As I have already mentioned, the urban appearance of Barcelona changed profoundly in the early 1900s when Via Laietana was created to connect the "old" medieval town with the modern residential area. At the meeting point of the two you'll find a monument of enormous architectural, decorative, and symbolic significance: the Palace of Catalan Music.
Built in 1908, this building is a masterpiece of so-called "modernism", that is, Barcelona's version of Art Nouveau. It was built as a musical theater, but the architectural and decorative ensemble was conceived as a grandiose celebration of local popular culture and Catalan identity.
As soon as you catch a first glance of the building, the palace reveals its uniqueness: its façade has large arcades and is covered with decorations in different materials. Lively, multicolored sections can be found between the pink of the plaster and the white of the sculptures. The animated sculptural group you see on the building's corner exalts popular Catalan music with arches, columns, and statues fancifully covering its surface.
But there is also an orgy of decorations waiting for you inside. The building was renovated in 2000 along with a "services" building that houses offices, a library, archives, and much more. Don't miss the beautiful concert hall, with its fantastic multicolored-glass skylight. Just think, the stage decoration is so abundant with its groups of sculptures evoking popular music and the lyrical opera choir, that often no other scenery elements are added for performances!
FUN FACT: if you look closely, you'll notice that the palace's sculptural decorations include typical Catalonia flowers and plants. This attention to botanical aspects is typical of the "floral style" that was popular in Europe at the beginning of the 19th century, but here it was also important for making the theater a "garden of music".
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