Built in the 1770s, this building was the former home of Manuel d'Amat, a wealthy viceroy who made his fortune in the Americas. Set back from the street, this grand structure is marked by typically Spanish top-heaviness. Inside there is a patio featuring columns, and a staircase to the right leads to the interior, most of which is not open to the public, as it is home to the city's cultural-events committee. On the left, a large space hosts a changing calendar of exhibitions, predominantly on aspects of Barcelona. One of the best, held in September, is the Fotomercè, amateur photographs of the previous year's Mercè festival. An excellent gift shop and cultural information point are on the ground floor.