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Barcelona: Gothic Quarter

Europe » Spain & Portugal

Tour Creator

Mónica Cruz Guáqueta

Mónica Mónica Cruz Guáqueta is a licensed Architect with a Master’s degree in History of Architecture. She has become an expert in Barcelona's history and architecture by combining her knowledge…Read More Bio »

Tour Type:

Architecture

Historical

Barcelona

GPS-directed

Remote Tour Included

1+hr

1km

On our tour, we’ll explore the oldest quarter of Barcelona. We’ll learn about its transformation from its 230 BC origins as a Roman city to what we now see today: the Gothic Quarter. We’ll explore the Roman borders of the city, where buildings now stand on the grounds of medieval Barcelona and discover how these medieval developments prevailed over the Roman constructions.

Avoid the Crowds

Allows you to explore without having to be shoulder-to-shoulder in a large tour group

Expert-created Tour

Written by a Barcelona-based licensed architect with Master's degree in History of Architecture

GPS Directions

Easy-to-follow GPS directions to get you from one point to the next on your tour

Highlights include:

Placa Nova, Gothic Cathedral, and Bishop's Bridge

Remote Tour Included

As with all our tours, a remote tour is included that can be enjoyed from home

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Itinerary

Barcelona: Gothic Quarter

Plaça Nova - Old medieval Square, where the Sunday market of the city used to take place. In the surroundings: the Roman Towers on the Pretorian Gate, reconstruction of the Roman aqueduct, the 16th-century façade of the Bishop’s Palace and the 20th-century building for the Architectural Association of Catalonia.
House of the Archdeacon - Originally built around the 12th century, the current building is the result of several refurbishments. Major features: gothic windows brought from other medieval palaces and arches on the first floor, built around 1500.
Gothic Cathedral - Stepping on the Pla de la Catedral, facing the façade. The Gothic Cathedral was built at the end of the 13th century, and the construction was stopped in 1440, leaving the façade unfinished. The current façade was built in the late 19th-early 20th century.
Square of Ramon Berenguer The Great - Sculpture of Ramon Berenguer The Great in the middle of the square. The square is delimited by Via Laietana, across the square there’s the outside façade of the Church of Santa Àgueda, built on top of the Roman City Wall, and two Classic Revival buildings in the remaining two sides.
Padellàs Palace, Museum of History of Barcelona - Palace of the Padellàs family, originally located in the neighbourhood across Via Laietana, and moved to the current location stone by stone in the 20th century. It’s settled over the ruins of the Roman City, that can be visited by entering the Museum of History of Barcelona, in the same location.
King’s Square - Surrounded by different medieval buildings, the King’s Square is named after the King of Aragón, who ruled over the territories of the current Catalonia area. Side façade of the Padellàs palace, Church of Santa Àgueda, Saló del Tinell and Palace of the Lieutenant form the limits of the square.
Palace of the Canonges - House of the Canons, who were part of the chapter of the cathedral, built around the 12th century. Across the street, the back of the Gothic Cathedral, and the gothic Gate of La Pietat, depicting a beautiful carving in stone.
Mont Taber - Highest point of the Plain of Barcelona, mythical point of foundation of the Roman city. Marked in the street floor by a rounded stone with a dot in the middle. In the building next to it, the remains of the Augustus Temple can be seen.
Bridge of the Bishop - Constructed in the 1920s, the bridge communicates the Government Palace with the Gothic Palace of the Canons. In the surroundings: along the street, it can be seen the Gothic Façade of the Government of Catalonia with interesting reliefs in stone and gargoyles.
Square of Saint Jaume - Two of the most important buildings of the City administration are located here, both of them medieval constructions with a Renaissance façade: the Government of Catalonia and the City Hall of Barcelona. The Square was open in 1823 as well as the straight streets that cross over the Gothic Quarter.

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