Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. Gothic Quarter of Barcelona Gothic Streets

Gothic Quarter(Spanish)Barrio Gotico) – the central and oldest part of the Old Town Barcelona , her womb, this is where this one was born amazing city. The quarter starts from Plaza Catalunya and extends from La Rambla to Via Laetana.

It all began more than 2000 years ago with the modest Roman settlement of Barsino, surrounded on all sides by an impregnable wall 2 meters wide. The streets of today's Gothic Quarter at that time formed an oval along which the defensive position ran. Little remains today of the walls behind which retired Roman soldiers once lived. The oldest house in the Gothic Quarter, which witnessed many historical events and survived an earthquake in the 14th century, dates back to the 12th century.

The Gothic quarter began to be called at the beginning of the 20th century - the largest architectural ensemble of buildings in Europe from the 14th–15th centuries appears here in perfect harmony and deserves great attention. The area is an example of the layout of medieval cities and consists of many winding streets flowing into each other and forming a combination of architecture from the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages and 20th century Art Nouveau, captivating visitors with its grandeur and beauty.

Sights of the Gothic Quarter

The second name of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona is “Cathedral”, here is the Cathedral (Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, Spanish: La Catedral de la Santa Cruz y Santa Eulalia), the main masterpiece of the city’s medieval architecture, with a luxurious Gothic facade. It is very difficult to examine the architecture of the cathedral from the outside; the stone giant is literally squeezed into the narrow streets of the Old Town. Construction of the cathedral began in the 13th century and continued for several centuries. The main façade was completed relatively recently, towards the end XIX century. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Eulalia, a young girl who was tortured and martyred at the hands of pagans for the Christian faith in the 4th century. Eulalia was 13 years old, and in memory of this, exactly 13 white geese live in one of the chapels inside the Cathedral, symbolizing the purity and innocence of the patroness of Barcelona.

The Gothic Quarter begins with Plaza Nova, or New Square, which, despite its name, was founded in 1355. At that time there was a city gate here. To this day, the square has preserved the remains of ancient Roman walls and two large four-story Roman towers that protected the northeastern gate of the city wall until the 18th century. On the same square is the Baroque Bishop's Palace with a magnificent façade. The majestic building is built on Roman-era foundations and contrasts with the more modern house of the College of Architects, a white structure with huge friezes designed by Picasso. The building was built in 1961. “Children's Frieze”, “Frieze of Giants” and “Frieze of the Flag” were designed by Picasso and designed by the Norwegian Karl Nesjar.

Another value of Plaza Nova is the Archdeacon's House (Casa del Ardiaca), which separates Novaya Square from the Cathedral Square and contains fragments of the fortress wall. The building has been the seat of the church diocese since the end of the 12th century. The house survived two reconstructions in the 16th and 19th centuries, the latest alteration turned out to be so large-scale that it connected the building with the neighboring structure, making one building out of two. Now in one architectural object we can see a mixture of styles: Gothic, Renaissance and even Art Nouveau. One of the “newest” features is the postbox from 1895, decorated in a modernist style by Lewis Domènech i Montaner in 1902 at the request of the Bar Association. The three swallows on it symbolize the independence of justice, the turtle - bureaucracy. On this moment Casa del Ardiaca is the repository of the city's archives.

One of the main streets of Barcelona - Carrer del Bisbe - connects Plaza Nova with Plaza de Sant Jaume - the historical center political life, which was a forum in Roman times. The Plaza de Sant Jaume houses the City Hall and other administrative buildings, including the House of Canons and the Government Palace, connected by a 1926 neo-Gothic bridge by Joan Rubio. The appearance of the city hall building reflects different centuries and architectural styles. The facade, facing the square and considered the main one, was built in the neoclassical style in the mid-19th century. A little Gothic has been preserved in the side façade – “Gothic”. But much more of the medieval spirit remains inside the building rather than outside. In addition to the famous “Hall of Hundred,” there is a Gothic gallery, a “staircase of honor,” a courtyard and several other halls created in the Middle Ages. You can visit the city hall any Sunday from 10:00 to 13:30. Plaza de Sant Jaume was reconstructed in 1823. Nearby are the ruins of the Temple of Augustus (1st century).

