Casa de l'Ardiaca, Barcelona

The current House of l'Ardiaca was built in the 1400s by the Archdeacon Lluís Desplà, who converted the traditional 12th-century site of his residence into a Gothic palace. The palace is in the heart of the Gothic Quarters, and as the archdeacon’s residence, it sits just to the side of the Barcelona Cathedral’s main portal, its entry facing the cathedral. And if you prefer Roman history to Catholic medieval, the back wall of the palace uses the original Roman wall that forms the gateway into what had been imperial Barcelona, called Barcino by Romans. Circling the exterior of the palace structure, you will see the Roman gateway.

Entry into the palace is free, and although it is in the midst of possibly the busiest tourist square in Barcelona, the inner patio is amazingly peaceful and one of the most evocative in the city. There is beautiful tile work all along it and, in the center, a tall, elegant palm tree rises high above a fountain, which is decorated with flowers and is the setting for a curious tradition – "l’ou com balla" – in which a fragile egg ‘dances’ on the spouting water. The building contains the Municipal History Archives, a valuable collection of historical chronicles and documents.

Tip:
Next to the entrance of the Casa, look out for what may well be the most attractive mailbox you've ever seen! Designed by the modernista architect Domènech i Montaner, it is adorned with swallows and a turtle – an earlier era's way of suggesting airmail and slow mail?

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 9am–8:45pm; Sat: 9am–1pm (Sep-Jun); Mon-Fri: 9am–7:30pm (Jul-Aug)
Free admission