Balmesian's Palace...

An unknown palace, hidden, endearing between the streets of the centre of Barcelona. An architect disciple of a popular modernist master of the city of Barcelona. An eclectic style that combines the features of architecture.

We all know emblematic buildings like the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Batlló House or Bishop's Bridge (House of the canons), but all of them share a common denominator: Joan Rubió i Bellver (1870-1952).

He began as assistant and first architect of Gaudí. Since the end of his career he started in the Gaudí workshop as collaborator, but from 1900 the trajectory of Joan rubió I Bellver emerged as an individual.

The first years of the 20^th century is dedicated to definition of its architectural conception established by modernism with more than forty buildings throughout Catalonia. Although the most unique buildings are found in Barcelona, Ripoll and even Palma de Mallorca. However, many architectural projects are reflected in towers and houses arranged by families of the Catalan bourgeoisie.

The second stage, modernist tendencies predominate it, but combining other influences such as Gothic or neo-Gothic, reflecting the austere and simple exterior aspect that was characterized. Rubió and Bellver, as official architect of the Diputación of Barcelona, carries out the projects of public equipment and restorations, returning to these influences from the XII-XV century, even with a meridional medieval style in Mallorca, integrating his nationalism as a recent social phenomenon.

An example of his style is the Balmesian’s Palace in Barcelona, at the street Duran and Bas, a building of 1919 with a medieval aspect, but modern Gothic style. This building with a strong allusion to the religious spirit that characterized at his constructions, culminates the central indoor part with an important chapel that ends in 1940, adding characteristic features of the modernism in the stained glass, vie cross or in the Decoration of The Arches.

This emblematic work of Rubió and Bellver can be enjoyed for a year with guided tours by Sternalia, the guided tours focus on the historical and architectural part of the whole space.