Visiting the Manzana de la Discordia
The Manzana de la Discordia is a block of buildings designed by three of Barcelona's famous Modernist architects - Lluis Domenech i Montaner (Casa Lleo Morera), Josep Puig i Cadafalch (Casa Amatiler), and Antoni Gaudi (Casa Batilo).
The word "manzana" in Catalan means both "block" and "apple". The name for this block refers to the Greek myth, "The Judgement of Paris." Summoned to Mt. Olympus, Paris was tasked with deciding who of three goddesses were the most desirable. The winner would receive the apple of discord. Paris picks Aphrodite who promised that he could marry the most beautiful women in the world - Helen of Troy. We all know how that turned out.
When you look at this block of unique and disparate buildings, you may feel like Paris - unable to decide which of the three you like best.
Tip: Visit when the sky is overcast, so that you can see the details in the buildings better.
Addresses: Passeig de Gracia, 35, 41 and 43.
Casa Lleo Morera Highlights
Address: Passeig de Gracia, 35.
Casa Llelo Morera is the building with a fairy-tale minaret. You cannot access the interior, but you can visit the Loewe store on the ground level. Loewe is known for quality leather goods made in Spain, such as shoes and purses.
Notice the lions, mulberry trees, and green ceramics.
Casa Amatiler Highlights
Address: Passeig de Gràcia 41
Looking at the Casa Amatiler, you'll see that all the windows and the shape of the building is in a stylized "A" fashion for Antoni Amatller's initials. He was a chocolate baron and the house is good enough to eat.
The ground floor is open to public. Find the turrets and gallery of grotesque gargoyles.
The architect Montaner also designed the Hospital St. Paul and the Palace of Music.
Find the twisted columns and coat of arms carved into stone.
Find St. George slaying the dragon and clinging to a column.
Casa Batilo Highlights
Address:Passeig de Gràcia 43.
Casa Batilo was designed by Gaudi. It is known as the "House of Bones" or the "House of the Dragon."
The exterior evokes the Legend of St. George slaying the dragon. If you stare at it long enough, it looks like the building is a living being.
The blue-green ceramics look like dragon's skins.
The cross on the roof was the lance used to kill the dragon.
The slope of roof is the dragon's back.
Balcony railings, and window pillars look like the bones of the dragon's victims.
Casa Batilo Interior - Buy a ticket to see the stunning, interior of the building. Visit the Casa Batilo website for more information.
The first floor is the most important floor - a place to "see and be seen."
Find the mushroom shaped fireplace.
Pay attention to the details. Notice that Gaudi made the brass window handles to fit perfectly in the shape of a hand.
Children lived here when it was built. What do you think they thought of living in this spooky, dragon house?