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Some of History's most relevant events in buildings in which, as depicted in many books, the Catholic Monarchs welcomed Cristopher Columbus upon returning from his second voyage to America or where Miguel de Cervantes began writing Don Quixote of La Mancha. Buildings that housed the headquarters of the Council of the Indies and also the General Secretariat for Movement or old convents and emblematic hotels.
Constructions in a variety of different architectural styles, including gothic or baroque, neoclassic or eclectic, modern or avant-garde. Walls that have been privileged witnesses to historic moments occurred across the entire country, including its islands. All these buildings now have something in common: they are all unique CaixaBank branches that are part of its network of more than 4,000 branches that the financial institution has across the entire Spanish territory, the largest network within the banking sector.
In the centre of Burgos, the building widely known as the Casa del Cordón, was built in the 15th century commissioned by the Condestables of Castile. Royal residence of the Catholic Monarchs, it was in this building where they entertained Cristopher Columbus and, years later, the Great Captain, Gonzalo Fernández of Córdoba. Furthermore, it was in that Palace of the Condestables of Castile where Philip the Handsome passed away, just a few days after having moved his official residence to live with Joanna the Mad. It currently houses the headquarters of CaixaBank's Regional Head Offices in Castile and León and its courtyard, with a wooden roof spanning over 1,000 square metres is fitted with skylights that filter natural light into the building, housing the ‘all in one’ of Burgos.
At a distance of more than 700 kilometres, on the busy Calle Sierpes of Seville, we find CaixaBank's Regional Head Offices in Andalusia. Its location: the building which was home to the old Cárcel Real of Seville, a medieval building dating back to the 13th century, which was converted in the 16th century and boasts a list of noteworthy prisoners, including distinguished figures of the Spanish Golden Age such as Mateo Alemán, Alonso Cano and Miguel de Cervantes. In the forward of Don Quixote, back in 1605, the author himself implied having conceived his most universal character in that same jail, within those very walls. Having been demolished in the 19th century, it was later converted into a hotel, a café, the headquarters of the Circle of Farmers and, today it's bright interior courtyard hosts events, exhibitions and welcomes dozens of CaixaBank customers each day, who centuries later are writing their own stories.
CaixaBank's Regional Head Offices in the Valencian Community and Murcia, the bank's corporate headquarters for the entire county, are also located within one of the most iconic buildings in the Valencian capital, which was formerly the headquarters of Banco de Valencia. Erected in 1917, this building is the most relevant of all neo-baroque architecture in the Valencian region. Just a few metres away, the historic Reina Victoria Hotel in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento currently houses the ‘all in one' branch in Valencia.
Another ‘all in one’, that one in Segovia, has to its credit the history of the so-called Convent of Discalced Carmelites which was erected in 1603.
These are a few examples of some of the singular branches from which CaixaBank operates. But there are many other smaller branches that are unique in their own right. In Madrid, just a few metres from the Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor, what is nowadays known as the Store Mayor we come across the former Colonial Company building, built in 1909. Built in a modernist style with ceramics and reliefs on the façade, highlighting its decorative elements, with its allegorical figures referring to trade and industry, such as that of god Mercury and basic products such a coffee, tea and cocoa. Barely a kilometre away, between the Banco de España and the Círculo de Bellas Artes, the Store Cibeles, located in the Zurich building, formerly housing the headquarters of the Francoist Secretariat General for the Movement during almost four decades.
In Barcelona, the Via Laietana Store is located within the building which formerly housed the Caja de Pensions para la Vejez y Ahorros de Cataluña y Baleares, built in a neo-Gothic style between 1914 and 1917 by Enric Sagnier; and the Sant Cugat Premier Store is located in a French style neoclassical building, which dates back to 1927 and was formerly the summer residence of a well-known piano manufacturer. In Zaragoza, the Plaza España Store was built in 1928, in an eclectic and classicist style, destined to be the headquarters of the Banco Zaragozano and, in Vigo, the Príncipe Store occupies an entire building which also dates back to the early 20th century. This building stands out due to its sculptural work comprising a statute of Mercury and another of Vulcan, as well as many allegories of the city's trade and industrial activities.
In the Balearic Islands, the Llucmajor Store is located in a historic building dating back to 1908, of which the façade and the essence of the construction have been maintained. In the Canary Islands, a 17th century Baroque style building, with neoclassical features, which formerly housed the headquarters of the Council of the Indies, is the current home to the La Laguna Concepción Store; and the Arrecife Store is a branch designed by the painter and sculptor César Manrique, in which he combined his creative work while striving to defend the environmental values of the Canary Islands.
All these branches, examples of great architectural and historic wealth, have staged the political, social and economic transformation of the country and, in recent years, have also adapted to the major shift experienced in the financial sector. They have evolved to incorporate the latest technologies and have witnessed a shift towards a more tailored customer service that is provided in the Store and 'all in one' models, as these branches are conceived as open, accessible and transparent spaces which seek to improve the customer's experience through a closer relationship that focuses on a customised service.
These are unique branches, quite often attracting many tourists, their walls have witnessed historic moments, some involving illustrious figures whose name have been included in many books, but also anonymous personal and business stories which are written today and will surely be written in years to come.
