Casa de les Punxes

Av Diagonal, 420

Casa de les Punxes dominates one of the corners of Diagonal and stands out among the buildings that were built during the golden age of Modernista Barcelona at the start of the 20th century. Designed by the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, this house gets its name from the spikes that crown the six towers of the building, and it is a unique artistic and architectural legacy of the city.

Gothic inspiration

Located in the heart of Avinguda Diagonal, Casa de les Punxes is named after the six towers crowned with six spikes that give it a Gothic and medieval look.It was declared a National Historical Monument in 1976,and is one of the Modernista buildings in the Eixample that makes up the vast outdoor museum that can be observed by walking through what is one of the most emblematic parts of Barcelona. Created by the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch in 1905, Casa de les Punxes was commissioned by the Terrades sisters, an important bourgeois family of the early 20th century in Barcelona who wanted to join three properties they owned. The architect designed a medieval building with elements inspired in European Gothic architecture.

Catalan decoration

Apart from the magnificent towers, another feature to highlight is the highly decorated brickwork facade with decorative rosettes. In one of these, and typical of Modernista buildings of that time,there is the famous image of Sant Jordi with the legend in writing, which says: “Sant Patró de Catalunya Torneu-nos la llibertat” (Patron Saint of Catalonia. Give us back our freedom).