Designed by the artist and engineer
Miquel Utrillo between 1910 and 1918, the
Maricel Palace became, from its very opening, a
classic of the Noucentista style. Currently, the complex maintains its great artistic and architectural value intact and has become one of the
most emblematic buildings in Sitges.
This monumental complex, inspired by the beauty of the ancient and modern
folk art, was commissioned by the American magnate, collector and philanthropist
Charles Deering (1852-1927), who wanted a residential building in which to house his magnificent
collection of Hispanic art. With the reform of the old
Hospital de Sant Joan and the subsequent annexation of several fishermen's houses on Carrer Fonollar, Utrillo built an exceptional ensemble which received the praise of artists and intellectuals of the time. For
Joaquim Folch i Torres, the Maricel Palace was "the fruit of the culmination of modern Catalan civilisation".
With austere lines and respecting the characteristic
white colour of the area, the exterior of the Palace has several terraces decorated with local ceramics and projecting above is the
tower of Sant Miquel. It is crowned by a series of battlements and the façade has a Gothic sculpture of the Saint which came from the bridge in Balaguer. Throughout the building there is the characteristic
emblem of the sun in red rising over the blue of the sea, the symbol of the palace designed by Utrillo himself.
Inside, the Palace is arranged around the
Gold Room, the
Blue Room, the
Chapel Room, the
Ship’s Room and the
cloister – which offers a wonderful panoramic view of the Mediterranean. Of the decoration, notable items include the sculptural elements by
Pere Jou and the murals in the entrance hall by
Josep M. Sert, inspired by the Great War. The complex is completed with various artistic elements that combine aesthetics and functionality, the work of numerous
local artisans.
Disagreements between Deering and Utrillo meant the end of the initial
Maricel Palace project. However, with the recent restoration of the architectural and conceptual whole and the reorganisation of the museum collection by the
Maricel Museum, this extraordinary complex has had its vocation restored as a place dedicated to the arts, heritage and culture.