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A little bit of history
The façade of the Palau.
Interior of the chapel.
Fountain with the figure
of St. George,
by Frederic Galcerà,
located at the
Pati dels Tarongers.
In the year 1400, the General Council, the
governing body in the country from the 14th to the 17th centuries,
acquired a building in Barcelona’s main street where it would
set up its ultimate head offices. This building had previously
been the property of a succession of owners: a poet, a surgeon,
a treasurer, a moneychanger and their respective heirs. There
are now practically no remains of the original building since
a new gothic style building was erected in its place under the
direction of the architect Marc Safont, one of the most renowned
of his time in Catalonia.
Subsequently, since the 16th century, the Palace has been undergone several extensions and transformations to cater for the needs of each historical period. The main façade, for instance, is in renaissance style and was designed by the artist Pere Blai. Two of the most emblematic sections of the Palace as a whole, the ‘Pati dels Tarongers’ and the ‘Cambra Daurada’ were both made in this same style.
The ‘Decret de Nova Planta’ (new regime decree) passed in 1716 brought about the abolition of the General Council and its headquarters were taken over by the Courts, which altered the distribution of certain sections of the building. Two construction projects, in 1734 and 1768, respectively, were carried out to extend the chapel and the gothic buildings and to crown the bell tower, amongst other renovations.
In 1822 the Provincial Council moved in, sharing the buildings with the Courts until 1908, and then with the Commonwealth of Catalonia, from 1914 to 1925. This called for further extensions and modifications to the distribution of some parts of the building by including partitions. The stairway of honour, by the architect Romà Prats i Montlló, and the statue of Sant Jordi on horseback sculpted by Tarragona artist Andreu Aleu i Teixidor and added to the Pere Blai’s façade, all date back to these times.
The modernist architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch directed the restoration carried out during the presidential office of Enric Prat de la Riba. The building was restored to its state prior to its occupation by the Courts and a Conference Hall or auditorium was built.
In more recent times the Palace of the Generalitat has not undergone any major changes, given the complex historical situation, delayed by the incorporation of modern art and avant guarde. During the 1970’s the Palace acquired more than one hundred works of art, mainly in figurative style. Later on, works by contemporary artists, such as Antoni Clavé, Joan Hernández Pijuán or Antoni Tàpies have contributed to embellishing the Catalan Government rooms.
The Palace of the Generalitat was built six hundred years ago. At first it was referred to as the House of the General Council. A large and spacious house, symbol of emerging power, situated in the centre of the medieval city, where what we know today as the bourgeoisie was developing with growing strength. The building, built over old roman stones, also received and housed the influence and memory of the Jewish stamp. These, as well as other influences, form part of our cultural heritage.
The urban growth of the city developed throughout the following historical eras whilst over the centuries Catalonia expanded all of its economic and cultural potential. Without further interruptions, except for the difficult socio-political situations arising and the loss of freedom, the Palace of the Generalitat has maintained its unifying force in representation of the political interests of the citizens. Hence, as well as being the centre from which the Government’s action is carried out, this building also has an immense symbolism for the Catalan people.
Subsequently, since the 16th century, the Palace has been undergone several extensions and transformations to cater for the needs of each historical period. The main façade, for instance, is in renaissance style and was designed by the artist Pere Blai. Two of the most emblematic sections of the Palace as a whole, the ‘Pati dels Tarongers’ and the ‘Cambra Daurada’ were both made in this same style.
The ‘Decret de Nova Planta’ (new regime decree) passed in 1716 brought about the abolition of the General Council and its headquarters were taken over by the Courts, which altered the distribution of certain sections of the building. Two construction projects, in 1734 and 1768, respectively, were carried out to extend the chapel and the gothic buildings and to crown the bell tower, amongst other renovations.
In 1822 the Provincial Council moved in, sharing the buildings with the Courts until 1908, and then with the Commonwealth of Catalonia, from 1914 to 1925. This called for further extensions and modifications to the distribution of some parts of the building by including partitions. The stairway of honour, by the architect Romà Prats i Montlló, and the statue of Sant Jordi on horseback sculpted by Tarragona artist Andreu Aleu i Teixidor and added to the Pere Blai’s façade, all date back to these times.
The modernist architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch directed the restoration carried out during the presidential office of Enric Prat de la Riba. The building was restored to its state prior to its occupation by the Courts and a Conference Hall or auditorium was built.
In more recent times the Palace of the Generalitat has not undergone any major changes, given the complex historical situation, delayed by the incorporation of modern art and avant guarde. During the 1970’s the Palace acquired more than one hundred works of art, mainly in figurative style. Later on, works by contemporary artists, such as Antoni Clavé, Joan Hernández Pijuán or Antoni Tàpies have contributed to embellishing the Catalan Government rooms.
The Palace of the Generalitat was built six hundred years ago. At first it was referred to as the House of the General Council. A large and spacious house, symbol of emerging power, situated in the centre of the medieval city, where what we know today as the bourgeoisie was developing with growing strength. The building, built over old roman stones, also received and housed the influence and memory of the Jewish stamp. These, as well as other influences, form part of our cultural heritage.
The urban growth of the city developed throughout the following historical eras whilst over the centuries Catalonia expanded all of its economic and cultural potential. Without further interruptions, except for the difficult socio-political situations arising and the loss of freedom, the Palace of the Generalitat has maintained its unifying force in representation of the political interests of the citizens. Hence, as well as being the centre from which the Government’s action is carried out, this building also has an immense symbolism for the Catalan people.