Modernist Craftsmanship Takes Centre Stage

On Saturday 10 October 2026, from 9:00, the Museu de les Terres de l’Ebre in Amposta will host the first Modernist Moveable Heritage Day, focusing on the interior design and artisan trades behind Modernist architecture in Tortosa, Amposta, Xerta, La Sénia, Alcanar and other towns in the Ebro region. The event, organised by journalist Irene López, architect Toni López and Pau Solé of the Friends of the Castells and Old Town of Tortosa association, aims to highlight the often-neglected interiors of Modernist buildings and the skilled craftspeople, such as carpenters, stained-glass artists, gilders, stonemasons and plasterers, who created them. López explained that the initiative emerged from a three-year research project with the Ramon Muntaner Institute (IRMU) into the moveable heritage of these buildings and the traditional trades associated with them.

This is a space for reflection and gathering for architecture lovers, ethnographic heritage experts and historians, but also for any citizen curious about what lies behind the facades of their town’s Modernist buildings.

Full Programme of Talks and Tour

Registration begins at 09:00, with opening speeches at 09:30 by the Government delegate in the Ebro region, Joan Càstor Gonell, Amposta mayor Adam Tomàs, and Tortosa mayor Mar Lleixà. At 10:00, stained-glass artisan Pere Valldepérez, known for restoring the dome of Barcelona’s Palau de la Música, will deliver the keynote lecture, "From Modernism to Abstraction." Further talks include:

  • "Rehabilitation Project of Casa Grego" by architect Xavier Rollan (10:45)
  • "The Damage of the Civil War to Modernist Heritage" by Pau Solé and Irene López (12:00)
  • "Moveable Heritage: The Eternal Unknowns" by Josep Maria Buqueras, a leading expert on Modernism in the Camp de Tarragona (12:45)

A roundtable with art historians and building owners will follow at 13:30.

Guided Visit to Casa Fàbregas

In the afternoon, attendees can join a guided tour of Casa Fàbregas on Avinguda de la Ràpita, a 1913 Modernist building with Noucentista and historicist elements designed by architect Ricard Giralt i Casadesús. Toni López highlighted the building’s significance: "It’s ideal for showcasing Modernist crafts, with preserved sgraffito, hydraulic mosaics, floral mouldings and original furniture in excellent condition throughout." Places for the tour are limited to around 30 people and must be booked in advance via the Museu de les Terres de l’Ebre website, the Amics dels Castells association, or the College of Architects of Catalonia’s Ebro delegation (COAC). Pau Solé noted that while the event was originally intended for Tortosa, technical difficulties in securing a venue led to its relocation to Amposta. The day has the support of the IDECE, the Amposta council, IRMU, Amics dels Castells, the Tortosa UNESCO association, COAC’s Ebro branch, the museum and Lo Sirgador Fluvial Tourism. The event forms part of the broader biennial cultural programme Ebre, Art & Patrimoni, running from 1 August to 18 October across 13 municipalities in the region.

Reported by laciutat.cat, museuterresebre.cat, La Ciutat.