Mallorca, on the corner with Carrer Llúria. The (1), was completed by a young Domènech i Montaner in 1893 for the two owners of the publishing house Montaner i Simón.
Mallorca, 283. On the opposite corner is the Palau , a Pompeian mansion designed by Antoni Serra i Pujals (1885) and featuring an unusual court decorated with polychrome columns. Since 1922 this has been the College of Lawyers centre.
Mallorca, 291-293. Further along you will come to , designed by Domènech i Montaner.
Mallorca, 302. (map). Then you will come to the , by the architect Josep M. Barenys i Gambús, dating from 1913 and considered to be late Modernista in style, with Central European Secession influences.
Mallorca, 312. (map). You will go past the , an establishment with Modernista decoration.
Turn right into Girona.
Girona, 122. The Casa Granell is an excellent example of the simpler Modernista style that was used in dwellings of less well-off people, a modest building of which Jeroni F. Granell i Manresa was both architect (1901-1903) and owner.
Girona, 113. (map). On the other side is , built by Lluís Domènech i Montaner in 1902. Although it may be considered a relatively simple house considering the author, it does have a particularly interesting facade, a compendium of the traditional decorative repertory of its designer, with a striking sculptural crown decorated with plant motifs and a Gothic-style coat of arms.
- If you would turn left into valencia, a little further, at the corner of Bailèn you would see The (València, 339 / Bailèn, 113), (map), perhaps the most outstanding work by Antoni M. Gallissà (1902). This large building, which has undergone major modifications, is a showcase of decorative details that are clearly influenced by Domènech i Montaner. Particularly outstanding are the extraordinary ground floor and the bay windows and balconies of the facade.
Turn right into Valencia.
València, at the corner of Bruc. (map). The building of the (Bruc, 104-112), designed in 1916-1928 at the end of the “Modernista fever” by Antoni de Falguera, a specialist in municipal buildings.
València, 293. (map). Casa Santurce by Miquel Madorell i Rius (1902-1905), which has an interesting foyer and a façade decorated with two strikingly crowned bay windows and a coat of arms with the name of the owner, the Count of San José de Santurce.
València, 312. (map). , built between 1904 and 1909 by Juli M. Fossas, features an elegant bay window on one of the corners that formerly had its counterpart, now disappeared, on the other corner of the building.
València at the corner of Carrer Roger de Llúria. (map). You will find the popular (Muria Grocery, Roger de Llúria, 85), a historic commercial establishment that opened in 1898 as a coffee roaster and rolled wafer manufacturer under the name of a nearby church, “La Puríssima” (web site). The shop evolved to become one of the most famous Barcelona groceries, and features Modernista fire-tinted glazing signs that bring a cheerful touch to the facade, in particular the original advertisement for Anís del Mono, designed by Ramon Casas. Next to it there is a Xocoa shop (Roger de Llúria, 87), a famous chocolate producer of Barcelona.
- València, 302. (map). If you continue on València, you come to the , a house built in 1885 for the Sala family currently houses a municipal civic centre. The building is of limited architectural interest, but features a monumental court.
Arago, 299. Església de la Concepció (3), a Gothic church in the middle of the modern city ??? The key to this enigma lies in the history of the site !
Arago, 314. Opened in 2008, the Fundació Alorda Derksen, or AD, is a non-for-profit private foundation. Its mission is to provide Barcelona with a new, high-profile art space of international scope about contemporary art. AD stems from a passion for all facets of art, and in particular for international contemporary avant-garde. The exhibition features a selection of the most representative artist from the current contemporary scene including: Damien Hirst, Murakami, Julian Opie, Orozco, Anish, Kapoor and Plensa.
Arago, 313. Can Ravell is a charcuterie and a shop with delicatessen products of all around the world. It is also a well known restaurant with a large menu to taste their products and wines. An idea for lunch ! It is also an opportunity to visit the adjacent food market
Turn to the right into Girona.
Girona, 86. (map). Going a little further up , you will come to , an original 1904-1906 design by Rubió i Bellvé, with a facade that gives it the appearance of a church (don’t miss the green ceramics in the shape of a ship’s keel over the main door).
Girona, 73. (map). At the corner of Carrer Consell de Cent and of Carrer Girona, on the right there is an 1898 Modernista bakery, , with delightful marquetry doors and a coat of arms above the door depicting an allegory of the wheat harvest.
Girona, 74. On the opposite corner is the 1900 bakery , by Josep Suñer.
Turn right into Consell de Cent.
Consell de Cent, 362. (map). Some distance on, we will see the , an old Modernista bakers’ which is currently a cafe-restaurant.
Consell de Cent, at the corner of Carrer Roger de Llúria.(map).You will come to the origin of the Eixample itself : the first houses that were built in the district.
Facing each other, the were built in 1864 by Antoni Valls on the corners of Carrer Consell de Cent and Carrer Roger de Llúria. They have been restored and are identified by a plate on the facade.
Turn left into Roger de Lluria.
Roger de Llúria, 56. (map). On Carrer Roger de Llúria between Carrer Consell de Cent and Carrer Diputació is the (Water towers), built in 1867 by Josep Oriol Mestres. In 1987 it became the first inner court to be recovered by the City Council according to Cerdà’s initial design. In summer this place becomes an urban beach for the neighbours.
Roger de Lluria, at the corner of Passatge Permanyer.
On the opposite side is Passatge Permanyer, a charming lane of small houses that recalls Victorian London.
At the crossroad of Gran Via, the monotony of the central reservation of this avenue is suddenly broken by the presence of a monumental sculpture. Who hasn’t been captivated by the beauty of this fountain of Diana which seems to be gazing at the elegant facade of the luxury hotel across the road ? Venanci Vallmitjana, the brother of Agapit Vallmitjana, who was also a sculptor, created this monument dedicated to the goddess Diana the huntress, which stands in the central section of Barcelona’s Gran Via. The sculpture depicts the goddess seated at the top of a fountain that faces the hotel opposite. The figure is wearing a tunic and carries the bow which helps us identify her. In 1913, the sculpture we see today replaced the image of Diana that was presented at the 1898 Fine Art Exhibition and portrayed the goddess naked, to the displeasure of the authorities of the time. The fountain was restored in 1987, and stands inside a small flower bed. It exudes an academic classicism that was very much in vogue in the early 20th century. The taste for classical mythology and 19th-century elegance fits in with the style of the area of Barcelona’s Eixample district where it is located.
When you reach Casp, turn left ( if you continue a little further up, on Carrer de Lluria, there is another Xocoa shop, famous chocolate manufacturer of Barcelona ).
Casp, 48. The adjoining building is the famous Casa Calvet (4) (Calvet House) by Antoni Gaudí.
Casp, 46. The following building is (Salvado House), an Eclectic-style alternative by Juli Batllevell in a zone dominated by Modernisme.
Go back on Casp.
Casp, 22. The last noteworthy building that you come to is the Modernista by Adolf Ruiz i Casamitjana (1901). With an exceptional bay window that occupies the piano nobile and the first floor of the building, Casa Camprubí is a good example of Ruiz’s Neo-Gothic work in the late 19th century.
You are reaching Plaça de Catalunya, end of this east tour.
Back : Quadrat d'Or Tour
