Barcelona Information
Gothic Area
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The Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter) is one of the most historic and best preserved neighbourhoods in all of Spain. The site of an original Roman town, the narrow alleyways and hidden squares which you see now principally date from medieval times. Full of history and charm it is normally buzzing with life.
The heart of the Barri Gotic is Plaza Sant Jaume, home to the main political institutions: the 16th-century town hall and the Generalitat, the government of Catalonia. A large cobbled square, it is still used as the focal point for many of Barcelona’s civic celebrations, and the city’s sports teams (most famously FC Barcelona). For more information click here: FC Barcelona come here to present newly won trophies to their adoring fans. The square is a good starting point for exploring the elaborate labyrinth of criss-crossing alleys which make up the area. Leading off from one side, a narrow cobbled street takes you to Plaza Sant Felip Neri, a charming medieval square, while in another direction, you’ll come across Plaza de Pi, filled with cafes and craft stalls and flanked by a variety of beautifully preserved buildings. Here is a good place to take in the scenery: the street musicians, artists, quaint bars and café terraces.
Linking Plaza Sant Jaume with the Ramblas is Calle Ferran which has a growing number of designer clothes shops and eateries. For more avant-garde and original fashion take a left into Calle Avigo and explore its many independent boutiques. Just off Calle Ferran and right next to the Ramblas is Plaza Real, a large square overlooked by elegant buildings, shaded by towering palm trees and normally home to an interesting crowd of bar-goers, tourists and inner-city residents. The ancient arcades at street level house a number of decent cafes and lively nightspots, and for the more curious, lookout for the original modernist lampposts, the work of Antoni Gaudi.
Exiting Plaza Real, you’ll come across the Ramblas, the thriving pedestrian thoroughfare which forms the central artery of the old city. Always full of life it is also home to La Boquería, the best market in Spain, offering a huge variety of fresh fish, meats, fruits and almost any type of food you can think of.
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