The plans of the Southeast façade (scale 1:100) and the Site (scale 1:500) are part of the nine surviving ferroprussian drawings of the original project of the Episcopal Palace of Astorga by Antonio Gaudí.
Received with great satisfaction by Bishop Grau, they show the spectacular design proposed by the genius of Reus with the magnificent neo-Gothic building topped by a large roof where you can see the three angels that would symbolically crown the bishopric. In addition, by surrounding the building with magnificent gardens, he once again highlights the value of nature, which was for him a model of inspiration, to the point that the organic with its intrinsically rational component, took over his architecture as his career progressed.
This first project underwent rectifications, which together with the course of events, resulted in Gaudí’s resignation to complete the work and a final design by Ricardo García Guereta for the roof, which was simpler and lacked some of the symbolic elements that the Catalan architect proposed in the initial project.
In the set of plans that have come down to us, unique for the meticulousness of his drawing, unusual for him, we can see the similarity of the garden that would surround the palace with respect to what he proposed in the Vicens house or the Güell estate. In addition, in the site plan, Gaudí included two buildings that would serve as stables and a coach house, although they were never built, very close to the apse of the cathedral.
The roof that would crown this 1887 project, perfectly visible on the southeast elevation, as complex as it is symbolic, is an integral, truncated pyramid-shaped structure, of notable height and where the terraces and open spaces designed by Ricardo García Guereta would have no place.
Ultimately, these plans represent Gaudí’s need to adapt to the administrative and bureaucratic circumstances that his project faced, as the Catalan architect felt more comfortable working with scale models and models of various materials.
The Piece of the Month currently remains in a prominent place on the second floor of the Palace, although at the end of March it will be moved to the main floor, where it will be on display until the end of the year.
This 2026, when the centenary of the death of Antonio Gaudí is commemorated, the Gaudí Palace dedicates this initiative to retrace the history of the architect and his time in Astorga, inviting you to rediscover his mark on the city.