Few buildings in Barcelona stop pedestrians in their tracks quite like Casa de les Punxes — the House of Spikes. Rising at the intersection of Avinguda Diagonal and Carrer de Rosselló, this turreted, red-brick castle looks as though it was transported directly from a medieval Flemish city. It’s one of the most dramatic silhouettes in the entire Eixample district.

Puig i Cadafalch’s Gothic Masterpiece

Designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and completed in 1905, the building was actually three separate townhouses commissioned by the Terrades sisters — hence its other name, Casa Terrades. Puig i Cadafalch unified the three properties under a single neo-Gothic facade with six distinctive conical turrets (the “punxes” or spikes that give the building its nickname).

The building draws heavily on Northern European Gothic influence — a deliberate contrast to the more Mediterranean, organic forms of Gaudí’s work. Puig i Cadafalch was also a Catalan nationalist politician, and the building is rich in patriotic symbolism: look for the large ceramic panel depicting Sant Jordi (Saint George, patron saint of Catalonia) on the main facade.

What to See on Your Visit

The interior has been converted into an exhibition and visitor experience. You can explore the historical context of the building’s construction, the life of the Terrades family, and the world of Catalan modernisme. The rooftop terrace offers close-up views of the turrets and sweeping vistas over the Eixample grid.

Getting There

Casa de les Punxes is at Avinguda Diagonal, 420. The nearest metro station is Diagonal (lines L3 and L5). Tickets can be purchased online or at the door; guided tours are available in several languages. It’s easy to combine with a visit to the nearby Palau del Baró de Quadras (also by Puig i Cadafalch) just a short walk away.