The Royal Square, or Plaza del Rei (cat. Plaç a del Rei) is the most famous and popular square among tourists in the Gothic Quarter, a miracle of Gothic architecture and the scene of countless historical events in Barcelona. It is known that it was in this square on April 3, 1493 that the Catholic rulers Fernando and Isabella received Christopher Columbus, who returned from his first voyage to America. All buildings on this square are made in the Gothic style. Here it is Royal Palace, which served as the residence of the counts of Catalonia from the 13th to the 15th centuries. The Visigoths built the first ruler's palace in this square. During the period when the lands were under their rule, the Visigoths made Toledo their capital, and they sent a governor to Barcelona to rule the city. The first palace was built here for the governor, on the site of which there were previously Roman buildings. On the ruins of Roman buildings, the Visigoths built their palaces and temples, which later suffered the same fate - they were destroyed in the Middle Ages to make way for Gothic buildings.

Another place on Plaza del Rey that deserves the attention of visitors to the city is the capital of Catalonia, located in a 15th-century mansion, Casa Clariana-Padellàs. The most interesting thing in the museum is the archaeological excavation site. On an area of 4,000 square meters directly below the square, you can take a tour of the history of the city - from the first century BC. e. until the seventeenth century. Ruins of buildings from different centuries and cultures, fragments of houses and workshops, temples and streets, parts of the fortress wall and towers, a swimming pool that remains from an ancient bathhouse, a city crossroads, the remains of shops and a patrician’s villa. In addition to the archaeological excavations, it is necessary to visit the palace, which includes the Throne Room (Salo del Tinell), a magnificent example of Catalan Gothic from 1370, in the same room where the Holy Tribunal held its meetings. You can climb the tower for excellent views and visit the Royal Chapel of St. Agatha, built in the 14th century on the ruins of Roman walls. St Agatha's Chapel is famous for its Gothic image of the Constable. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday; it is closed on Monday.

Secrets of the medieval city

The Gothic city is fraught with many secrets, sometimes hidden from the eyes of tourists deep underground, as, for example, in the medieval Jewish quarter of El Call. Until the 15th century, only Jews lived here, but constant extortions and pogroms by the rulers of Catalonia led to the exodus of the Jewish population from El Call. In those days, in every house where Jewish families lived, there was a door leading to an underground passage. In case of danger, the Jews used by underground passage to take cover outside the fortress wall and wait out the danger. Such doors exist to this day in many of the old houses in the quarter, and some houses even offer tours. Now in the vicinity of Carrer del Call there are numerous antique, second-hand book and souvenir shops. You can get acquainted with the history of the quarter and see household items of the Jews in Information Center Call (Centre d`Interpretacio del Call).

In the Gothic quarter of Barcelona there is the famous art cabaret “Four Cats” (Els Quatre Gats), which was inspired by its Parisian cousin “The Black Cat” cabaret and which used to be very popular among the creative elite of Barcelona. Famous artists, sculptors and musicians of the late 19th and early 20th centuries loved to visit the art cafe. Among the famous visitors to the establishment were such personalities as Julio Gonzalez, Pablo Picasso, Ramon Casas, Santiago Rusiñol.

The Gothic Quarter in Barcelona is a must-see part of the city, whether you like gothic art or not. This is a unique opportunity to visit the past, feel the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, and get acquainted with the culture

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The first place any traveler begins to get acquainted with Barcelona is, of course, the historical center of the city. Its most colorful part is the ancient Gothic Quarter, which is often called the “heart” of all of Barcelona.

Video Gothic Quarter

The appearance of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona in the form in which it appears to us today is associated with the times of the Kingdom of Aragon, a Mediterranean state that flourished in the 14th and 15th centuries. The entire territory of Catalonia was part of this powerful state at that time. It was during these centuries that the construction of this quarter began, in the Gothic style that dominated Europe in the Middle Ages. Hence the name - "Gothic". Although, it appeared only in the 20th century, and earlier the quarter was called Cathedral, since this is where the Barcelona Cathedral is located - the main attraction of this area.

In fact, the history of the quarter dates back to even more ancient times. Long before the 14th century, there was a settlement on the site of the Gothic Quarter dating back to the Roman era. This settlement, according to historians, was called Barsino. It marked the beginning of the founding of Barcelona. Thus, it was in the Gothic Quarter that Barcelona was born. Some Roman buildings remain here to this day, making this ancient quarter even more valuable historically and architecturally.

The Gothic Quarter extends from Plaza Catalunya to Avenida Colomba, between La Rambla and Via Laetana. Together with the districts of Raval, Barceloneta, Sant Pere, Santa Caterina and La Ribera, the Gothic Quarter forms Old city Barcelona (historic city center).
The quarter is an interweaving of characteristic medieval dark narrow streets, among which there are interesting sights. The attention of tourists is also attracted by the many restaurants with Mediterranean cuisine scattered throughout the quarter. This perfect place to try popular Catalan dishes such as seafood paella.

