Barcelona. There’s more than just Gaudi. Like there’s the Palace of Catalan Music standing proud, holding concerts since 1908. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was designed in that Catalan modernist style by Architect Montaner, allegedly Gaudi’s mentor. Surely, there is no shortage of geniuses in the Catalan art world.
We took a guided tour of the concert hall and was mesmerized by the beauty both inside and outside. Flamboyant, some might say, and likely invited critics during its day. The chandeliers, stained glass windows, the columns and pillars, the flower and animal decor in all its intricate detail. Built from 1905 to 1908, this concert hall was designed for a choral society founded in 1891. The Orfeó Català spearheaded the Catalan cultural rebirth and the magnificent edifice was declared a UNESCO heritage site in 1997. Since its 1908 opening, it has not stopped promoting local composers and artists. Many premieres of musical compositions have been staged here, and some movies and tv shows have featured the palace in all its grandeur.
I would have wanted to stay longer in Barcelona if only to watch an opera or a flamenco and guitar show. The calendar lists Madame Butterfly in a couple of days but alas, we leave before then. A pity. Hard to leave this elegant edifice, so we had our simple lunch in its Cafe Palau. Just as grand. Every inch of space a masterpiece. For some reason, the cafe cortado and tinto de verano taste better 😉 The bocadillo may be forgettable but I enjoyed the caprese empanada.
Truly an architectural marvel. I couldn’t even get past that ticket window ! Next time I make a trip to Barcelona, I will surely check Palau’s concert and opera calendar to time my visit. Stunning is an understatement. Mind blowing, close.
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