Palace of Catalan Music

The Palace of Catalan Music, an emblematic building of the city of Barcelona, is hidden between the narrow streets of the upper part of La Ribera quarter. It is a masterpiece of the architect Domènech i Montaner, one of the highest representatives of Catalan modernism, declared a National Monument in 1971 and recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.

It was built between 1905 and 1908 with funds from popular subscription, in the place previously occupied by the cloister of the convent of Sant Francesc de Paula. Its end use was to serve like seat and concert hall of the choral society Orfeó Català, founded in 1891. In the construction of the building have been used technical solutions very advanced by those times, like the central metallic structure or the great walls made of glass. Both in the exterior and interior the architect masterfully combined the various building materials with ceramic, wrought iron and glass. In the decoration work have collaborated numerous artists of the time.

Highlights

✔ The Concert Hall, unique and surprising, an authentic sanctuary of music in Catalonia, with a capacity of 2049 people and excellent acoustics. The large inverted central skylight, made by Antoni Rigalt i Blanch using gold-coloured crystals, is the main element of the auditorium. Also noteworthy are the sculptural ensembles made by sculptor Pablo Gargallo and the organ's pipes that dominate the stage.
✔ The main facade, located in the Sant Pere més Alt Street, decorated with mosaics and sculptures related to the world of music. In the first floor there is a balcony that covers the facade with fourteen columns in groups of two, different in color and decoration.
✔ Lluís Millet Hall, a large lounge with a spectacular stained glass window adorned with floral motifs, from which you can see the large outdoor balcony.
✔ The vestibule, the old main entrance, richly ornamented. The splendid double staircase leads to the first floor.
✔ Orfeó Català Rehearsal Hall, located below the Concert Hall.