Casa Vicens, the first house of Antoni Gaudí, and the first important work of the Catalan architect, makes available to the visitor one of the key pieces of Gaudí's artistic career: the work that marked his point of departure, an architectural gem which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005.

Constructed between 1883 and 1885 by order of Mr. Manuel Vicens, Casa Vicens is one of the first masterpieces of Modernism, the anticipation of the later work of Gaudí and a vivid example of the airs of aesthetic renewal that were breathed at the end of the 19th century in all of Europe. Originally, it was projected as a holiday home with a garden, in which geometric shapes and rich ornamentation, inspired by the surrounding vegetation, are present both in the exterior of the house and in the different interior spaces.

In 1925, architect Juan Sierra de Martínez made some renovations to the building by adding on a new bay to the rear of the building, modifying the entrances and significantly extending the size of the garden. All renovations were carried out with the utmost respect of the original work. Gaudí even approved the plans, who was busy constructing the Sagrada Família at the time.

Casa Vicens was a private residence until 2014 and opened to the public as a museum in November 2017. The current formation of Casa Vicens and its garden is the result of some further changes and restorations, with three clearly differentiated spaces: the original construction designed by Antoni Gaudí, the expansion from 1925 design by Joan Baptista Serra de Martínez, and the garden surrounding the building. With its new purpose as a museum, the renovation project has adapted the spaces in the building from the 1925 renovations in order to provide the various services needed. You will find a small bookshop in the basement and at the end of the garden there is also a café.

Casa Vicens is home to both permanent and temporary exhibitions, which change throughout the year. The permanent collection covers the history of the house and Gaudí’s work. It also explores the social and cultural context of Barcelona at the time, as well as Gaudí’s anticipation of the modernism movement.

The house is located in the neighbourhood of Gracia and is accessible by foot or public transport. The easiest way to get there is by metro, the nearest station is Fontana which is located only 3-minutes away by foot. The nearest ‘hop-on hop-off’ sightseeing bus stop is "Park Güell", around 20 minutes walking distance from Casa Vicens. It is open every day of the year, except December 25th and January 6th, the opening hours vary throughout the year so make sure to check the opening times ahead of your visit.