit take?
With a guide, the tour usually lasts between 60 and 75 minutes. If you go at your own pace, it typically takes between 40 and 70 minutes, depending on how long you linger.
When was it built?
Casa Vicens was Gaudí’s first house and first architectural work. He finished his studies in 1878 and began the project in 1883. The house was completed in 1885 and was later declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
The architecture
The building is modernista in style and is considered a forerunner to Gaudí’s later masterpiece, Casa Batlló. One of its standout features is the bold use of colour – a true collage of styles – and instead of the curved shapes Gaudí later became known for, here he played with straight lines. The house’s exterior is uniquely original, with three distinct façades. It’s yet another example of Gaudí’s brilliant mind.
The house has four floors: a basement, two main living floors, and an attic for the household staff. It also once had a spacious garden, complete with a grand brick fountain (which no longer exists). Today, Casa Vicens remains in excellent condition, although the original garden is now surrounded by residential buildings.