(English) Visiting the Palaces in Barcelona City Centre: Palau Centelles
Barcelona, the city of palaces, all standing tall on the many winding streets and ancient passage ways that simply can’t go unnoticed. Palau Centelles is one of those places. And though it may stand in the very heart of the city centre, make sure you don’t forget to pay a visit on your next sightseeing trip to Barcelona.
In other posts on our blog, we’ve told you about the best palaces in Barcelona to visit, the last of which looked at Palacio Real Mayor, but in this post, we’re going to focus on the wonderful Renaissance style of Palau Centelles.
Renaissance style in the heart of Barcelona: Palau Centelles
Just a few metres from Plaza de Sant Jaume lies this medieval castle, the origins and foundations of which date all the way back to the 13th century. It was in this very building during that period that Lluís de Centelles i de Clariana ordered its restoration and that a palace, which today still bears his name, should be built by the end of the 15th century.
The palace has been put to use in a variety of diverse ways over the last five centuries. From the residence of the Baron of Centelles in its early days to the current headquarters of the Generalitat de Catalunya Council, it has represented and established a whole range of different functions depending on its residents of the day.
A long and varied history at the heart of Palau Centelles
One of the key refurbishments that altered the internal design of the palace was carried out to house the Philharmonic Society of Barcelona. In 1847, Josep Oriol Mestres was commissioned to adapt the palace to their needs, transforming the rooms and various spaces within Centelles Palace to create an amazing auditorium capable of accommodating up to 600 people.
Nowadays, as mentioned earlier, it serves as the administrative headquarters of Barcelona’s Generalitat, respecting the history of the palace and adapting the needs of this important cultural symbol simultaneously.
Because of its current role, it’s no longer possible to visit the inside of the palace, but you can still admire its external architecture, as well as the central courtyards when open.
Categories: barcelona
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