A Visit to the Home of the Marquis of Alfarràs
The building, located in the Laberint d’Horta Park, has a history that dates back more than a thousand years.
If you visited the Laberint Park as a child, you probably, like many others, were left wondering what the magnificent building at the entrance to the gardens looked like inside. That building was once the Palace of the Marquis of Alfarràs, and now, until the end of July, it opens to the public two days a week, free of charge — but reservations must be made one week in advance.
The site’s history dates back to the 11th century, when a defensive tower was built. Over time, various structures were added, and it eventually became an agricultural estate. It was acquired by a noble family from Barcelona, and one of their descendants, Joan Antoni Desvalls, Marquis of Alfarràs and Llupià, inherited the estate, expanded it, and began designing the gardens.
The palace as we see it today was built between 1845 and 1847, when the façade was renovated, side wings were added, and the circular entrance plaza was created. A renowned painter of the time, Lluís Rigalt (1814–1894), decorated the façades with frescoed stuccoes in neo-Arabic and neo-Gothic styles. Around 1860, a new rectangular space was added to house the noble rooms on the first floor.
If the garden is already a colossal work of living art, just imagine what those lavish rooms and chambers must have been like. The Desvalls family lived there until 1967, when the estate became municipally owned. The city council opened it to the public as a park in 1972. For years, the palace was used as a training space for gardening, agriculture, and biodiversity workshops, and it has remained closed — until now, as it reopens to the public.
If you’d like to discover how the Marquis of Alfarràs lived, come see the interior of his palace at the Laberint d’Horta Park — but first, check the website for visiting times and dates, and book your spot one week in advance.