The Barri Gótic is one of the main attractions of the town and it is on the right side of Barcelona's most famous street: the Rambla.
The Gothic is a labyrinth of small streets and countless little squares, full of history, cafes and
artistic venues. It is the perfect place for a “journey back in time”. The characteristic alleys that today host boutiques and restaurants were once crossed by inquisitors and sinners who served the sentence in a building, today located in Placa del Rei. The best thing is that most of the area is closed to traffic.
The history of the Gothic.
The Gothic barrio is part of the old city of Barcelona, together with Barceloneta, al Born and Raval.
It is the oldest part of the city and acquired its character during the medieval period when
Barcelona was one of the most important commercial cities in the Mediterranean basin. However, the origin of the city dates back to Roman times and even today you can see remains of the Roman walls.
Historically, the area has been the home of the Counts of Barcelona and the kings of Catalonia and Aragonese. Christopher Columbus was received here by the Catholic Kings after his exploring voyage to America. Today the Gothic Quarter is almost entirely pedestrian, with shops selling fashion items, jewelry, antiques, books, souvenirs, leather goods and other things, including a variety of small bars and restaurants.
Local architectures.
In the neighborhood old and new, Gothic and Romanesque art, ancient and modern architecture are combined and you can enjoy this at every corner. The Gothic Quarter is home to magnificent monuments such as the church of Santa Maria del Pi and the Barcelona Cathedral in pure Gothic style.