Barcelona - Gothic Quarter Barri Gòtic

The little Plaça del Pí leads to a glass-roofed shopping precinct with several streets crossing it; in the Barri del Pi, where it widens out, are a surprisingly large number of art, antique and jewelry shops.

The Capella Santa Agata in Barcelona, built in the Gothic style on the old Roman town wall, and now a secular building, was once the royal palace chapel. It is also accessible via an open staircase.

The single-naved interior contains a Gothic picture-altar, two Gothic gravestones high up and some priests' cells; the former sacristy has a large iron mechanical clock dating from the year 1576.

The old windows in the choir and gallery show the various coats-of-arms of the counts of Barcelona.

The museum discusses the history and joys of chocolate. The exhibition takes you from the discovery of the cocoa bean by New World explorers, to commercialization, and chocolate as an art form.

Church of Sans Just i Pastor has a single nave and features reliefs on the keystones of the vaults.

The Museu Diocesà de Barcelona possesses a collection of religious art, mainly from the diocesan area, including some remarkable Romanesque works.

The Palau Episcopal in the Barri Gòtic adjoins the cathedral on the west. It was first recorded as long ago as 926; the oldest parts of the present building date from the 12th, 13th and 15th C. Renovation work was carried out in 1883 and again in 1928. The two round towers on the Portal del Bisbe date from Roman times. The inner courtyard, with its Romanesque arcades, contains a modern statue of Or Lady from the Montserrat.

On the little Plaça de Felip Neri, to the southwest near the cathedral, stands a pretty Renaissance building which was once the headquarters of the municipal shoemakers' guild. It now houses the Museu d'Història del Calçat which shows, by means of a large collection of examples, the historical development of shoes and shoe-making mainly in Catalonia. There is also a display of shoes worn by famous people.

The Barbier-Mueller Museum of pre-Columbian art has one of the most extensive collections of pre-Columbian art and is considered one of the most prestigious. On display are sculptures, ceramics, textiles, and ritual objects.

Built in the 16th century, the Palau Centelles is a Gothic structure which features flamboyant openings in the façade and a Gothic staircase covered by a portico in the courtyard.

The 13th century Palau Moixó well-preserves the original feel of the Gothic quarter. It is to the east of the Church of Sans Just i Pastor.

Palau Reial Major is a wall which features a 40 m high bell tower.

Opposite the Casa de la Ciutat, on the northwestern side of the Plaça de Sant Jaume, the main traffic junction in the Barri Gòtic, towers the former Palau de la Diputació, built in the 15th C. and once the seat of the medieval body of provincial representatives. Today it houses the Generalitat de Catalunya, the autonomous government of Catalonia.

Well worth seeing is the imposing inner courtyard in the Gothic style; on the first floor is the Chapel of St George, also Gothic. At the back of the building lies the charming orangery.

The inside of the building is open to the public on 23 April (feast day of Sant Jordi). It is also possible to visit on Saturday or Sunday, but a written request must be made at least fifteen days in advance. For further information about visits, inquire at any tourist office.

To the north it adjoins the Audencia, once the court-house; the Carrer del Bisbe, leading to the Cathedral, is spanned by a charming Gothic building.

Plaça de Ramon Berenguer el Gran features Roman walls and a broken section of the old Palau Reial Major.

The Plaça de l'Angel is at the junction of Via Laietana and Carrer Jaume I, which leads from the Plaça de Sant Jaume and continues into Carrer de la Princesa. To the right, just off the wide main street leading to the southeast, can be seen remains of the old town wall, on which stands the Palau de Requesens.