11. Balcells House
Restaurant that is partly set in a medieval palace, but mostly located in a unique extension to the building, made during the Early Modern era. It contains remains from medieval and Roman times in the basement of the building.
Located just to the left of Tarragona’s Cathedral, Casa Balcells (Balcells House) is an imposing building also known as the Chamberlain’s House, since it was the residence of the Chamberlain of the Archbishopric, the second most important position in the Cathedral Chapter. Some of the most important figures of medieval and early modern times have taken lodgings at Casa Balcells, such as Antipope Benedict XIII or Queen Joana Enríquez, mother of King Ferdinand II of Aragon (Ferdinand the Catholic), who died during her stay in the city in 1468.
Most of the restaurant is located in a part of the building that was built as an extension to the palace during the 17th century. This does not deprive us, however, of the chance to see inside one of the most iconic buildings of Tarragona, a symbol of the city due to its location and its unique 17th century porches. In the basement of the restaurant, archaeological remains from Roman and medieval times can still be seen. Perhaps one of these walls hides an unknown entrance to the cistern which lies beneath the square!
You can find the restaurant at Pla de la Seu, 5. Menu available at the website.
The restaurant and the building where it is located would be right in the middle of the Recinte de Culte — the Roman city’s imperial cult enclosure, or temple. The restaurant is located mainly in the wing of the Chamberlain's palace that was added to the building during the 17th century. The ‘newer’ wing has a plethora of beautiful walls and arches built during the Early Modern era and, in the basement cellar, we find a space where the roof is held by Gothic pointed arches and some of the walls seem to be even older and possibly date as far back as Roman times. These walls could be hiding a closed access to the cistern under the Pla de la Seu or to the Roman sewer which passed underneath the building and which connects with the one beneath Carrer de la Merceria.
Lastly, it is also of note that on the first floor there is a room with pictorial remains that date from the Early Modern era.
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Restaurant that is partly set in a medieval palace, but mostly located in a unique extension to the building, made during the Early Modern era. It contains remains from medieval and Roman times in the basement of the building.41.1186603 1.2576387
