A weekend walk in Barcelona19

Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Inner Courtyard http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/sandamichaela-1928722-walk-barcelona19/

Palau de la Generalitat

The Coat of arms of Generalitat de Catalunya

The Palau de la Generalitat in

Barcelona is the seat of the

Catalan government. The Palau has pure

Gothic, flamboyant

Gothic, Renaissance and

baroque elements behind the neoclassical

façade. The building was constructed

between the 15th and mid-17th

centuries and this accounts for the

variety of architectural

styles.

The Palau de la Generalitat was built to provide a permanent seat for the Corts Catalanes, the Catalan Assembly set up in 1283 which is referred to as “the first parliament in Europe”. The Catalan institution was abolished in 1714, when the city fell to Philip V’s army, but it was reinstated in the 20th century during the Second Republic, only to be suppressed again by General Franco after he won the Civil War in 1939.

In 1977, two years after Franco’s death, Spain was moving towards democracy and the former President of the Generalitat de Catalunya Josep Tarradellas returned from exile to Barcelona and uttered the historic words: "Catalans, I am here!". He spoke from the main balcony of the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya, in front of Andreu Aleu’s sculpture of Saint George (1860).

Inside the building there is a superb Gothic cloister, with a staircase designed by Marc Safont, who also created the façade on Carrer del Bisbe (the former main entrance) and the beautiful chapel on the first floor, built in the flamboyant Gothic style.

Since the 8th century Sant Jordi is venerated in Catalonia. Evidence for this is that many churches and chapels have been dedicated to his memory. Even the kings adored him; Jaume I even describes how the Catalan Sant Jordi helped in the conquest of Mallorca. Under the protection of Sant Jordi an Order of Knights was founded. Since 1343 Sant Jordi has been celebrated in the Catalan land of Valencia, and in Majorca since 1407. In 1456 the Catalan Parliament adopted a constitution in the cathedral of Barcelona declaring Sant Jordi as a festival day.

The fact that the worship of Sant Jordi takes place in all areas is also shown at the government palace of Catalonia at Plaça Sant Jaume. Here in the 19th Century a medallion of Sant Jordi was installed on the gothic facade and inside the building a chapel was built in honor of him.

At many attractions in Barcelona today you can see the cult of Sant Jordi. One example is the Casa Batlló, built by Gaudí, whose roof resembles a dragon.

Because so little is known of the historical figure, the myths and legends around the Catalan patron grow. A legend tells of his seven-year Mathyrium. In the seven years of torture Sant Jordi never lost his faith. This legend explains why Jordi was chosen as patron saint of the Knights of the Byzantine Empire. During this time he was called out for help to win against the "infidels".

In addition to Catalonia he was also chosen as the patron saint of England, Georgia, Greece and Serbia and many more.

The name "Georgius" means farm, which is perhaps the reason why the Catholic liturgy chose a day in spring as his name day. He is also regarded as a protector of the harvest.In addition, he is also regarded as protector of lovers, which explains why since the 15th Century a large rose market takes place around the government palace (Generalitat de Catalunya) in Plaça Sant Jaume and in its courtyard on the day of Sant Jordi.

The best known and most popular legend describes how he defeated a dragon in the infinite country Silene. This dragon poisoned the air of a village. And to appease him, the people always sacrificed a lamb and a virgin who was chosen. One day the princess of the country met this fate; George killed the dragon and freed her. The Princess and the entire population were converted to Christianity. Since the 13th century the most widely used figure of Sant Jordi is the scene where he kills the dragon with a lance while riding a white horse.

Sant Jordi by Andreu Aleu 1872

In 1995 UNESCO declared 23rd April as World Book and Copyright Day. This was to acknowledge that the book has historically contributed most to the spread of knowledge. The proliferation of books is a cultural enrichment throughout the world.

Catalan flags on the Barcelona Generalitat building. Perched on the balcony on important days

Barcelona - Generalitat - Carrer del Bisbe

There are two main entries: the entrance in the Plaza Sant Jaume, in a Renaissance style and designed by the artist Pere Blai, and the other entrance, in a Gothic style, with a relief of St George (Saint Jordi, the Patron Saint of Catalonia) carried out by Pere Joan in 1418.

23rd April: On the day of Sant Jordi in Barcelona- as in all of Catalonia - people give one another a rose or a book. And it’s not only couples that do this. The Generalitat in Plaça de Sant Jaume is open to the public. In the palace and around it there is a large rose market. You can buy books everywhere.Documents show that the tradition of giving away roses as a symbol of love on the day of Sant Jordi, dates back to the 15th century, even if not the exact date is known.

