The property occupied by the Duquesa Suites 4* Landmark Hotel , located at No. 1 of Passeig
Colom as well as at No. 5 of Plaça de Correus (former Plaça de Antonio López), was built at the
end of the 18th century with a residential character, after the demolition and subsequent
reconstruction of two properties acquired by the stockbroker Gil Grau, when they were still in
front of the old Sea Wall, in the disappeared Sant Sebastià or dels Encants square. The wall,
which occupied the space where Passeig Colom and Moll de la Fusta now stand, was formerly
the main promenade for Barcelona residents, attracted in summer by the coolness of the sea
breeze and in winter by the warm rays of the sun.
Upon the death of Gil Grau, the property was inherited by his son, Magí Grau, and was later
acquired by the merchant Josep Inglada, on September 12, 1818. Subsequently, the property
was subject to numerous strictly family transfers of ownership. among his descendants until,
once the wall was demolished, it was acquired by the Banco Vitalicio Society, on June 18, 1890,
given its location in the financial core of the city.
On February 20, 1919, the property passed into the hands of engineer Josep Maria Roviralta, a
prominent figure in Barcelona society and founder of Uralita S.A., a microcement factory to
which the property was registered on July 14, 1934, becoming at the headquarters of an
increasingly important company.
During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), bombings significantly affected the city’s maritime
façade. Testimony of this was the recognition of the property as a “building damaged by the
war”, granted by the Barcelona City Council on August 20, 1940.
In the 1980s, various offices of the Generalitat of Catalonia were installed, which occupied the
space until its acquisition by the current property.
Duquesa Suites Hotel was inaugurated in 2016 after a major remodeling of its interior and was
able to be classified as a 4* Landmark category hotel.
Since openeing Duquesa Suites 4* Landmark Hotel is managed by Duquessa Hotel Collection
a small hotel group with hotels in Barcelona, Cardona and Pals, specialized in offering quality
experiences and services in historic or unique buildings that allow us to turn stays, services and
events into great experiences for guests and attendees.