The Cathedral of Barcelona presents an exhibition on the history of the Pía Almoina
The exhibition highlights the charitable legacy and documentary heritage of this medieval institution
Barcelona, November 3, 2026.
Today, the Cathedral of Barcelona opens the exhibition “The Pía Almoina of Barcelona: The Feudal Domain of Charity,” which explores the operations of this charitable institution and the significance of the assets it managed to support its welfare activities. The exhibition combines informative panels in the Casa de la Almoina with a selection of original documents from the Chapter Archive, displayed in the Cathedral’s Sala de Cabrevación.
The official opening will take place this Tuesday at 7:00 PM at the Casa de la Almoina (Avda. de la Catedral, 4). Speakers will include the Dean of the Cathedral, Dr. Santiago Bueno, and the Director of the Chapter Archive, Dr. Robert Baró. The event will conclude with a brief tour of the exhibition.
Assistance to the Poor and the Feudal Estate
The Pía Almoina was a charitable institution managed by the canons of the Cathedral of Barcelona, which emerged during the Middle Ages thanks to contributions from various benefactors. Dedicated to assisting pilgrims and those without resources, it provided as many as 300 meals a day.
The exhibition explains how this charitable work was funded through donations, testamentary bequests, and income generated from an extensive feudal estate, consisting of lands and rights distributed across numerous towns and villages.
In this regard, Dr. Robert Baró, director of the Chapter Archive of the Cathedral of Barcelona, notes that “the Pía Almoina was a fundamental institution in caring for the city’s poorest inhabitants,” as its charitable efforts “helped prevent highly vulnerable individuals from falling into marginalization.” He also highlights the value of the documentation preserved in the Chapter Archive, which “offers a deeper understanding of many aspects of medieval and early modern society.”
Original Documents from the Chapter Archive
One of the main highlights of the exhibition is a selection of original documents from the Chapter Archive. Among these, a will dating from 1161 stands out; it is considered the foundational document of the Pía Almoina, as it institutionalized daily assistance for the poor. This collection of documents traces the history of the institution over the centuries.
The documents are on display in the Cathedral’s Sala de Cabrevación, which formerly housed the refectory of the Pía Almoina. The space features a preserved vault keystone depicting the washing of the feet of the poor—a practice carried out during Lent for those who ate in the institution’s refectory.
The exhibition will be open to the public until January 31, 2027, at the Casa de la Almoina and the Sala de Cabrevación of the Cathedral of Barcelona.
Communications Department, Cathedral of Barcelona – comunicacio@catedralbcn.org
