House of the Canons is one of Barcelona's most famous buildings and, it is said, the oldest in the city. In the 11th century it was built on an even older Roman foundation and has been rebuilt many times since.
It is interesting to trace how the occupants of this historic structure changed over time: at first it was an almshouse, where the poor and homeless could eat for free and spend the night under a roof rather than on the street. In the mid-15th century, the house was transferred to the ownership of a priest of the Cathedral (a canon), who slightly changed its appearance. Today the building houses the residence of the President of Catalonia, whose presence inside can be recognized by the national flag raised on the balcony.
The House of the Canons is connected to the Government Palace by a covered bridge running above the street at the level of the second floor. Everyone considers it their duty to stop and photograph the openwork “medieval” gallery, but few know that this elegant architectural detail appeared during another reconstruction of the building, carried out in 1926-28 by architects Joan Bellver and Jeroni Martorelli. Despite its relative newness, the bridge became beloved by residents and tourists and even received the unofficial name “Bridge of Sighs,” obviously referring to its Venetian counterpart.
