Palace of Catalan Music

As you reach the corner of the street, you’ll be stunned by the extravagant red-brick building with mosaic-covered pillars and façades. This is the Palace of Catalan Music. It was designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, a brilliant modernist architect who also taught Gaudí —and influenced an entire generation of architects. He also designed another masterpiece: the Sant Pau Hospital. Both buildings are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. But let’s focus on the palace. If you’re impressed by the façade, wait until you see what’s inside. Unfortunately, there’s an entrance fee. To explore inside, you can attend a performance, or simply buy a ticket for a self-guided visit. Built between 1905 and 1908 for a choir group, it’s considered one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world. And yes, I know—we say this about everything we see. But it’s true! Its glass ceiling is an engineering masterpiece. You may feel like it’s about to come crashing down—like a meteor falling from the sky, leaving a mosaic of colours. A truly breathtaking effect!