History of Tarragona Museum Casa Canals
18th Century Neoclassical stately house ceeded to Tarragona city by the Canals Family in 1992 and opened as a Museum. Famous for the grand ballroom
About Casa Canals
Casa Canals is one of six museum spaces that form the Museu d'Història de Tarragona (MHT) collection and is located between Passeig de Sant Antoni, Carrer Granada and Plaça de Sant Antoni. The house is one of two noble homes open to the public in Tarragona and one of the few noble homes in Tarragona to have been fully preserved to this day.
Casa Canals is a modern era stately home built in the Neoclassical style taking advantage of the existing 2nd Century Roman wall, the house is built into the structure of the wall and has been found to contain a Spanish Civil war (1936 - 1939) Air raid shelter in the basement and has been built on the remains of a 14th Century home.
The building consists of three floors: Ground floor contains parking for carriages, the main entrance and stairway, storage rooms and kitchen. First floor is the noble floor with the ballroom, dining room, bedrooms, chapel, and patio garden. Second floor servants quarters and working space.
The house is in the upper part, Part Alt of Tarragona city with excellent panoramic views over the Port, beach, Roman amphitheatre and coastline.
Casa Canals History
- 7th Century: End of the Roman Empire and Beginnings of Visigoths and later Muslim invasions.
- 15th Century: Archaeological research has documented the existence of an important building on the site with at least two floors and founded on large pointed arches.
- 16th Century: The Medieval structure was renovated and later destroyed during the War of the Reapers (1640-1652).
- 18th Century: The current building was constructed in late 18th Century following the typical layout of a noble house and stately home.
- November 1802: First references of the Canals Family appear in records about hosting Carlos IV de España and consort María Luisa de Borbón from 11 to 15 November 1802 for the inauguration of the port of Tarragona. Casa Canals gave wide panoramic views of the sea from the balconies, which had just been opened in the Roman wall that forms the east exterior wall of the house.
- 1852: The Canals, from Reus, possessed noble titles and were related to other distinguished families of the city.Joaquim Canals marries Maria Antònia Castellarnau. Most of the furniture dates from this period.
- 1872: Maria Antònia Castellarnau is widowed. THE house remains in the possession of the Canals Family.
- 1992: Acquired by the Regional Government of Catalonia who handed it over to Tarragona city council
- 2006: Opened to the public with limited visiting hours.
- 2011: Full time opening under mnagement of Museu d'Història de Tarragona (MHT)
Image Gallery for Casa Canals
Click on any of the 62 images to open full screen gallery player
