The Palau de la Música Catalana is one of the great temples of modernist architecture and a key stop for any music lover in Barcelona. It was built in the early 20th century and has since become one of the most emblematic cultural spaces in the city. Those who want to explore its interior can do so through guided or self-guided tours, with tickets ranging from 16 to 22 euros. Already thinking about going? Then, before you walk through its doors, let us tell you some secrets and more useful information about the Palau de la Música.
9 secrets of the Palau de la Música
1. The facade of the building refers to the song “Els Segadors”.
It is the official anthem of Catalonia and has its origin in a popular song of the 17th century, inspired by a peasant revolt against the royal troops. The sculptural frieze, the work of Miquel Blay, symbolically represents the Catalan people with peasants, workers, women, children and bourgeoisie united by the same art. The music.
2. It houses the Library of the Orfeó Català.
Few people know it, but the Orfeó Català, founded in 1891 as a choral society, keeps a library that remains hidden from most visitors to the Palau. It is a documentary collection with more than 30,000 scores —some dating back to the 18th century—, as well as recordings, books and photographs that tell the musical history of Catalonia. And in case you’re wondering: no, you can’t visit freely, unless you are a musician or researcher.
3. It was declared World Heritage by UNESCO
Not all concert halls can boast of being World Heritage. The Palau de la Música Catalana got it in 1997, when UNESCO decided to recognize not only its architectural value, but also its key role in the cultural life of Barcelona. That same year, by the way, the Hospital Sant Pau, another icon of Catalan modernism, was also distinguished.
4. The back of the inverted dome is not decorated
Presiding over the hall, the famous glass dome – that sort of teardrop suspended from the ceiling – is one of the most photographed jewels of the building. But what you may not know is that, on the outside, there’s nothing special about it. There are no colors, no shapes, just a structure that reminds us that this marvel was meant to be admired only from below.
5. The architect of the Palau de la Música Catalana is Lluís Domènech i Muntaner.
It may seem obvious, but the truth is that many confuse it with a work of Antoni Gaudí. And no: the real author was Domènech i Montaner, one of the most brilliant minds of Catalan modernism. Historian, politician and art theorist, his style combines decorative beauty with symbolic functionality, something that is also seen in the Hospital de Sant Pau and the Castle of the Three Dragons.
6. Thousands of citizens financed its construction
Barcelona’ s Palau de la Música was neither an institutional commission nor the work of great fortunes. Its construction, which began in 1905, was financed thanks to a popular subscription campaign that mobilized thousands of people determined to build a cultural space of their own, made by and for the people.
7. The busts of Beethoven and Clavé preside over the entrance to the stage.
Just where the acoustic shell begins, there are two figures that are not there by chance: Beethoven, emblem of the great European tradition, and Josep Anselm Clavé, father of the Catalan choral movement and author of Les flors de maig. Together they flank the stage to remind us that here, music belongs to everyone.
8. Stravinski, Strauss and other legends of classical music played here.
Yes, as you read it. Igor Stravinski conducted one of his emblematic concerts here in 1924. And he was not the only one. So did Richard Strauss in 1908, conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
9. The ensemble includes a subway auditorium
Many people visit the modernist hall without imagining that, just below, there is another space dedicated to music. This is the Petit Palau, a subway auditorium inaugurated in 2004 to expand the programming of the Palau de la Música. Not to mention the rehearsal room of the Orfeó Català, which has been active for more than a century and is also hidden there.
Candlelight concerts at the Palau de la Música
Among all the concerts in Barcelona in 2025, there are some that offer you a completely new way to enjoy music. And these are the Candlelight concerts. Under the glow of thousands of candles, a string quartet performs everything from classical pieces to tributes to great artists such as ABBA and Queen, creating an unforgettable atmosphere in such an iconic space. Check out the upcoming events at the Palau and take advantage of this unique opportunity to (re)discover it in a new light.
How to get to the Palau de la Música
If after knowing all these secrets you are curious and want to see it with your own eyes, getting there is not complicated at all. The Palau de la Música Catalana is located on Sant Pere Més Alt street, in the Ciutat Vella district. From the metro station Urquinaona (L1 and L4) you can reach it in just five minutes walking, and it is also very close to Plaça Catalunya (L1, L3, Renfe and FGC). By bus, lines V15, V17, 45 and 47 leave you practically at the door and if you decide to go by car, you will find several public parking lots a few meters away, such as SABA Urquinaona or Parking Ortigosa.