Casa Batlló was originally built in 1877 by Emilio Sala Cortés (one of Gaudí’s architecture professors) and in 1903, it was purchased by Josep Batlló y Casanovas.It was built to look more like the physical layers of an animal than a private residence.
Owing its name to its very original architecture: the balconies resemble fragments of skull with openings for eyes and nose. The columns of the first-floor grandstand have the shape of human bones (tibia) and many other details of the facade makes us think of a skeleton.
Gaudí promised his client that the house would become legendary and indeed, even the facade is extraordinary.
From outside, you can see the glossy and colourful tiles on the roof looking like the dragon\’s scales.
When you are entering into the house, you will feel that you are inside the body of the dragon and you can admire the central staircase with the vertebrae of its tail. Then, you can pass through the galleries of its rib cage, which was perforated by the knight\’s sword that appears on the front of the house, symbolized by a cross. Remember that Sant Jordi fought and defeated the dragon in order to save the princess Cleodolinda…
The legend says that, a long time ago, a dragon terrorized the inhabitants of Montblanc, a town in Catalonia, and, after swallowing most of the animals, the dragon also threatened the population. To avoid its attacks, a daily drawn was organized and one person among the inhabitants, including the royal family, was sacrificed to the dragon. One day the King\’s daughter was chosen… Hearing the horrifying news, Sant Jordi travelled through seas and oceans to rescue the princess.
The balcony at the top of the facade is different than the others, as it is shaped like a flower and symbolizes the place where Cleodolinda saw her saviour arriving. On the other balconies and columns, there are representations of the remains of the dragon\’s victims, who were not as fortunate as the princess.
When the dragon was about to devour the princess, the knight appeared and killed him with his sword. At the place where the dragon\’s blood flowed, a rosebush of red roses grew. Since then, the Catalan tradition of Sant Jordi is celebrated and men offer a red rose to their loved one on the Sant Jordi\’s day and the facade of the Casa Batlló is decorated with red roses during that day, reminding everyone of this legend.