In the most famous legend of Saint George - although he freed the princess from the dragon - he didn’t marry her, as the moral of this story was Christian baptism rather than love, according to the legend.In 1926 Spain declared the 23rd April, the anniversary of the death of Miguel de Cervantes, the most famous Spanish writer, as Book Day. This was coping England, who had also respected the 23rd April as the death of Shakespeare. It was a coincidence that this coincided with the day of the feast of Sant Jordi. This led, however, to mean that Book Day was hardly celebrated. Only much later did the day of love also became a day of literature in the mind of the population.

The Pati dels Tarongers, a modest Gothic orangery which was built between 1532 and 1547, combines the delicacy of Renaissance architecture with the cooling greenery of native plants and trees, and is the chosen place for many official events of the Catalan government. Pati dels Tarongers, is opened about once a month for concert performances of the palace’s chimes.Other highlights include the main hall, the Saló de Sant Jordi, which dates from the same period; and the Saló de Torres Garcia, which contains paintings by this leading Uruguayan artist.

Carillón del Palacio de la Generalidad

The 23rd April, the day of Sant Jordi, the patron saint of Catalonia, is today the day of the rose and the book, the day of love and culture.

The Pati dels Tarongers was built between 1532 and 1547

bell tower from 1568 designed by Pere Ferrer

Josep Tarradellas

bust by Josep Maria Subirachs

The Pati dels Tarongers

Palau de la Generalitat inner Courtyard

Palau de la Generalitat Galeria gòtica

Palau de la Generalitat Galeria gòtica

Exit through the Front Door (1597-1619). Pere Blai.

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The Generalitat is the institutional system in which the self-government of Catalonia is organized. It consists of the Parliament, the Presidency of the Generalitat, the Government and the institutions, the Council for Statutory Guarantees, the Ombudsman, the Public Audit Office and the Catalonia Broadcasting Council. The power of the Generalitat comes from the people of Catalonia and is exercised according to what is laid down in this Statute and the Constitution.

The Salón Dorado (Golden hall)The 16th-century Sala Daurada i de Sessions, one of the rooms leading off the patio, is a splendid meeting hall lit up by huge chandeliers

The Generalitat is the main head office of the Government of Catalonia. Practically, there is no remains of the original buildings over which a new building in a Gothic style was built under the orders of the architect Marc Safont, one of the most famous architects of that time in Catalonia. Later, from the XVI Century, the Palace has suffered several enlargements and modifications regarding the needs of each historical period.

Catalan Parliament as a miniature of incunabula of the fifteenth century showing the Royal Courts of the Catalan-Aragonese Crown (edition of the Constitutions of Catalonia, incunabulum dated 1495).

Ferdinand II between two coats of arms of Señal Real de Aragón

Capella de Sant Jordi, obra de Pere Blai (segle XVII), secularitzada el XVIII com a Saló Sant Jordi

Capella de Sant Jordi, obra de Pere Blai (segle XVII), secularitzada el XVIII com a Saló Sant Jordi

Traditionally, the nobility and upper classes would take part in a mass in the Sant Jordi chapel at the Palau de la Generalitat on April 23rd, coinciding with a romantic Rose Fair also held at the palace

Capella de Sant Jordi, obra de Pere Blai (segle XVII)

St. Jordi chapel 15th century - by Antoni Sadurní.

Free visits of Palau de la Generalitat: 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month, from 10am to 1.30pm

Capella de Sant Jordi, by Pere Blai

Palau de la Generalitat Salo de San Jordi

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Palau de la Generalitat Saló de Sant Jordi (1597-1619). Pere Blai

Sala Torres Garcia. Room named after Joaquim Torres Garcia, which contains the fresco he painted on the walls of the Hall of Sant Jordi (1912-1916)

Antoni TàpiesThe Four Chronicles Mixed media on wood 251 x 600 cm Generalitat de Catalunya Collection, Barcelona Situated in the Sala Tarradellas

Sala de Antoni Clavé

The Generalitat is traditionally open to the public on Sant Jordi (St George's Day, 23 April), when its patios are spectacularly decorated with red roses, but queues are long. It normally also opens on 11 September (Catalan National Day) and 24 September (La Mercè). The guided tours are generally in Spanish or Catalan, so it's best to call ahead for an English-speaking guide. Sala de Antoni Clavé (1913 – 2005)

J.M Subirachs 1976    Decoration for the loggia that llinks the “Palau de la Generalitat” with the “ Casa dels Canonges”

Between the second and fourth decade of the twentieth century, under the direction of the Josep Puig i Cadafalch in collaboration with Josep Borí and Joan Rubió i Bellver, a great restoration was carried out to recover the original features and spaces. Also, some new neo-Gothic creations were added, such as the famous bridge over Carrer del Bisbe that links the palace with the Casa de les Canonges (which opened on April 23, 1928)

J.M Subirachs 1976    Decoration for the loggia that llinks the “Palau de la Generalitat” with the “ Casa dels Canonges”

Text: InternetPictures: Internet & Daniela IacobCopyrights of the photos belong to each photographer

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: El Cant de la Senyera-Orfeó Lleidatà