[VIDEO] Traveling Solo in Barcelona, Spain: Experience the Old City, Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic)

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  1. Exploring Gothic Quarter
  2. General Information
  3. About Gothic Quarter
  4. Highlights of Gothic Quarter
  5. Notable Building
  6. How to Get to the Gothic Quarter
  7. Barcelona Cathedral
  8. Barcelona Cathedral Skyline
  9. Tips in Visiting Gothic Quarter
  10. My BEST of Barcelona Videos
  11. Featured Posts:

Exploring Gothic Quarter

The Gothic Quarter is one of the most famous landmarks in Barcelona. Located in the heart of the old city, this Barcelona neighborhood features a fusion of buildings dating from Roman times to the 20th century.  This is the heart of Old City, a historic area with narrow medieval streets with bars, restaurants and cafe. The quarter have a lot of small squares (placa) where you can rest and relax and huge old style architecture like the Cathedral. A day and night visit in this area is a MUST as both gives a different ambiance and feel.

It stretches from La Rambla to Via Laietana, and from the Mediterranean seafront to the Ronda de Sant Pere. This captivating area is part of the Ciutat Vella district

General Information

  • Website: https://catedralbcn.org/en/
  • Address: Pla de la Seu, s/n, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
  • with Fee: e Gothic Quarter area itself is free, but the Barcelon Cathedral have entrance. Please make sure to visit the website for the most recent amount. You can buy the ticket just for the cathedral visit OR cathedral and museum visit.
  • Cathedral Duration Visit – 1 hr max if going up in the Skyline, but this is totally doable in less than 1 hr

About Gothic Quarter

Medieval Roots: The quarter encompasses the oldest parts of Barcelona, including remnants of the city’s Roman wall and several remarkable medieval landmarks. Within this area lies El Call, the medieval Jewish quarter, along with the former Sinagoga Major.

Labyrinthine Streets: The Barri Gòtic retains a labyrinthine street plan, with narrow alleys opening into charming squares. While most of the quarter is closed to regular traffic, it remains accessible to service vehicles and taxis.

Authenticity and Transformation: Despite its name, many landmark Gothic buildings in the neighborhood do not date back to the Middle Ages. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the quarter underwent a massive restoration project, transforming it from a somber neighborhood into a tourist attraction. This restoration was timed to coincide with the 1929 International Exhibition, allowing Barcelona and Catalonia to showcase themselves positively to the world’s media. Restoration efforts continued even into the 1960s, resulting in a blend of original Gothic structures and neo-Gothic additions.

Highlights of Gothic Quarter

  1. Gothic Cathedral – Barcelona’s Gothic Cathedral is the gateway to the heart of Barcelona, located between Vía Laietana and La Rambla.
  2. Bisbe Irurita Street – This gorgeous pathway leads from the Cathedral to Sant Jaume Square, featuring one of the most photographed bridges in Barcelona.
  3. Church of Santa Maria del Pi – With a 54 meter high tower (which can be seen from La Rambla) is one of the most incredible structures of the neighborhood.
  4. Sant Jaume Square – Features the City Hall and government buildings.
  5. Plaça del Rei (King’s Square) – One of the most beautiful corners of old Barcelona. This 14th century square houses the Museum of History of Barcelona.
  6. Plaça Reial (Royal Square)  – This square is famous its charming and lively atmosphere.

Notable Building

Barcelona Cathedral: Its façade, constructed between 1882 and 1913, features a profusion of Gothic-style elements.

Centre Excursionista de Catalunya: This building on Carrer Paradís, modified by Lluís Domènech i Montaner in 1922, boasts Gothic windows, battlements, and merlons.

Flamboyant-Style Bridge: Crossing Carrer Bisbe between the Palau de la Generalitat and the Cases dels Canonges, this bridge was newly constructed in 1928.

Walking the Gothic Quarter

Casa Padellàs: Currently housing the Barcelona City History Museum, it was moved from Carrer Mercaders to Plaça del Rei in 1931, with its interior rebuilt.

Aguilar Palace: Now the Museu Picasso (Carrer Montcada), it was restored in 1959, adding galleries with arches and Gothic windows.

Pignatelli Palace: Restored in 1970, it houses the Royal Artistic Circle of Barcelona and includes Gothic windows retrieved from municipal warehouses

Barcelona Metro Map

How to Get to the Gothic Quarter

The Gothic Quarter is located in the area between La Rambla and Via Laietana, and from the seafront. This place is accessible via:

  • Metro: Green Line 3, Liceu station or Yellow Line 4, Jaume I Station.

Barcelona Cathedral

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, also known as Barcelona Cathedral, is the Gothic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The cathedral was constructed from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries, with the principal work done in the fourteenth century.

Barcelona Cathedral

Definitely not as grand and majestic are Sagrada Familia, but it does have its own charm. This Cathedral is one of the major attractions when visiting the Gothic Quarter. It is a small cathedral and it will not take a lot of your time. I allocated 1 hr but it is definitely doable in less than 1 hr especially if you are not going to the roof top.

Barcelona Cathedral Skyline

When visiting the Cathedral, you have an option to go up in the roof top for a better view of the Gothic Quarter. The rooftop is referred to as the “Skyline”. From the top you will have a better view of the Gothic Quarter. There is a lift that takes people up to the roof top.

There is a limit on the no of people at a time going up due to the small space in the lift but the wait is not that bad when I was there. I guess it depends on how busy it is. The view from the top was nice, so I suggest that you go up since it is included in the cathedral visit fee anyway. It won’t take long, 15 minutes tops.

Barcelona Cathedral Skyline

Tips in Visiting Gothic Quarter

I think the most important tip that I could give in visiting the Gothic Quarter is to allocate enough time and be spontaneous. Wander around and do not be so strict of following a plan. Explore the narrow alleys filed with shops, restaurants and galleries. These small alleys have a lot to offer although a lot of them are not mentioned as main tourist attractions. It is when you let yourself free wandering that you find many interesting things and places. Although I have some specific places I had in my list to visit in the Gothic Quarter, a lot of what I saw and explored were not on my list. I enjoyed walking around when I am on vacation as this gives me opportunity to see a lot of things and to actually experience the culture. This photo below is one of the place I stumbled on while walking around. It was hidden inside the alley and it was a surprise to see it. There are small shops and cafe and a nice outside seating area for meal or dessert.

Gothic Quarter

It was also great finding the weekend market they have outside one of the church in the area. I did not even know about this when I was researching on what to do and see in this area. They sell different local delicacy and some souvenirs too. I was told this they only have this during the weekend. I bought some dessert to go and I ate it while walking around.

Gothic Quarter Sunday Market

There are also some art installations scattered around, I took a lot of photo but this one I really like. I am not sure if these are permanent installations or maybe not.

The Gothic Quarter is definitely something that you should add in your to do list. Even if you do not intend to visit the cathedral, just walking around is a nice touristy thing to do.

My BEST of Barcelona Videos

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Categories: Attractions, Barcelona, Travel, Travel Video, Video, When in Spain

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