Sights of the Gothic Quarter

Let's see what is remarkable about Gothic Barcelona?

Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, better known as Barcelona Cathedral- the “heart” of the Gothic Quarter. Dedicated to him.

Square of Saint James (San Jaume). Plaça de Sant Jaume can be called main square The Gothic Quarter, since this is where important administrative buildings are located: the Catalan Government building and Barcelona City Hall (Casa de la Ciutat). Various holidays, meetings, processions, etc. are held on the square.

Royal Square (Placa Reial). A small but bright square area, with many palm trees. Built in the 19th century in a neoclassical style unusual for the Gothic Quarter. Near the square there are many restaurants, cafes and even clubs. Gaudi himself had a hand in the design of this square - the lanterns were made according to his design.

New Square(Placa Nova). Despite its name, this is the oldest square not only in the Gothic Quarter, but in all of Barcelona. Founded in 1358. Many people call the new square the gateway to the Gothic Quarter and it is from here that they begin their walk through it. Here are the remains of an ancient Roman aqueduct, as well as restored defensive towers and a wall from the 1st century BC. Also in the square, it is worth paying attention to the building of the Association of Architects (Collegi d’Arquitectes de Barcelona) and the Bishop’s Palace in the Baroque style.

King's Square (Placa del Rei). Here is the Main Royal Palace (Palau Reial Major) and the Watchtower Del Rey Marti, as well as several other medieval buildings. From the 13th to the 15th centuries, the palace was the residence of the Catalan counts.

Remains of the Temple of Augustus. The four columns remaining from the Roman temple are located near St. James Square, on Carrer Paradis.

Santa Maria del Pi ( Santa Maria del Pi). Gothic cathedral built in the 14th century.

Popular among city guests restaurant "Four cats", founded in 1897.

How to get to the Gothic Quarter

Metro L3 - stations Liceu And Catalunya
Metro L4 - stations Urquinaona, Jaume I And Catalunya

Map of the Gothic Quarter

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We invite you to get acquainted with the Gothic Quarter and other interesting sights of Barcelona as part of interesting excursions with Russian-speaking guides.

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Carrer del Bisbe Bridge

How the block was built

Not all objects of the Gothic quarter appeared here in the Middle Ages, during the heyday of the union of the state of the Aragonese Crown, of which the Principality of Catalonia was an important part. The first surviving stone objects were built in antiquity - these are the ruins of the city wall, the palace of Octavian Augustus and the aqueduct in the vicinity of Tapineria Street and New Square. The territory of the future Gothic Quarter of Barcelona was most actively developed in the 13th-14th centuries, but since then Barcelona has gone through a series of historical and natural disasters. Ancient houses burned, came under fire, and were destroyed by earthquakes. As a result, by the twentieth century, most of the buildings that had been rebuilt several times required global reconstruction. Modern architectural monuments are a fusion of Gothic, neoclassical and neo-Gothic, complemented by the skillful work of restorers.

Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia

Gothic buildings and squares

The Gothic Quarter of Barcelona has generally retained its medieval layout, although many areas have been expanded by demolishing old buildings. The most popular tourist sites include the Cathedral of St. Eulalia, New Square, and the Church of Santa Maria del Pi.

Church of Santa Maria del Pi

Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia

The majestic, richly decorated cathedral, seat of the Bishop of Barcelona, in the center of the quarter houses the relics of a 14-year-old Christian girl who suffered at the hands of pagans in the 4th century. The temple's carved spiers inspired Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia project. The interior of the cathedral is no less luxurious than the facade; in the courtyard with a fountain and a miniature garden, visible to visitors, they contain white geese, symbolizing the purity and innocence of Saint Eulalia. The cathedral is open to tourists from 8:00 to 19:30.

Church of Santa Maria del Pi

Located near the Liceu metro station, the 14th-century building is distinguished by its simple form. The stone facade is decorated only with a giant 10-meter rosette, restored to its original form 80 years ago, and a pointed arch above the entrance. Guests and believers are welcome in the temple from 9:30 to 20:30. The historic interior of the church was seriously damaged during fires and civil war in Spain, only the seats in the 18th century in the Rococo style have survived, the altar is modern neo-Gothic.

The name should not confuse tourists: in fact, this is the oldest square in Barcelona, completely built up in the 14th century. This is one of the most eclectic architectural ensembles Catalan capital. This was once the outskirts of a Roman settlement, where aqueducts began, the ruins of which can still be seen today. Near ancient ruins the medieval Archdeacon's House with modernized gloomy fortification towers is located. The College of Architecture, on the other side of New Square, is decorated with modern “rock paintings” - cheerful, stylized images of people.

