This architect, historian and politician (1849-1923) and Gaudí are, undoubtedly, the two great figures of Catalan Modernism. His buildings are real masterpieces: “Institut Pere Mata” in Reus and “Casa Navàs” in Reus, “Casa Lleó Morera”, the “ Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau”, “Mas Passamaner” itself and the “Palau de la Música”, without a doubt one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. There Domènech i Montaner put all he had to say in architecture and symbol and culminated the aim of Modernism, namely, to blend all the arts (from applied, like architecture, to music and poetry) in one space.

Hospital de Sant Pau de Barcelona

There are, however, many other facets in Domènech i Montaner’s humanist biography: he was a teacher, urban planner, cultural agitator, promoter of many Modernist discussions at the time (he chaired the “Ateneu Barcelonès” on three occasions), journalist, historian, writer, archaeologist and politician, where he was conspicuous for his unrelenting dedication to Catalanism.

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