Spain - Table of Contents................... Architecture Around the World

Palau de Generalitat
Plaça de Sant Jaume, Barcelona, Spain

On this page:

Facade and Eaves

Gargoyles

Figural corbels

Window with figural label stops

Adjoining building

Generalitat: totality or 'generality' of Catalonia.

T
he Palau de la Generalitat is a historical palace in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It houses the offices of the Presidency of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Its principal façade fronts across from the City Hall of Barcelona. The first building, located  in the former Jewish Quarter, or Call, was purchased in 1400 by then President Alfonso de Tous. In 1596, Pere Blai designed the current principal façade on the Plaça de Sant Jaume, in the Renaissance style. This is the first grand façade of this architectural style in Catalonia. Thereafter, several other houses were purchased and integrated into the palace.

It is one of the few buildings of medieval origin in Europe that still functions as a seat of government and houses the institution that originally built it. One hundred and twenty-seven Presidents have governed from this house, from Berenguer de Cruïlles (1359) to the current (2010) President, José Montilla.
- Information culled from Wikipedia (Jan. 2011)

Facade


Facade: Two Renaissance  balustraded  parapets ..... Rounded and triangular window heads ..... Rusticated bottom story



Top: Dentil molding ..... Triglyphs and metopes above guttae ..... Tuscan column ..... Wrought iron tympanum




Eaves
  supported by foliated brackets




Panels: Strapwork bordered by beads

Gargoyles


Gargoyles
Note the 1928 overhead bridge at the right. Photos of the building on the other side of the bridge are posted below.




Note corbels under tracery







Figural corbels


Venetian arches in tracery ..... Corbels




Window with corbels
 

Modified label molding with figural  label stops.




1928 Overhead Bridge








Adjoining building


Note the 1928 overhead bridge at the left. Photos of the building on the other side of the bridge are posted above.
Note the entrance (second photo below), and also the window to the right of the door (also below).



Widely overhanging eaves .....  Gargoyle.



Voussoirs ..... Wrought iron quatrefoils


Note figural sculpture (close-ups below)



Heraldic shield





Corbel



Photos and their arrangement © 2010 Chuck LaChiusa
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