The most picturesque part of Barcelona's old town is the Gothic Quarter, Barri Gotic, whose layout has barely changed since the Middle Ages.

The Gothic Quarter is made up of magnificent buildings enclosed by Roman walls, narrow streets with colourful shops and charming corners.

Roman walls

Romanesque walls

History of the Gothic Quarter

The age of the Barri Gòtic dates back to around the 1st century AD, when the Roman city of Barcino stood here. The district is thus one of the oldest places in Barcelona. The main development of the city at that time took place during the Middle Ages, around the 14th-15th centuries, but only a minimum of authentic monuments of Barri Gotic have survived from this period.

The Barri Gotic experienced development and major restoration during the 19th and 20th centuries, when virtually all of it was rebuilt for tourist purposes, and often entire blocks of neo-Gothic-style buildings were restored from the ground up. However, the district has retained its original structure and network of squares, streets and courtyards.

Sights and attractions in Barri Gotic

Here you can visit monuments that are among the most important in Barcelona. We write about some of them in the site details, in which case just click on the name of the monument:

Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St. Eulalia - Barcelona's main cathedral, dating back to the 13th century and one of the oldest original buildings in the Barri Gotic
Plaça del Rei - a small square considered one of the centres of Barri Gotic with the 13th century Palace of the Kings of Aragon
The Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi - a magnificent massive stone church from the 15th century, with an austere monumental façade and a 54-metre high octagonal bell tower that is one of the symbols of Barcelona
Palace of the Catalan Generalitat - the headquarters of the Catalan regional government in a beautiful medieval palace with a modern Renaissance façade
Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar - a beautiful church with a terrace offering breathtaking views
Plaça Reial - the unwritten heart of the Barri Gotic and the most beautiful square in Barcelona. The centre is surrounded by palaces with arcaded archways and a plethora of restaurants. The square acts as a natural entrance to the Barri Gotic from La Rambla

Placa Reial

Generalitat

Barcelona Cathedral, interior

Narrow streets and corners

One of the main attractions of the district, however, are its narrow streets, small courtyards, little squares where you'll often be alone, and just a few metres from Barcelona's most important monuments.

Get lost in the Barri Gotic and just soak up the ancient atmosphere, or stop in one of the many tavernas or cafés.