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The Cities
The Roman City
- The Medieval City - The
Modern City
Modernist
architects
Antonio
Gaudi - Domenech
i Montaner - Josep Puig i Cadafalch
New symbols of the city
Torre Agbar
The
Cities
The Roman City 
Barcino, the first Roman township, was founded at the end of the first
century B.C. However the name Barcino dates from an earlier settlement
possibly dating from the first half of the 1st millennium B.C.. Roman
Barcino was a small city of about 100 hectares bounded by walls 2 metres
thick. The walls were strengthened and the height increased in the 3rd
century A.D.. Impressive stretches of the walls remain notably parallel
to Via Laietana at Plaça Ramon Berenguer. To the right of the
cathedral, twin towers of the Portal de l'Angel flank the entrance to
Carrer del Bisbe (note: street names are shown in italic and Catalan
- Carrer is Catalan for street). The lower sections of these semi-circular
towers are Roman.
Much else remains buried under the medieval city. The Roman forum is
believed to lie under the Plaça Sant Jaume. Nearby, at number
10 Carrer del Paradis, three columns of the Temple of Augustus can be
seen in their original position, well below the present street level.
Clearly a Roman back-water, Barcelona's periods of glory were still
to come.
Metro: Jaume I (Line 4)
The Medieval City
By the end of the 13th century Catalunya had grown rich on exports to
the rest of Mediterranean and as far as Flanders. This area of the
city is known as the Barri Gòtic (Catalan), Barrio Gótico
(Spanish) or Gothic Quarter.
The Cathedral (1317-1441)
The neo-gothic facade was added in the 19th century. From Carrer del
Bisbe there is an entrance directly into the cloister, a gothic dream
world of fountains, geese and palm trees. Linger here, let your mind
wander and refresh your spirit. Another secret world is the roof of
the cathedral which can be reached by an elevator adjacent to the left
nave.
Plaça de la Seu
Metro: Jaume I (L4)
Santa Maria del Pi (1322-1486)
A church with a single wide nave, enter from the Plaça del Pi
or Plaça Sant Just Oriol.
Plaça del Pi
Metro: Liceu (L3), Jaume I (L4)
Santa Maria del Mar (1329-1367)
The truest representation of the austere Catalan gothic style, know
as the Cathedral of the sailors and fisherfolk. The city's favourite
for weddings with an excellent acoustic.
Carrer Montcada 1
Metro: Jaume I (L4)
Saló del Tinell (1359-1370)
The roof of this huge hall is supported by rounded arches, where Christopher
Columbus is said to have been received by the king after returning from
America.
Plaça del Rei
Metro: Jaume I (L4)
El Call - Jewish Ghetto
Barcelona's Jewish community was consigned to a Ghetto, ostensibly for
their own protection. Centred on the present Carrer Sant Domènech
del Call, a 14th century Hebrew inscription can be seen at no. 1 Carrer
Marlet.
Carrer Sant Domènech del Call
Metro: Jaume I (L4)
Llotja (Stock Exchange) (1380-1392)
Magnificent gothic room with three naves which can be seen from the
large windows in the ground floor. Until 1970 it was home to the School
of Fine Arts where Picasso and Miró studied. Now used as government
offices.
Carrer del Consolat del Mar 2
Metro: Jaume I (L4)
Drassanes (1378)
The largest and most complete medieval secular structure in the world.
Now home to the Maritime Museum.
Avinguda de les Drassanes
Metro: Drassanes (L3)
The Modern City
In the 19th century, two great events shaped the present Barcelona.
In 1854 the Bourbon walls, built following the surrender to Felipe V
in 1714, were torn down. This allowed the city the possibility to expand.
In 1859 a competition for a town plan was won by Idelfons Cerdà,
an engineer rather than an architect.
Cerdà's plan was an uncompromising grid of streets with three
great avenues cutting across. Thus we have the layout of the present
day Eixample (enlargement). Cerdà's stroke of genius was to cut
the corners of each block at a 45º angle, to make small squares
at the intersections which give light, space and air to what might have
been an oppressive grid-iron.
It was not until the end of the century that work seriously started
on filling in the grid with buildings. Fate allowed the happy conjunction
of rich patrons, architects of genius, and unsurpassed craftsmanship.
In the years before and after the start of the 20th century, Barcelona
produced its version of art nouveau - modernisme.
Antoni Gaudí, Domènech i Montaner y Josep Puig i Cadafalch
were the principal exponents of Catalán Modernism. Each has an
individual section which includes their most famous buildings.
Modernist
architects
ANTONI GAUDÍ (1852-1926)
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Casa Batlló
(1904-1906)
The colourful Casa Batlló (Batlló House) is an apartment
building located at no. 43 Passeig de Gràcia. It was totally
remodelled by Gaudí from 1904 to 1906 on a commission from
the textile industrialist Josep Batlló i Casanovas. Along
with two Modernista works, the Casa Amatller by Puig i Cadafalch
(1900) and the Casa Lleó Morera by Domènech i Montaner
(1905), the Casa Batlló makes up the Mançana de
la Discòrdia (Block of Discord).
Passeig de Gràcia 43
Metro: Passeig de Gràcia (L2, L3, L4) |
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Casa Mila - La Pedrera
(1906-1911)
This fantasy in stone appears to have been carved out of the living
rock, hence its nickname "La Pedrera - the quarry".
This was Gaudí's last secular work before dedicating the
rest of his life to the Sagrada Família. Pere Milà
the owner of the site had been inspired by the Casa Batlló,
also on Passeig de Gràcia, and commissioned Gaudí
to design a large apartment building. Today the building is owned
by Caixa Catalunya, a Catalan bank. You can visit an apartment
which has been carefully restored and furnished, and in the magical
attic space there is an exhibition of Gaudí's work. Don't
forget to visit the roof with its spectacular chimneys and views.
