Casa Padua

Located on C/Pàdua, Casa Padua is an absolutely stunning house that seems to be hidden from tourists, seasoned travellers, and even locals. A huge red door and window shutters of the same colour blend perfectly with a marble wall that’s partially covered with a lovely floral pattern. If you’re lucky, the shutters will be open and you can get a peek at some lovely stained-glass windows.

The origin of this wonderful building remains a mystery to this day. You’ll be hard-pressed to find any information in the city archives about this house designed by renowned Catalan modernist architect Jeroni Granell i Manresa, who is also well known for his work on the stained-glass windows in the Palau de la Música Catalana and the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site.

Until the mid-1970s, this location was the headquarters of a perfume factory, and if you strain your nostrils hard enough, you just might smell something faint emanating from the rich floral decorations on the walls.

After being abandoned for years, Casa Padua was restored by Alonso Balaguer, who won a prize for best restoration work for his efforts. While much of the history of this building remains lost, it still arouses the interest of passers-by with its incredible colours and floral designs.