Gothic Quarter, Barcelona

La Mercè basilica

Carrer del Bisbe Irurita

City hall

The Gothic Quarter (Catalan: Barri Gòtic, IPA: [ˈbari ˈɣɔtik]) is the centre of the old city of Barcelona. It stretches from La Rambla to Via Laietana, and from the Mediterranean seafront to Ronda de Sant Pere.

Despite several changes undergone in the 19th and early 20th century, many of the buildings date from Medieval times, some from as far back as the Roman settlement of Barcelona. Remains of the squared Roman Wall can be seen around Tapineria and Sots-Tinent Navarro to the north, Avinguda de la Catedral and Plaça Nova to the west and Carrer de la Palla to the south. El Call, the medieval Jewish quarter, is located within this area too.

The Barri Gòtic retains a labyrinthine street plan, with many small streets opening out into squares. Most of the quarter is closed to regular traffic although open to service vehicles and taxis.

Landmarks

• Cathedral of Santa Eulàlia
• Basilica of La Mercè
• Church of Santa Maria del Pi
• Church of Sant Miquel
• Plaça Sant Jaume, including Casa de la Ciutat (city hall) and Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya (presidential palace).
• Plaça Reial
• Plaça del Rei, including Museu d'Història de la Ciutat de Barcelona
• Plaça de Sant Felip Neri
• Portal de l'Àngel
• Remains of the temple of Augustus
• Els Quatre Gats

Controversy over Authenticity of the Gothic Quarter

In 2011, a controversy emerged over the authenticity of numerous Gothic Quarter buildings due to the publication of a dissertation entitled The Gothic Quarter of Barcelona: Planning the Past and Brand Image by Agustín Cócola. According to the author, the majority of the neighborhood’s buildings are not originally Gothic but rather restorations or even new, Gothic Revival-style projects carried out between the 19th and 20th centuries, yet they are advertised as Gothic and many of them have the status of National monument. The principal causes would be the attempt to attract tourism, and the identification of the Catalan bourgeoisie with Gothic Art as an era of splendor in Catalan Art and Culture. Among the principal buildings inappropriately listed as Gothic are included:

• Barcelona Cathedral’s façade: constructed between 1882 and 1913 by Josep Oriol Mestres and August Font i Carreras with a profusion of Gothic style elements.
• Hiking Center of Catalonia’s building (Paradís Street): work by Lluís Domènech i Montaner carried out in 1922 on a building of uncertain origins to which he added Coronella windows, battlements, and merlons.
• The Flamboyant-style bridge that crosses Bisbe street: newly constructed 1928 by Joan Rubió.
• Padellàs House: present-day Barcelona History Museum, moved from Mercaders street to Plaza del Rei– where the Salón del Tinell is located – in 1936.
• Aguilar Palace: present-day Museu Picasso (Montcada street), restored by Adolf Florensa in 1959, who added galleries with arches and Coronella windows.
• Pignatelli Palace: present-day Royal Artistic Circle of Barcelona, restored in 1970 including the addition of various Gothic windows retrieved from municipal warehouses.

Barcelona Metro

• L4 station Jaume I
• L3 stations Liceu and Drassanes

External links

• Barri Gòtic at Bcn.es
• Barri Gòtic at Tmb.cat