Catalan modernism is synonymous with the ornate façades of the Eixample, with its sinuous balconies and exquisitely crafted details, and with buildings as instantly recognisable as La Pedrera and Casa Batlló. But this modernist landscape is not exclusive to the Catalan capital; it extends well beyond Barcelona. Just a few kilometres from the city, Terrassa is home to one of the jewels of Catalan modernism: Masia Freixa, which until recently kept many of its spaces hidden from view.
Since reopening this summer, following a €1.8 million investment, Masia Freixa has opened some of these previously inaccessible areas to the public for the first time. The visit, which is free of charge, takes visitors through the upper floors of the building, where the former service quarters were located, before ascending the spiral staircase to the tower. The tour offers a more complete view of the work of architect Lluís Muncunill. Originally conceived as a factory for producing alpaca fabric, the building was soon transformed into the family residence of industrialist Josep Freixa.