Casa Ignasi de Puig

Casa Ignasi de Puig is a 19th-century townhouse with a garden right in the heart of Barcelona, standing at the corner of carrer de la Boqueria and carrer d'Aroles, just steps from Las Ramblas. Listed as a local cultural asset, the building today houses a hotel that also extends into the neighbouring property at number 12. Passers-by would hardly guess that behind its facade lies a quiet, semi-hidden garden open to the public.

What is the history behind this property?

Records of buildings on this plot go back to the 18th century. The 1716 Cadastre lists earlier houses here belonging to Teresa Vinyola, widow of Esteve Costa i Pallarès — a doctor of law and honoured citizen of Perpignan — and later to their son Ignasi Costa i Vinyola, also a doctor of law. The property changed hands across generations until it came into the Puig family in the 19th century.

How did the current building take shape?

In 1861, Ignasi de Puig i de Bòria (1807–1879) obtained permission to rebuild the house according to plans drawn up by an architect named Narcís. That renovation gave the property its present form: a small urban palace with two facades, one facing carrer d'Aroles and the other carrer de la Boqueria. This layout — a formal street-facing front paired with a more private garden side — was typical of Barcelona's bourgeois residences of that era.

What can visitors find in the garden of Casa Ignasi de Puig?

The romantic garden was laid out at the same time as the 19th-century rebuilding of the residence, as an integral part of the small palace complex. Today it is a green refuge with mature trees, including a group of nine cypresses, two magnolias and a linden tree. The dense foliage and shade offer a striking contrast to the crowds just a short walk away on Las Ramblas and the surrounding streets of Ciutat Vella.

The garden is currently maintained by the Petit Palace hotel, which occupies the main building of the estate. The space has been furnished with garden furniture and lighting designed to make it enjoyable well into the evening. It is open to visitors from 10 in the morning until dusk, offering a rare chance to step past the facade of one of the old town's historic residences.

Why is it worth a visit?

Casa Ignasi de Puig shows that even in the densely built Ciutat Vella district, quiet green corners can still be found tucked behind ordinary-looking facades. It's a spot for travellers looking to pause away from the bustle of Las Ramblas without walking more than a few dozen metres from it, while also getting a glimpse of 19th-century residential architecture in Barcelona.

Frequently asked questions

Is the garden of Casa Ignasi de Puig open to the public? Yes, the garden is open to visitors daily from 10 am until dusk.

Who manages the building today? The main building is occupied by the Petit Palace hotel, which also extends into the neighbouring property at number 12 on carrer de la Boqueria.

When did the building take its current form? The rebuilding was commissioned in 1861 by Ignasi de Puig i de Bòria, based on plans by architect Narcís.

How do you get to Casa Ignasi de Puig? It stands at the corner of carrer de la Boqueria and carrer d'Aroles, in the Ciutat Vella district, just a few minutes' walk from Las Ramblas.