Illa de la Discòrdia

The Illa de la Discòrdia (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈiÊŽÉ™ ðə É«É™ disˈkÉ”rðiÉ™]) or Mansana de la Discòrdia ([mÉ™nˈsanÉ™ ðə É«É™ disˈkÉ”rðiÉ™])—English: Block of Discord; Spanish: Manzana de la Discordia—is a city block on Passeig de Gràcia in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Spain. The block is noted for having buildings by four of Barcelona's most important Modernista architects, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Antoni Gaudí, Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Enric Sagnier, in close proximity. As the four architects' styles were very different, the buildings clash with each other and the neighboring buildings. They were all built in the early years of the 20th century.

The block is the southwest side of Passeig de Gràcia, between Carrer del Consell de Cent and Carrer d'Aragó. The houses are the Casa Lleó-Morera, at Passeig de Gràcia 35, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner; Casa Mulleras, at Passeig de Gràcia 37, designed by Enric Sagnier; Casa Bonet, at Passeig de Gràcia 39, designed by Marcel·lí Coquillat i Llofriu; Casa Amatller, at Passeig de Gràcia 41, designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch; and Casa Batlló, at Passeig de Gràcia 43, designed by Antoni Gaudí. Due to the presence of these famous landmark buildings, the block is a significant tourist attraction in Barcelona.

The words "illa" and "mansana" both provide a play on words. "Illa de la discòrdia" is a Catalan expression that matches the English expression "bone of contention," but also literally means "block of discord." Similarly, "mansana de la discòrdia" is a pun that means both "block of discord" and "apple of discord," referring to the golden Apple of Discord in the Judgment of Paris, a Greek myth in which three goddesses participate in a competition to determine which of them is the fairest. Calling the area the "Apple of Discord" thus refers to the presence of the major Modernista architects all competing for the most impressive architecture (and their styles clashing) on the very same city block; this label dates from the turn of the twentieth century, when much of the local press greatly satirized the new architectural styles of Modernisme.

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Coordinates: 41°23′29″N 2°09′54″E / 41.39139°N 2.16500°E / 41.39139; 2.16500

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