Barcelona’s historic Casa de l’Almoina, a landmark building adjacent to the city’s Cathedral, has commenced an extensive eight-month restoration project to preserve its historic facades and roof. This vital work aims to halt the structure’s gradual deterioration and ensure its long-term stability as a cornerstone of the city’s architectural heritage.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Nestled in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, the Casa de l’Almoina has stood for centuries, a testament to Barcelona’s medieval past. Although canons of the Barcelona Cathedral founded the charitable institution it once housed in 1009, the current Gothic building primarily dates to 1435, with a Renaissance-era extension added in 1546. Today, it serves as home to the Diocesan Museum of Barcelona and a city tourist office.
The Cathedral initiated and manages this restoration as a preventive measure. An assessment of the building’s frontispiece revealed significant wear on the exterior mortar, raising concerns about potential water infiltration and further damage. According to initial reports from Metrópoli Abierta, this intervention is crucial to “guarantee its preservation over time and halt deterioration.”
A Meticulous Process
The project’s first phase began recently, involving the careful installation of scaffolding to provide access to the highest points of the roof and facades. Future work will then focus on three key areas: cleaning the stonework, repointing the mortar joints to restore their integrity, and applying modern waterproofing solutions to both the roof and exterior walls. This entire process is expected to last approximately eight months.
This undertaking represents a significant investment in the city’s cultural patrimony. The Spanish Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda co-finances the project through its ‘Programa 2% Cultural’, a state fund dedicating a portion of public works budgets to heritage conservation. Additionally, the Generalitat de Catalunya’s Office of Cultural Initiative Support (OSIC) provides further funding.
A Commitment to Heritage
The building’s importance is formally recognised by its status as a Bé Cultural d’Interès Nacional (BCIN), the highest category of legal protection for Catalan cultural heritage. This designation underscores the Cathedral’s profound responsibility to maintain the site in optimal condition.
This is not the first time the Casa de l’Almoina has undergone expert attention. As reported by El Periódico, a decade ago, the building’s section closest to the Plaça de la Seu underwent its last major conservation check. Furthermore, between 1988 and 2003, the esteemed architect Josep Maria Botey directed a series of comprehensive restorations.
This project reaffirms the Cathedral’s dual role as both a spiritual centre and a custodian of history. While actively preserving its ancient structures, the Cathedral also embraces modern ways to engage with its heritage, notably with the recent launch of a virtual reality experience dedicated to Gaudí. This commitment to preservation provides a hopeful counterpoint to other urban developments, such as the contentious decision to remove the historic modernist ‘twin’ buildings near Glòries Park.
Through this meticulous work, the Cathedral ensures the Casa de l’Almoina will remain a vital vestige of Barcelona’s urban evolution for generations to come, standing resiliently against the passage of time.
