The Gothic Quarter: Hotel Silken Diagonal Barcelona

Nova Square

In 1355 the fields which surround the Roman city are converted into a square which in 1358 takes the name by which we now know it. In 1939 a series of alterations begin which end in 1991, giving it its present-day form.

· The Architects’ Association building, façade and interior with engravings by Picasso-Nesjar

· Lateral façade of the Palau Episcopal (Episcopal Palace)

· Portal del Bisbe

· The sculptural group Barcino by Joan Brossa

· Aqueduct
Cathedral and surroundings

The continuation of Nova Square, this eminently civic area – suitable for strolls, craft fairs, local activities, parties, etc. – offers a vision of a collection of buildings that, presided over by the Cathedral, anticipate what we will find upon entering the alleyways of the district.

· Rear façade of the Ca l’Ardiaca (Archdeacon’s House)

· Lateral façade of the Casa del Degà (Dean’s House)

· Lateral façade of the Pia Almoina

· Roman Wall
Tapineria Street

The name of the street has its origins in the ‘tapins’ (a type of cork sandal with a leather covering and cloth upper used by women in the Middle Ages ), as it was the street where the cobblers worked.

Nowadays the street is divided by Ramon Berenguer Square with both parts still following the wall.

· Roman Tower
Ramon Berenguer Square

Probably the most impressive place in Old Barcelona, because of the great stretch of the city wall to be seen here as well as the concentration of Gothic buildings against it, always presided over by Ramon Berenguer III, who gives the square its name.

· Statue of Ramon Berenguer III

· Roman Wall

· Wall Towers

· Lateral façade of the Palau Reial (Royal Palace)

· Lateral façade of the Capella de Santa Àgueda (Chapel of Saint Agatha)

· Rear façade of the Casa Clariana-Padellàs (Clariana-Padellàs House)

Àngel Square

The former entrance gate to the city in the Roman Wall, it takes its name from the angel which was put there in the 17th century as a memorial to the miracle of the Archangel Saint Michael, who appeared at the moment of the moving of the body of Saint Eulàlia.

The original angel can be found in the Museu d’Història de la Ciutat.
Sots-Tinent Navarro Street

Popularly known as the “Street of the Roman Walls”, it is easy to imagine what characterises it.

· Roman Wall
Traginers Square

So called because this was where the muleteers lived.

· Roman Tower

· Roman Wall
Regomir Street

The origin of this name isn’t clear as it could come from Rei Gamir ( head of the forces which defended the city when it was conquered by Lluís el Piadós in 804 ), or it might have derived from the Rec Mir, the name given to it when, at the start of the 11th century, Count Mir ordered the restoration of the old irrigation system to take advantage of the water, discharged afterwards into the Merdancà (one of the rivers that flowed around the walled city).

· Saint Cristòfol Chapel

· Roman Door
The Llimona Courtyard

This small square takes its name from Tomàs Llimona, who acquired the building to which it belongs in 1779.

· The Pati Llimona Civic Centre

Avinyó Street

The name of this street is probably taken from Lluís d’Avinyó, author of a history of Catalonia in 1400.

It could also come from Mossèn Avinyó, a knight poet of the 15th century.

· Roman Wall inside the headquarters of the Ethnological and Folkloric Mountaineering Association
Call Street

The “Call” used to be the Jewish Quarter until a night in 1391 when they were victims of a riot and more than a thousand died. In 1401 they were expelled completely.

· Roman Tower inside the shop
Banys Nous Street

The Banys Nous (New Baths) were situated in this street at the corner with Boqueria Street.

· Roman Wall in the headquarters of the Sínia Job Centre
Palla Street

The name dates from the 14th century. It was there, in Plaça Nova, where the unit of measurement for weighing straw was established.

· Roman Wall
Saint Llúcia Street

Name of the Saint (Syracuse 283 – 304), to whom the chapel in this street was dedicated by the city.

· Chapel of Saint Llúcia

· Ca l’Ardiaca (The Archdeacon’s House)

· Lateral façade of the Casa del Degà (Dean’s House)
Pla de la Seu

So called through being in front of the cathedral of Barcelona, this square was formed between the years 1421 – 1422 with the demolition of the former house of the Dean and some Canons’ houses, together with a segment of Roman wall which supported them.

At that time the steps were built which lead to the Avenue of the Cathedral (formerly Corribia Street, the old outer road of the walled enclosure).

· Casa del Degà (Dean’s House)

· The Cathedral

· Pia Almoina
Comtes Street

The palace of the Counts of Barcelona gives the street its name.

· Sant Iu Door

· Frederic Marès Museum

· Palau del Lloctinent (Palace of the Lieutenant)
Rei Square

Giving access to the Royal Palace and the Royal Chapel no other name was possible or this space which has been defined as “the most noble urban element of the old Barcelona”.

· Lateral façade of the Palau del Lloctinent (Palace of the Lieutenant)

· The Palau Reial Major (Royal Palace)

· The Capella de Santa Àgueda (St Agather Chapel)

· The sculpture Topo by Chillida

· Casa Clariana-Padellàs (the City History Museum)
Paradís Street

The atrium of the primitive Cathedral ( 6th century ), commonly known as ‘paradís’ (paradise), used to be above what is now the street.

· Columns from the Temple of Augustus

Sant Jaume Square and environs

The point at which the two main streets of the Roman City crossed, nowadays host to the two most important political institutions of the city, the Town Council and the Autonomous Government.

Its present-day appearance is the work of the progressive municipal council in 1823.

· Barcelona Town Hall

· Palau de la Generalitat (The Autonomous Government Palace)
Bisbe Street

The principal artery of the Roman city, this street continues to be one of the great thoroughfares of Gothic Barcelona and is the present-day link between Nova Square and Sant Jaume Square, two of the nerve-centres for today’s inhabitants.

· Portal del Bisbe

· The Door of Santa Eulàlia, giving access to the Cathedral cloisters

· Lateral façade of the Palau de la Generalitat (The Autonomous Government Palace )

· Lateral façade of the Casa dels Canonges (Canon’s House)

· Mock Gothic bridge
Garriga i Bachs Square

Andreu Garriga i Bachs donated a house owned by him in Bisbe Street. This was subsequently demolished to enable the construction of a square intended for the siting of the monument which presides over it.

· Monument to the Martyrs of 1809
Pl. Sant Felip Neri and surroundings

The square takes the name of the saint (Jesuit preacher, Florence 1515 – Rome 1595) because the church which dominates the area is dedicated to him.

In the middle of the square, where the cemetery of Montjuïc del Bisbe used to be, there is a fountain which helps to give this square the charm and poetry which in themselves make it worthy of a visit.

· Church of Sant Felip Neri

· Museum of Footwear