Sights of later eras

Craftsmen of past centuries erected new buildings on ruins that could not be restored. Among such works of architecture is the Basilica of Saints Justus and Pastor, located 100 m south of the Jaume I metro station: the facades were rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style, the interior became neoclassical. The 17th-century Church of San Felipe Neri is famous for its Baroque reliefs and sculptures on its façade. Near Columbus Avenue stands the La Merce Church, built in the 18th century on the ruins of a Gothic temple. It is famous among pilgrims for the wooden figure of Our Lady of Mercy kept inside. This is one of the most revered Catholic sites in the city, receiving the privileged status of a minor basilica along with the Church of Santa Maria del Pi and the Cathedral of Saint Eulalia. On September 23, a religious procession in honor of the sculpture is organized annually. A secular landmark, the Royal Square with its fountain, lanterns designed by Antoni Gaudi, and powerful palm trees appeared only in the 19th century, but this does not prevent it from being a favorite vacation spot for native Barcelonans.

Royal Square of Barcelona

Entrance to the museum wax figures

Museums of the Gothic Quarter

Museum of Erotica in Barcelona

Thematic variety of museums historical center Barcelona satisfies the tastes of the most discerning guests of the city. Exhibition Center Gaudi with the Diocesan Museum of Barcelona together with the Art Museum and the Museum of Frederic Mares, the famous Catalan sculptor, is open a few tens of meters from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. The Erotic Museum operates near St. Joseph Boulevard, famous for its flower shops. The Wax Museum awaits visitors on the approach to Columbus Avenue.

Events in the Gothic Quarter

The small hall of the thousand-year-old Church of St. Anne is used for concerts by masters of the Spanish guitar. On Sundays, on St. James Square, everyone takes part in round dances-sardanas to the sounds of orchestras of folk instruments. On festival days, competitions in the construction of pyramid-castels are also held here. Construction material the competition participants themselves become for them: 8-10 strong men are placed at the base, representatives of the next level climb onto their backs, and so on up to 10 floors.

Giant's Ball in St. James's Square

Tourist Information

On the borders of the Gothic Quarter there are metro stations line 3 Liceu and line 4 Jaume I. This is a convenient place to start exploring Barcelona: the city's main attractions are located within a 2 km radius. Restaurants and cafes are open literally at every step: a wide range of establishments are presented national cuisine, thematic projects, such as rock cafes, jazz clubs and the “4 Cats” art cabaret. Once upon a time, young Picasso exhibited here and Albeniz played. Today, the owners of the cabaret are trying to recreate the bohemian atmosphere of the early 20th century: live piano music plays until one in the morning, and performances by artists take place. The number of boutiques representing world brands is not inferior to the number of restaurants. There are many small but quite expensive hotels in the area.

The Gothic Quarter in Barcelona began to be called so relatively recently due to the fact that it contains many buildings made in the Gothic style. This quarter is difficult to pass without attention; for many tourists it is of interest. It is located in the center between Laietana Street and Rambla, there is a multiple concentration of the city's attractions and cozy restaurants and cafes.

History of creation

Before our era, on the site of this quarter there was one of the Roman cities, which was surrounded by high walls to strengthen its positions. Then all the buildings characteristic of the Romans were built in it: aqueducts, baths, churches and a forum. When in the fifth century A.D. The lands were captured by the Visigones, they destroyed most of the buildings and in their place they created their own temples and majestic palaces, but they have not survived to this day.

Interesting and unusual buildings appeared on this block in the 14th century; during the Renaissance, no construction activities were carried out, which saved the already constructed buildings from destruction and new developments. Thanks to this, you can now appreciate the majestic buildings in the gloomy Gothic style.

Main tourist points

The Gothic Quarter is bounded by Plaza Catalunya, Avenida Columba and Via Laietana and Rambla. On its northern side there is favorite place famous Pablo Picasso cafe “4 cats”, it appeared in the quarter in the 19th century, and was built by analogy with the Parisian cabaret “Black Cat”.

Plaza Nova

We can consider that the Gothic Quarter begins with it. The New Square was created in 1355 on the site of the city gate. Despite its name, this is the oldest square in the city; slaves were traded there at one time. Previously, there were fortress walls next to it; they were destroyed long ago, but their remains in the form of two towers can be seen not far from Placa Nova.

On the square you can look at the Bishop's Palace, made in the Baroque style, the facade of which is impressive.

