History of Barcelona - Gothic Quarters

The Barcelona Barri Gotic area is also known as thePlaza del Rei, Plaza Nova, and Plaza Catalunya.
Gothic Quarter and is the area in which the old townAround them are seated many urban palaces,
of Barcelona is located. The streets of the Barri Goticmuseums, churches, the cathedral, & much more.
vary considerably in style but the old quarter isBarcelona's Gothic quarter is a fascinating and
generally portrayed by narrow cobbled streets with tallrewarding place to explore. The Barri Gòtic is the
old buildings. It has its very own famous personalitiescentre of Barcelona, where the city originated, and
– Picasso lived and worked in Barri Gotic fromwhere the main public buildings are located. It is a
1895 to 1904 and Joan Miró was born and livedlabyrinth of interconnecting dark streets connecting
here during his youth.with squares, and there are plenty of cafes and bars,
The Barri Gotic covers a similar area to that of the oldas well as the cheapest accommodation in town. Most
Roman colony of Barcino. It is the oldest part of theof the buildings are from the 14th and 15th century,
city and although its buildings and monuments datewhen Barcelona was at the height of its commercial
from various periods, mixed in with that which is trulyprosperity and before it had been absorbed into
Gothic. As compared to other major European citiesCastile. Around the Cathedral, one of Spain's greatest
Barri Gotic city zone is still surprisingly intact, and toGothic buildings, one can still see part of the ancient
quite a large extent unchanged by modern times.walls incorporated into later structures. The quarter is
The centre of Barcelona's Gothic quarter must becentered on the Plaça de Sant Jaume, a
Plaza Sant Jaume, which houses the Palace of thespacious square, the site of a busy market and one of
Generalitat which is home of the government of thethe venues for the weekly dancing of the sardana.
autonomous community of Catalonia, and theTwo of the city's most significant buildings are here, the
Ajuntament in other words city hall. Several otherAjuntament and the Palau de la Generalitat.
picturesque squares dot the area, including Plaza Reial,