SOMETHINGABOUT THE PALAU DE LA MÚSICA CATALANA
The Palau de la Música was conceived not only as a centre dedicated to music but also to the arts and cultural development.
General view of the auditorium of the Palau de la Música.
When we talk about Barcelona’s architecture, most people immediately think of Antoni Gaudí. While this talented architect brought some of the city’s most iconic buildings to life, Gaudí was not the only one who helped shape Barcelona’s urban landscape. One of the best examples is the Palau de la Música Catalana. Designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner — who was Gaudí’s teacher at the time — this building was conceived not only as a centre dedicated to music but also to the arts and cultural development. In 1997, the Palau de la Música was integrated into the UNESCO World Heritage list, highlighting its beauty and stylistic contributions to Barcelona’s art nouveau movement.
The history of the Palau de la Música The Palau de la Música Catalana has its origins in the Catalan Orfeón, a choral society founded by Lluís Millet and Amadeo Vives in 1891. This 6
group, a cultural landmark in the city, was looking to place its registered office. With this in mind, the society acquired land to build it in the neighbourhood of Sant Pere, in the Old City of Barcelona. The Catalan Orfeón commissioned the project from the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. As one of the founders of Catalan modernism, this architect had already carried out several important works in his hometown, including the Hospital de San Pablo and the Lleó Morera house a few steps from Gaudí’s Casa Batlló. The foundation stone was laid in 1905, and the work was completed three years later, in 1908. The building was subjected to two restorations and extensions in 1982 and 2000. In the two new buildings, a new façade open to a public square and the Petit Palau, a concert hall with a capacity for 540 people, were added.
