Antiga Biblioteca Almirall

Stay in a Storybook Setting

Biblioteca Almirall was once the private library of Valentì Almirall, an impassioned figure of the Renaixença. Today, it is the beloved home and life project of a fascinating Colombian-Norwegian family. Martha and Øyvin fell in love with this early Beaux Arts library in 1999 and dedicated the following 18 years of their lives to its careful restoration. 

Along with their children, the family moved from room to room within the building as the restoration progressed, growing up with their home. And, as everything came together in 2011, the family set off on a 14-month trip around the world and returned filled with sights and sounds, their taste for adventure and appetite for life stronger than ever. Their home is now open to the world as a place of continuous travel, shared ideas, and moments for the books. To share this extraordinary space with guests, they offer a studio apartment for overnight stays.

Set on a hilltop overlooking the city, this strikingly preserved 19th-century library has been converted into a private home with a stylish mixture of design themes. Within the heart of the Collserola nature park, the house offers amazing views to both sides of the mountain and panoramic views of the city from the east side.

Designed and built by one of Catalonia's most prominent authors, lawyers and adventurers, the building is full of histories and anecdotes linked to his time here. Pairing the classically elegant Beaux Arts architecture with a cool Nordic minimalism, the building was adapted for family life by the owners with the help of architect Carol Iborra. The imposing facade gives way to stately interiors, with the main reading room's soaring ceilings anchored by a lovely ornate fireplace making it an ideal central space for social gatherings. 

A studio space is available for guests and has been completely modernized in cool Scandinavian white and wood. The one double ensuite bedroom has its own entrance with space for two guests, opening out to expansive gardens with a pool. The exterior spaces are nestled into the forested hillside in a private and relaxed setting. Preserving and sharing the cultural and historic heritage of Catalonia, the couple opens their doors to guests who will appreciate the experience of being in touch with history and are invited to feel at home. (Please note there is only a small kitchenette in the studio, but breakfast is served daily.)

This property is also available for events through BoutiqueHomes.

AROUND

The forested mountain neighborhood of Tibidabo is the tallest in the Collserola range and overlooks central Barcelona. Most famous for its amusement park and the Sagrat Cor church at the peak, it can be reached by a 19th-century funicular railway, the first of its kind in Spain. One of the most authentic and enviable neighborhoods, the twenty thousand-acre park is a paradise for hikers, bikers, and nature lovers.

A seaside town of celebrated artistic, culinary and cultural treasures, Barcelona is home to stunning Gothic, Medieval, Romanesque and Modernist masterpieces all housed along the sparkling Mediterranean with the Collserola Hills as a backdrop. The famous Eixample district is an area that has reinvented itself as one of the premier dining destinations of Barcelona with world-class cuisine as well as a colorful and quirky area of shops, bars and cultural spaces in neighboring Raval. The Passeig de Gracia and Rambla Catalunya are praised by locals for being one of the nicest in central Barcelona. Sometimes referred to as the Cuadrado de Oro, it's the epicenter for modernism in Barcelona and features the work of modernist architects Antoní Gaudi, Enric Sagnier and Doménech I Muntaner. 

LOCATION

Barcelona, Spain. Nearest airport: Barcelona (27km)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring through fall