The first floor is now used for temporary art exhibitions.
Passeig de Gracia 92
Metro: Diagonal (L3, L5) |
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Casa Vicens
(1883-1888)
The Casa Vicens, a private house, was built between 1883 and 1888
for the ceramics industrialist Manuel Vicens i Montaner at 24
Carrer de les Carolines. One of Gaudí's early works, the
building's structure is still dominated by straight lines. The
decorative tiles and fanciful turrets show ideas that Gaudí
would not cease to cultivate.
Carrer de les Carolines 24
Metro: Fontana (L3) |
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Palau Guell
(1888-1889)
The Palau Güell (Güell Palace), an urban residence built
between 1886 and 1888 for the family of Eusebi Güell Bacigalupi,
is located at 35 Carrer Nou de la Rambla. It is the first large
scale work by Gaudí which uses new ideas in construction
coupled with an innovative interpretation of historical styles.
In this case, Gaudí drew upon the Gothic and Moorish in
a splendid combination of the creative and unusual.
Carrer Nou de la Rambla 3-5
Metro: Liceu (L3) |
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Parc Güell (1900-1905)
An urban park next to Carrer d'Olot standing on the Muntanya Pelada
to the north of the Barcelona district of Gràcia. Gaudí
planned and directed the construction of the park from 1900 to
1914 for Eusebi Güell as infrastructure and facilities for
a residential garden city based on English models. It was intended
for sixty single-family residences. The project, however, was
unsuccessful and the park became city property in 1923. It is
one of Gaudí's most colourful and playful works. Gaudí's
house in the park is now a museum where you can see some furniture
designed by the master.
Carrer d'Olot
Metro Lesseps (L3), Vallcarca (and a long walk). |
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Sagrada Família
(1884-unfinished)
The monumental church "El Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada
Família" is Gaudí's most famous work, the finest
example of his visionary genius, and a world-wide icon for Barcelona.
Gaudí undertook the task in 1883 on the site of a previous
neo-Gothic project begun in 1882 by F. del Villar. Gaudí
dedicated the last years of his life to this monumental work.
Plaça de la Sagrada Família
Metro: Sagrada Família (L2, L5) |
DOMENECH
I MONTANER (1849-1923)
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Casa Lleó i Morera
1905
Situated in the famous "block of discord" where three
buildings in totally different styles were built within a period
of ten years. On the first floor examples of the finest Catalan
modernista stained glass can be seen.
Passeig de Gràcia 35
Metro: Passeig de Gracia (L2. L3. L5) |
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Hospital de la Santa Creu i
de Sant Pau (1900-1910)
Built in pure modernista style with a series of pavillions linked
by underground passages to the main hospital facilties. The decoration
based on flower motifs was designed to create a happy, optimistic
atmosphere to help lift the spirit of the patients.
Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167
Metro: Hospital de Sant Pau (L5) |
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Museu de Zoologia
(1887-1888)
This building of brick battlements decorated with ceramic coats
of arms was built as a café-restaurant for the Universal
Exhibition. Since 1937 it has been the city's museum of natural
sciences.
Parc de la Ciutadella
Metro: Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica (L4) |
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Palau de la Música Catalana
(1904-1911)
Built as a home for the Orfeo choir, using an extravagant mixture
of sculpture, mosaic, glass and tile. Guided tours are held throughout
the day. The spectacular concert hall is uniquely lit by natural
light.
Carrer de Sant Francesc de Paula 2
Metro: Catalunya (L1, L3), Urquinaona (L1, L4) |
JOSEP PUIG I CADAFALCH (1867-1957)
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Casa Amatller
(1898-1900)
Flemish architecture, with a typical step gable, inspired Puig
i Cadalfach when asked to design a house for the Amatller family.
However a profusion of polychrome tiles presents us with a façade
very different from the cold brick of Northern Europe. To the
left of the main entrance you can see a typical Catalan motif,
Saint George killing the dragon.
Passeig de Gracia 41
Metro: Passeig de Gracia (L2, L3, L4) |
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Casa Macaya
(1899-1901)
An elegant mansion with a large patio, today housing the cultural
centre of "La Caixa", a Barcelona bank. Cafeteria, library,
exhibitions.
Passeig de San Joan 108
Metro: Diagonal Sagrada Familia (L2, L5) |
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Casa Martí (Els Quatre
Gats) (1895-1896)
Bar and restaurant decorated with paintings of the Catalan artists
who met here at the turn of the century. A favourite haunt of
Picasso who held an exhibition here.
Carrer de Montsió, 3
Metro: Catalunya (L1, L3), Urquinaona (L1, L4) |
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Casa de les Punxes
(1903-1905)
Designed in the Germanic style with five towers toped with metal
spires which give the building its name.
Diagonal 416-420
Metro: Diagonal (L3, L5) |
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Palau Quadras
(1902-1904)
Notice the complex sculpted frieze which decorates the windows
on the first floor of this beautiful building.
Diagonal 373 (next to Passeig de Gracia)
Metro: Diagonal (L3, L5) |
New symbols of the city
TORRE AGBAR (2005)
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Torre Agbar (2005)
The tower houses the offices of its owner the Agbar Group and with a height of 142 metres, it is the third tallest building of Barcelona. Designed by the french architect Jean Nouvel, the tower has become a new symbol for its unique shape and the nocturnal illumination.
Diagonal 211 (the buisiness district of the city, 22@-district)
Metro: Diagonal (L1, Parada de las Glorias)
Tranvía: Parada de las Glorias
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