Circulo Industrial de Alcoy

The Circulo Industrial de Alcoy is a cultural institution in the center of the city of Alcoy, about 30 kilometers inland from Alicante. It is a city that rightly boasts of the quality and quantity of its Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture.

The institution was founded in 1868, as a place for meetings by businessmen, entrepreneurs, and the middle class of Alcoy but it did not occupy the building until the 20th century. The institution has operated the building since it was opened except for the period of the Spanish Civil War when it was occupied by Republican trade unionists from the city.

The building itself was designed in the years 1909-1911 by architect Timoteo Briet Montaud from Valencia. The building is said to be one of the most representative works of the Art Nouveau style in Alcoy and is one of the best preserved in the city. This applies both to the exterior and the elegant interior spaces. It is described as having characteristics of the architectural Art Nouveau movement known as  “Secession”, which was highly influenced by the Austrian Modernist movement.

Apart from the stylish exterior, there are four important interior features. Firstly there is the Rotunda, a circular space, currently used as a conference hall with fantastic Art Nouveau features including a magnificent circular stained glass cupola. Secondly, there is the magnificent library with loads of Art Nouveau detail. Thirdly, a historic meteorological station that still provides data to the city, and finally, at the sub-floor level, a rather Gaudi-like artificial grotto has been produced, currently occupied by a restaurant.