Santa Florentina Castle

The Castle of Santa Florentina was built over an ancient Roman villa – 'Domus' -, which was an urban and wine production centre. In the 11th century, it was converted into a fortified farmhouse to prevent pirate incursions common at the time.

In the 14th century, under the ownership of Ferrer de Canet - Gilabert's great-grandson -, the Domus reached its peak splendour. He obtained permission to fortify the house with two beautifully constructed towers at the medieval portal, to protect the house from raids and pirate invasions in the Mediterranean.

When his son Arnau incorporated the domains of Besora and Montesquiu by marrying the Marquess of Bosara, the Domus came under the advocacy and denomination of Santa María, with a chapel dedicated to it inside.

At the end of the 19th century, when Ramón de Montaner i Vila was the owner of the Domus and a significant publishing entrepreneur in Barcelona, he commissioned his nephew, Lluís Doménech i Montaner - a modernist architect -, the restoration and expansion of the Domus. This architect was a leading figure of Catalan Modernism. He designed the 3,000 square metres of habitable space of the Castle of Santa Florentina. His team consisted of the best artists of the time, introducing coloured stained glass with religious symbols, large marble pieces with coffered ceilings for the floor, carved wood on the ceilings, ceramics, stained glass, wrought iron, and sculptures to harmonise a balanced space of light, colour, forms, and volumes.

Finally, the project resulted in a palace residence with medieval and romantic style elements reminiscent of a castle, maintaining harmony with the creative aesthetics of Modernism. Its renovation was inspired by both medieval, modernist, and neo-gothic elements, giving the castle greater distinction.