Monte de Piedad y Caja de Ahorros de Alcoy, Financial heritage building in Alcoy, Spain
Monte de Piedad y Caja de Ahorros de Alcoy is a savings bank building displaying Valencian Art Nouveau architecture with decorative pilasters and a striking entrance topped by a clock frontispiece. The structure spans four floors and occupies an entire block on Rigoberto Albors Street, currently functioning as a branch of Institut Valencià d'Art Modern.
The savings institution opened in 1875 following a legacy of 75,000 pesetas from Diego Fernando Montañés, which enabled local workers to access low-interest loans. The building itself was constructed later, blending Viennese Sezession elements with regional architectural features from Valencia.
The entrance hall displays two large religious paintings by Francisco Laporta alongside colored stained glass windows that convey the value of saving. These artworks shape the first impression when entering and reflect the moral principles the institution wanted to promote.
The building is easy to spot thanks to its striking facade and central position on Rigoberto Albors Street. Visitors can explore the interior to admire the artistic decorations and the grand staircase with its arches and decorative columns.
The building showcases an unusual blend of Viennese Sezession and Valencian style elements, a rarity in Spain's architectural landscape. The imperial staircase with its elegant arches and decorative columns stands as a particularly notable example of this contemporary fusion.
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