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The Palace of Catalan Music is a gem of Catalonian Modernist architecture by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, as the headquarters for the Orfeó Català choral society.
Metro: L1 (Red) & L4 (Yellow) - Urquinaona
Bus: V15, V17 & 47
The building is located within the charming neighborhood of Sant Pere, and has easily become one of the most important cultural institutions in Barcelona and an ineludible institution for music-lovers the world over.
The Palace of Catalan Music was built between 1905 and 1908 by Modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, who originally conceived the structure as the headquarters for the Orfeó Català choral society and declared a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 1997.
The Modernist structure is centered around a central pillar, bedecked in glass, which absorbs natural and light and diffuses it throughout the space, turning this Domènech i Montaner structure into a magical music box and testament to all the artistic methods and mediums which went into it: sculpture, mosaic, glasswork, ironwork with skylight details, stained glass windows, busts of famous composers, floral colonnade, and the ever-present synthesis of bare brickwork and ceramic ornaments.
The symbolic nature of the Palau de la Música makes it indispensable for the Catalans; its splendor makes it unforgettable for music-lovers; and its artistic and architectural legacy makes it dear to all of humanity.
To make the most out of the masterpiece, you’ll want to take a guided tour, where you’ll learn all the ins and outs of this remarkable institution.
This is a place not to be missed. I purchased an English tour for 16 Euro. It was discounted from 20 Euro due to the Barcelona Pass, but I think if you buy on line, you get 20% off. It was informative and absolutely beautiful. You're on your own with your guide, so no crowds. I would not have missed this for anything.
Definitely one of the best places in Barcelona! Guided tour is very well organised and it is well advised to go there in case you don't have much time but you still want to visit something in Barcelona (the bus stop for shuttle service to the Airport is very close to Palau de la Musica Catalana).
We had a shuttle departure at 16:15 and we visited the Palau at 15 leaving luggage in the locker service nearby. Tickets were bought online - be prepared to pay extra 2 EUR of some service charge per ticket.