Lesser known Gaudi works

In the end of 1886, a fire completely destroyed the Episcopal Palace of Astorga.  The former Bishop Grau decided to ask his friend Gaudí to construct a new episcopal seat right next to the cathedral.

The relationship between Grau and Gaudí began years earlier when the bishop, inaugurated the chapel with the altar designed by Gaudí. That construction of Palacio Episcopal de Astorga took six years from 1889-1893. During this time, Gaudí had a very good relationship to bishop Grau as he traveled often to Astorga.

In 1887, Gaudí had be commissioned for the construction of the new Palacio Episcopal de Astorga. At the same time, he was working on the project of Palau Güell and therefore he did not have enough time to travel to Astorga in order to survey the area. This is why he asked bishop Grau to send him photographs and information on the environment, so that he could prepare a project which match well with the surrounding architecture.

As soon as he had studied all information, Gaudi designed the plans and sent them to Astorga. Bishop Grau was glad about the plans and began procedures to get them approved by the administration, since it was an ecclesiastical building, it depended on the Ministry. After some modifications, the project was approved in February of 1889. The first stone was placed not long after - on June 24th of that same year.

Gaudí decided to use workers from Catalonia to make sure that during the periods when he was in Barcelona, his ideas would be interpreted correctly.

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