The railings on La Pedrera’s rooftop

At the rooftop there is an element that goes unnoticed by visitors and is often surprising because it does not follow the sinuosity of the building: the perimeter fence of the interior Courtyards. Get more information here!

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The rooftop of La Pedrera is among the most iconic landmarks in Barcelona and a testament to Gaudí’s genius. The stairwell exits, chimneys and breathtaking views of the city make this rooftop truly one of a kind.

Among these striking features lies an often-overlooked element that surprises visitors due to its departure from the building’s characteristic sinuous design: the perimeter railing around the interior courtyards.

Gaudí started designing a rooftop railing model, visible in a 1909 photograph, but he was unable to complete it. To address the safety concerns of leaving the area unprotected, the owners installed a hexagonal mesh as a temporary protective barrier. Gaudí is said to have remarked: “Don’t worry about putting up a railing—there aren’t any in the mountains.” Clearly, his advice wasn’t taken.

At the time, the rooftop wasn’t used as it is today; it mainly served practical purposes, such as venting chimney smoke and, in some cases, hanging laundry. Gaudí designed the rooftop with his principles of form, functionality and aesthetics in mind. However, due to financial disputes with the owners, he could not finish the decorative or protective elements of the rooftop.

All these features—whether adorned with trencadís mosaics, stucco finishes Gaudí-style railings or simple protective barriers—are integral parts of the building’s history, making it even more distinctive and full of life.