The Bishops Palace

In 1886 the residence and offices of the Bishop of Astorga burned to the ground. Astorga was an important center of the Catholic faith in this part of Spain and so a new residence was commissioned by the church. The new bishop of Astorga selected a young architect, Antoni Gaudi, to design and build the building. It was unique, innovative, and stunning all at the same time. However, changes, disputes, bureaucracy, and financial problems stretched the project out for many years. It never became a residence or offices and today houses a Pilgrim Museum, but the work is wonderful in so many ways. Here are some pictures. I have visited several Gaudi projects in Spain and am always amazed.

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