Its presence seems to act as a contrast to the more modern building of the College of Architects. The last building is notable for its large friezes, which were created by Picasso himself, but were brought to life by the Norwegian architect Karl Nesjar. The college was built in 1961.

The square is separated from the Cathedral by the Archdeacon's House; one of its walls contains a fragment of a previously demolished fortress wall. In the 12th century, this building served as the residence of the entire church elite. The building was repeatedly reconstructed; its renovation work was carried out in the 16th and 19th centuries; during the last alteration, the house was connected to the building adjacent to it. Because of this, a mixture of styles can now be observed in one united building; there are elements of Art Nouveau, Renaissance and Gothic architecture. The building is now used as a storage facility for the city archives.

The central street of the Gothic quarter is Episcopal Street, which has a bridge that connects the House of Canons with the Government Palace. It was created by Joan Rubio and is generally considered to be the highlight of the Gothic area.

The House of Canons is unlike any other building due to its unique and unusual layout. It was erected in the 15th century; recent restoration helped restore fragments of the interior destroyed over time. One side of the structure is directed towards Carrer Paradis. On this same side are the ruins of an old Roman temple, which was previously erected in honor of Augustus.

This area has become business card Gothic Quarter, it is the most popular, visited by many tourists every day. Many historical events previously took place on it; in addition, prominent representatives of the Gothic style are gathered here. In 1493, the rulers Fernando and Isabella met Columbus, who returned from his first voyage.

It occupies a special place in the Gothic quarter, so important that the quarter itself is sometimes called “Cathedral” - this is its second, not the main name. The cathedral building is impressive in its architecture; a huge stone structure is literally squeezed into a narrow space. The initial stage of its construction occurred in the 13th century, but then its construction lasted for several centuries. The façade of the cathedral was finally completed only in the 19th century. The cathedral building was erected in honor of Eupalia, who was elevated to the rank of saint in the 4th century, since a young girl of 13 years old was executed by pagans for her Christian faith. In the chapel at the cathedral, 13 white geese constantly live, which symbolize the martyr’s purity and purity.

The building itself amazes with its power, its Gothic-style towers go high into the sky, there are numerous arches on the facade, and the walls are decorated with openwork ornaments.

Plaza Sant Jaume

This central location in the Gothic Quarter is located at the intersection of the main streets of Barsino, it was created on the site of a former Roman forum. Square of St. Jacob is decorated with the city hall, as well as the Government House, near which there is a cozy courtyard with orange trees.

At this place, unusual competitions are held for the construction of castells - towers made of people. On Sundays, everyone here can learn to dance the national dance - sardana.

He occupied the House of Clariana-Padeyas, this mansion was erected in the 15th century. The museum occupies 4 thousand m2, right under the square you can get acquainted with exhibits of the history of the 1st century AD and trace the development of Barcelona until the 17th century.

It is located behind thick walls and has many courtyards. Some of them are difficult to detect if you don’t know exactly where they should be. Behind the glass display cases and cabinets are stored amazing artifacts in the form of ancient dishes, fragments of historical buildings, their interiors and decorations.

The palace has a Throne Room and serves as an excellent showcase for the study of late 14th century Catalan Gothic. From it you can climb observation tower it will offer excellent views of the ruins of Roman buildings and the Royal Chapel, built in tribute to St. Agatha.

Mares Museum

It is often called "Sentimental", as most of its exhibits are sculptures from the ancient Roman era, dating back to the 20th century.

How to get to the Gothic Quarter?

It is located in the very center of the city, many roads lead to it, there is both overground and underground transport, and you can also walk to it if you have a lot of free time. You can get there in the following ways:

by tourist bus, which runs on the red route, you need to get off at the “Barri Gotic” stop;
You can get to the same stop by city bus by taking routes No. 59, 45, 40, 19, 17 and 14;
By metro, you need to take line L3 and get off at Liceu or Drassanes stations, and if you take line L4, you must not miss the Jaume I station.

If you want to take a stroll through the Gothic Quarter, then plan ahead and allow as much time as possible.

You can book a fascinating tour of the quarter here.

Gothic impresses everyone with its majesty on the one hand, and its massiveness and darkness on the other. But the Gothic quarter is notable for the fact that you can see not only this style, but also more modern ones, which allows you to significantly expand your horizons and thoroughly study architecture in one area. There is also an opportunity to visit cozy cafes with local cuisine, as well as buy souvenirs and please children with interesting and new toys. Watch street animators and listen to their fellow musicians, and if you wish, learn a traditional dance.