Casa Amatller sits right in the heart of Barcelona’s famous Manzana de la Discordia — the Block of Discord — where three rival modernista masterpieces compete for your attention on a single stretch of Passeig de Gràcia. Designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and completed in 1900, it’s the one with the distinctive stepped Dutch gable facade that looks almost Flemish from the outside.
Antoni Amatller: Chocolate Magnate and Photography Pioneer
The building was commissioned by Antoni Amatller, heir to a major Catalan chocolate dynasty and a passionate photographer and traveller. His personal collections — medieval glassware, photography equipment, art objects gathered from across Europe — shaped the interior’s eclectic character. The building was both his home and a showcase for his refined tastes.
Today the Amatller Institute of Hispanic Art occupies the upper floors, preserving the original photographic archive and continuing cultural activities in Amatller’s name. But for visitors, the main draw is the richly decorated interior and, of course, the chocolate.
The Chocolate Shop and Hot Chocolate Experience
Amatller chocolate is still produced and sold today, and the ground-floor shop inside Casa Amatller is the ideal place to pick up beautifully packaged bars and gifts. Even better: sign up for a hot chocolate tasting in the building’s original dining room. Sipping thick Spanish-style hot chocolate beneath Puig i Cadafalch’s carved ceilings is genuinely memorable.
Visiting Tips
The ground floor and shop are free to enter. For a deeper visit — including access to the main hall, the Amatller apartment, and the photographic exhibition — book a guided tour online. Tours run in multiple languages. The building is located at Passeig de Gràcia, 41, directly next to Casa Batlló and across from Casa Lleó Morera, making it easy to combine all three in a single afternoon stroll.