The Paeria Palace is Lleida's most representative example of Romanesque civil architecture. It is also one of the most emblematic monumental constructions in Catalonia.


Even at first sight, it is possible to discern a number of different influences and interventions. The façade that overlooks the river Segre originally corresponds to the neoclassical style, though when it was restored in 1929, this was done in neo-medieval style. The result has been a perfectly balanced building. It was built at the beginning of the 13th century and, as technical experts from Lleida City Council and the local university have subsequently discovered through a series of excavations, was built upon "strata" of the city's history.


In the 14th century - in fact, in 1383 to be precise - the Sanaüja family, who were the original owners of the building, formally handed it over to the city so that it could serve it present function, as the headquarters of the municipal government. Today, La Paeria - as the citizens of Lleida have come to know the building that is quite literally, "the house of the Paer en Cap (mayor)" - houses many of the treasures that contribute to the identity of the city.


The term paer comes from the Latin word "patiarii", which means "man of peace". This nickname was adopted by the mayors of the city after King Jaume I granted a series of privileges to the city's former leaders.