Old Town Gothic Quarter 4-5 hours walking tour 1
Description A stroll through Barcelona s Gothic Quarter brings to light the early Roman city of Barcino and the medieval town with its palazzos, mansions and Gothic churches. This is the style that defines the heart of Barcelona : a neighbourhood where the splendour of the historic past coexists with the vibrancy of the present. The centre of the Roman city, today s Gothic Quarter, was marked by the point where the two main streets, the Cardo and Decumanus, converged. Today the Carrer del Bisbe and Carrer Llibreteria stand on this site. Nearby, we can still see the remains of the Roman temple of Augustus. In fact, the original centre of Roman and medieval Barcelona still forms the core of 21st-century Barcelona. Its maze of narrow streets and squares is steeped in the city s past and present. 2
Here, in the Gothic Quarter, we find the City Hall and the seat of the Catalan Government, the Palau de la Generalitat, the Cathedral and other Gothic churches, including Santa Maria del Pi and Saints Just and Pastor. Very near the Plaça de Sant Jaume, right in the middle of this Barcelona neighbourhood, is the old Jewish Quarter, the Call Jueu, with its endless narrow streets, where some remains of the ancient synagogue still survive. In the Gothic Quarter, the Plaça del Rei proudly showcases the architectural ensemble made up of the royal residences of the Catalan-Aragonese monarchs. Below the square, you can visit the impressive archaeological remains of Roman Barcino. Behind the Cathedral stands the beautiful Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, with its baroque church. The square is surrounded by narrow streets in a Barcelona neighbourhood suffused with history which comes to life when you go there. 3
What do we see? The tour includes amongst others venues as: Plaça Sant Jaume The Plaça Sant Jaume has been the city s political centre almost since its inception. Today it is an open space, a lung in the middle of the Gothic Quarter. The square is the site of the most important buildings in the lives of Catalonia: City Hall and the Palau de la Generalitat. Bishop s street 4
Cathedral The Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia watches impassively the passing of time in a constantly moving and changing Barcelona. The Cathedral also reflects the different generations who have left their imprint and the blend of architectural styles in this predominantly Gothic building which needs to be viewed inside in order to fully understand its splendour. 5
Santa María del Pi Antònia, the biggest of the six bells that crown the octagonal belfry of the church of Santa Maria del Pi can be heard ringing out all around Barcelona s Gothic Quarter. We can now take a closer look at the church of Santa Maria, which nestles between the picturesque squares, the Plaça del Pi and Plaça Sant Josep Oriol. Sant Just i Pastor Tradition has it that this is Barcelona s oldest church. Whether this is true or not, it is clear that this 14th-century building stands in one of the Gothic Quarter s most charming and least explored spots. 6
Casa de l Ardiaca The Roman wall which adjoins Barcelona s Plaça Nova has a secret in store. On the other side, stands the entrance to the Casa de l Ardiaca, or Archdeacon s House, which contains interesting archaeological remains. As you enter the Casa de l Ardiaca s courtyard, you ll find a building which is a fusion of all eras and styles. Plaça Ramon Berenguer The Via Laietana in Barcelona presents a feast for the eyes. In the Plaça Ramón Berenguer, behind the equestrian sculpture depicting the Catalan count, there is a section of the Roman wall crowned by the Gothic chapel of Santa Àgata. The area is a majestic blend of two different Barcelonas: the Roman and the medieval. 7
Plaça del Rei The Conjunt Monumental de la Plaça del Rei in Barcelona is, arguably, the Gothic architectural ensemble which best exemplifies the city s medieval past. The royal palace, the Palau Reial Major, and its surrounding buildings, enclose a harmonious and peaceful square which is still imbued with Barcelona s splendour during the Middle Ages. Sant Felip Neri The tiny church of Sant Felip Neri is tucked away in a hidden corner of the Gothic Quarter: a little square with a romantic atmosphere which bears the same name. The baroque yet austere façade bears the scars of bombing. The restoration and cleaning of the building sought to preserve the painful memory of the Spanish Civil War. 8