The Transformative Power of Culture, Put to the Test

Would you like to discover the Monastery of Pedralbes and learn in detail what life was like in some of its most emblematic spaces? Every Saturday, a very special group of guides leads visitors through the site in an activity titled “Guia’m al Monestir de Pedralbes” (Guide Me at the Monastery of Pedralbes) — a moving example of culture’s transformative potential.

The initiative first began at the Monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès and now arrives in Barcelona through the Fundació Friends, an organisation that supports young people and adults on the autism spectrum in leisure, educational and pre-employment settings — specifically those with Asperger’s syndrome.

These guides, all on the autism spectrum, take visitors through one of the finest examples of Barcelona’s Gothic architecture: a monastery founded in 1327 by Queen Elisenda de Montcada and King Jaume II. It was home to a community of Poor Clare nuns, including the queen herself after she became a widow. The order maintained its presence here almost without interruption until 1983.

As you move through the monastery’s main spaces, you’ll be accompanied by guides with Asperger’s who, through their work, are building social confidence, independence, and autonomy. The experience is also a chance for visitors to challenge their own assumptions — because, as you’ll see, Asperger’s does not affect intellectual ability.

Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism spectrum disorder, is characterised by differences in social interaction and flexibility of thought and behaviour, as well as by a tendency toward repetitive patterns and difficulty with unexpected change.

If you want to discover the Monastery of Pedralbes — and, at the same time, break free from preconceptions about autism — join one of the Guia’m al Monestir de Pedralbes visits. Be sure to check the website for full details before attending.