Casa Martí

Gothic Quarter, Spain

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

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Heritage registerPobles de Catalunya↗

Designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch in 1896 for relatives of textile magnate Francesc Vilumara, Casa Martí stands on Carrer Montsió in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter as a striking example of Catalan modernism with distinctly northern-European character. The facade showcases large pointed arches on the ground floor framing stained-glass windows, ornate upper-floor fenestration, and Flamboyant-style balconies, enhanced by sculptures from Eusebi Arnau, wrought ironwork by Manuel Ballarín, and a corner statue of Saint Joseph by Josep Llimona—a 2000 reproduction of the original destroyed during the Civil War. The building's ground floor housed the legendary Quatre Gats tavern (1897–1903), an artistic hub where Ramon Casas, Santiago Rusiñol, and Pablo Picasso gathered; Casas financed much of its interior, including medieval furniture by Puig i Cadafalch and a famous tandem-painting now replicated in situ. From 1903 to 1936, the building hosted the Cercle Artístic de Sant Lluc. Declared a bien de interés cultural in 1976, Casa Martí has undergone considerable modification over its history, including loss of Puig i Cadafalch's original door lintel.