The Episcopal Palace of Astorga, a great jewel of Gaudí
In the Leonese town of Astorga we can find another of the modernist monuments that Gaudí built outside of Catalonia.
It is one of the most beautiful buildings that we can find in this area and it is worth visiting, although it is not the only interesting thing to see in Astorga.
It is located next to the Cathedral of Astorga and is undoubtedly the most important building in the city and the best known.
A building designed from a distance
The current Episcopal Palace was built between 1889 and 1915 due to a fire that completely destroyed the existing one and left the Diocese of Astorga without a seat.
Because there was no official architect in the city, the bishop decided to contact the brilliant Antonio Gaudí, a friend of his, to build a new building.
It should be noted that Gaudí could not travel from Barcelona because he was immersed in other projects, so the plans were made from photographs of the area that were sent to him, which demonstrates his great skills.
After several decades of work, the building, built in neo-Gothic style, was inaugurated.
Visiting the Episcopal Palace of Astorga
The exterior of the Episcopal Palace is simply spectacular and was built with white granite giving it the appearance of a castle or mansion.
It has a rectangular floor plan and is surrounded by a moat, which gives it a medieval and military air.
The building is flanked by four cylindrical towers, one larger than the other three, and has four floors.
The flared arches at the entrance are some of the most characteristic elements of this brilliant Gaudí building.
Inside we must highlight its columns and mosaics that give it a wonderful appearance. In its four floors we can see several exhibitions and enjoy the games that the architect made with lighting and all the elements in which bright colors are not lacking.
We also really liked its spiral staircase and it should be noted that an elevator was planned in the project, which was not finally installed.
You can find more information on the official page of the Episcopal Palace of Astorga.
