A walk through the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona and its secrets
If you are going to visit Barcelona, you should not leave without visiting the Gothic Quarter, one of the most beautiful architectural jewels in the city.
It is the oldest part since it dates back to Roman times and remained intact until the 19th century. In that century is when a great transformation of the neighborhood took place, giving rise to the medieval-style streets that we can admire today.
To get to know Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter in depth, we recommend this Medieval Barcelona Tour
What to see in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona
The Cathedral of Santa Eulalia
The Cathedral of Santa Eulalia, always in the shadow of the Sagrada Familia, is the nerve center of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona.
The Cathedral of Santa Eulalia is in the Gothic style and represents one of the most beautiful temples in Barcelona.
In addition to its impressive exterior façade, inside we can find some wonders such as the Crypt of Santa Eulalia, the Choir or the Cloister.
It is, without a doubt, one of the must-see monuments in Barcelona.
King’s Square
Very close to the Cathedral, is the Plaza del Rey, a spectacular medieval square where the Palacio Real Mayor was located.
This palace was the residence of the Counts of Barcelona and the subsequent Kings of Aragon.
The Royal Palace was made up of the Salón del Tinell, where it seems the Catholic Monarchs met with Christopher Columbus when they returned from America, the Chapel of Santa Ágata and the Palacio de Lloctinet.
Casa Padellás also stands out, where we can see the Barcelona History Museum, a highly recommended museum.
The Churches of San Felipe Neri and Santa Ana
If we return from the Plaza del Rey bordering the Cathedral on its back, we will arrive at the Church of San Felipe Neri, in baroque style and where we can highlight its neoclassical and baroque altars.
From there we can go in the direction of Plaza de Catalunya through one of the most important commercial arteries in Barcelona, Calle Portal de L’Angel, where we can make some purchases if we want.
Before reaching the end we have other important monuments of the Gothic Quarter, the Church of Santa Ana, a very quiet church from the 12th century.
The Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar
Now we can head to another of the most emblematic places in Barcelona and that in recent years has become well known thanks to the novel La Catedral del Mar.
It is the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar. This basilica is a must if you go to Barcelona.
On your way you can stop to rest at the Els Quatre Gats bar, one of the landmarks of Catalan modernism. After a long and pleasant walk through the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter, we will arrive at the Basilica of Santa María del Mar.
During your visit you should not stay with its sober exterior but you should enter to see the interior of one of the most beautiful Gothic temples in the world. You can get more information in the article that we will soon dedicate to this architectural gem.
Sant Jaume Square
It’s time to retrace our steps to the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter.
Very close to the Cathedral, where we begin our tour, is a square that is not only the heart of the ancient Roman city of Barcino (although it dates back to the 19th century) but is also the political center of Barcelona and Catalonia.
It is the Plaza de Sant Jaume where we can find the Palau de la Generalitat and the Barcelona City Council, headquarters of the regional and local governments.
The Royal Square and Las Ramblas
Our tour of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona is coming to an end.
But we still have to enjoy a spectacular square, the Plaza Real, which should not be confused with the Plaza del Rey.
It is a square with a trapezoidal shape in the neoclassical style and built in the 19th century.
It is one of the liveliest areas of the city and in the center there is a lamppost designed by the brilliant Antonio Gaudí. Now is the time to enjoy Las Ramblas, the most famous street in Barcelona.
