Palau de la Musica Catalana
The Palau de la Musica Catalana is a major landmark in Barcelona. It was designed by architect Lluis Domenech i Montaner and was built between the years 1905 and 1908. The design for the building is based on the Catalan modernist style, which was contemporary to the time. The original intention of the building was to house the prominent Orfeo Catala, which was the leading Catalan cultural element of the time. In 1997 this amazingly beautiful building was declared as a World Heritage Site and continues to astound tourists from around the world. Many guests at five star Barcelona hotels plan to include a tour of the Palau as one of their prime vacation activities.
The Catalan modernist design of the building is evident in the structural curves that predominate the smooth, straight lines. It is richly decorated with spectacular carvings emphasizing floral and organic themes. The grand façade includes stained glass, glass tiles and mosaics to give the feeling of transparency and openness. One of the unique aspects of this modernistic building is its focus on function. Not only is it beautiful it was designed with state of the art technology. It is believed that Montaner created the design in response to many requests for establishing an emblem of Catalan national characters.
The Lluis Millet Hall on the second floor provides a gorgeous reception area for concert goers. It is named after one of the founders of the building and is a solid reminder of the purpose of its construction. The hall also serves as a small lecture venue for Palau tours. Among the many ornate structures are sculpted bronze busts of prominent musicians that have been associated with the building. These include the great Spanish cellist Pablo Casals, pianist Rosa Sabater, and Eduardo Toldra, who was one of the founders of the Orquestra Municipal de Barcelona. Visitors to the Palau are surrounded by the beauty and greatness of Catalan history and culture and often take a moment to reflect on this as they enjoy the many views offered by this hall.
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