Casa Martí

At 28-years-old, Catalan architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch was commissioned by the in-laws of textile magnate Francesc Vilumara to complete his first major project in Barcelona. Casa Martí is a brick building with large pointed arches lining the street, containing simple stained glass windows—more northern European than Catalan in appearance. Nestled on the narrow Carrer de Montsió just off Portal de l’Àngel, views of this house are more obscured. Don’t miss the stone sculptures by Eusebi Arnau, the wrought ironwork of Manuel Ballarín, including the slinky steel dragons holding up lanterns over the two side entrances of the main facade, and Josep Llimona’s statue of Sant Josep on the corner. Below the statue is another reference to the Modernista theme of Sant Jordi. Here the hero seems to be tangled up in the scaly body of the dragon, but he has managed to jab his sword straight down the beast’s throat.