Barcelona information
Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter)
The Barri Gotic contains a concentration of
medieval Gothic buildings only a few blocks northeast of La Rambla,
and is the nucleus of old Barcelona. It's a maze of interconnecting
dark streets linking with squares, and there are plenty of cafes
and bars, as well as the cheapest accommodation in town. Most
of the buildings date from the 14th and 15th century, when Barcelona
was at the height of its commercial prosperity.
Around the Cathedral, one of Spain's greatest Gothic buildings,
you can still see part of the ancient walls incorporated into
later structures. The quarter is centred around the Plaça de Sant
Jaume (St. James Square), a spacious square, the site of a busy
market and one of the venues for the weekly dancing of the "sardana"
(typical regional dance). Two of the city's most significant buildings
are here, the Ajuntament and the Palau de la Generalitat (Town
Hall).