CONVENT DELS ĀNGELS FAD - BARCELONA
The FAD is located in the centre of Barcelona, at the Raval district, in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona. Located in the former Convent dels Āngels (Convent of the Angels), building of the 17th century, restored by architects Lluís Clotet and Ignacio Paricio in the year 1999.
A brief history of the Convent
In 1562 the foundation stone of the convent was laid, the Dominican nuns stayed there since 1836. From 1924 on, the convent and the church became the store of Ferros Mateu (Mateu Irons). In 1978, the Town Hall buys all the estate. In this ground plan drawn by Garriga i Roca in 1858, the most important parts are claearly identified. We can see two yards, separated by the rectangular and long building which used to house on the ground floor the chapter house and the refectory. At both upper floors, there used to be the nun's bedrooms, on top floor the loft. We can also see at the corner which faces the Āngels Street, how it divides the church and the noviciate.
Milestones in the history of the Convent dels Āngels
1566: The temple is finished.
1814: The convent becomes a Municipal Correction House
1846: The nuns return to the convent.
1868: The church starts to work again as a parich church of St. Antoni Abad i Nostra Sra. dels Āngels.
1888: The Town Hall approves a plan of road modification, which affects the convent and the church.
1906: The community sells the convent and the church, which will have to disappear in a period of 20 years.
1909: The church saved from burning.
1924: The church is no longer used as a parish church and enlarges an iron store (Ferros Mateu).
1961: The Convent dels Āngels is included in the Municipal Artistic Heritage.
1978: The Executive Municipal Comission approves the buying of the Convent dels Āngels.
1982: Beginning of the rebuilding of the Convent dels Āngels.
1997: The Town Hall transfers the convent to the FAD for its use for 35 years.
1999: The FAD installs itself at the Convent dels Āngels.