Can Llopis Romanticism Museum facts for kids
| Museu Romàntic Can Llopis | |
Can Llopis façade
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| Location | Sitges |
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The Can Llopis Romanticism Museum (also called Museu Romàntic Can Llopis in Catalan) is a cool museum in the heart of Sitges, a town in Spain. It's inside a beautiful old building built in the Neoclassical style. This museum is part of a group of museums called the Barcelona Provincial Council Local Museum Network.
A Look Back: The Museum's History
The Museu Romàntic is located in what used to be called Casa Llopis. This grand house was built in 1793, outside the old medieval town walls. For many years, it was one of the most impressive homes in Sitges.
It belonged to the Llopis family for generations. They were local people who started out in seafaring. They became wealthy by trading wines and other drinks, and by owning land.
The house was at its most splendid in the mid-1800s. Back then, Bernardí Llopis i Pujol (1814-1891) owned it. He was a very important person in Sitges during that time. You can still see a letter box shaped like a lion's mouth next to the front door. This shows that the local post office was once on the ground floor of the house!
In 1935, the last family member, Manuel Llopis de Casades, left the house to the Generalitat de Catalunya (the Catalan Government). He wanted it to become a museum. The plan was put on hold because of the Spanish Civil War. But in 1943, the house was given to the Provincial Deputation of Barcelona. After some repairs, parts of the museum opened to the public in 1949. Later, more rooms, the garden, and the library were opened too.
What You Can See Inside
The outside of the building looks quite simple. But inside, it's full of color and amazing details! When you visit, you'll feel like you've stepped back in time. You can see what daily life was like for a wealthy family in the 1800s.
In the main rooms, like the music room, ballroom, dining room, and bedrooms, you'll find all sorts of interesting things. There's furniture from different styles, beautiful wall paintings, and fancy Meissen porcelain and glass from Murano and Bohemia. You'll also see musical instruments, old clocks, and many personal items. You can even learn how lighting changed in the 1800s, from oil lamps to gas lights.
The gallery on the first floor and the garden are especially charming. In the gallery, two walls are decorated with scenes of children playing. On the floor, there's a special game called "Bis Bis" from the time of Napoleon. It has 49 colorful tiles that the Llopis family and their guests used to play with.
The cellar is also worth seeing. This is where the Llopis family made their famous Malvasia wine. Today, a hospital called Hospital de Sant Joan Baptista owns the wine brand. They also own the vineyards that the last Llopis family member left to them. This was on the condition that they keep growing the grapes and making the high-quality Sitges Malvasia wine.
The second floor of the museum used to be where the house staff lived. Since the 1970s, it has been home to a wonderful collection of dolls and toys. These belonged to a writer and artist named Lola Anglada, who gave them to the museum.
Her collection has over 400 items, some from the 1600s, and many from the 1700s and 1800s. The dolls are made from wood, papier-mâché, and porcelain. There are even some clockwork dolls that can play music and move! Lola Anglada collected these dolls not just because they were rare, but because they helped her remember how people lived in the 1800s.
More to Explore
- Maricel Museum
- Can Papiol Romanticism Museum
In Spanish: Museo Romántico Can Llopis para niños
