Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP SIGHT
MUSEU D'HISTÒRIA DE BARCELONA
One of Barcelona's most fascinating museums takes you back through the centuries
to the very foundations of Roman Barcino. You'll stroll amid extensive ruins of the
town that flourished here following its founding by Emperor Augustus around 10 BC.
Equally impressive is the setting inside the former Palau Reial Major (Grand Royal
Palace) on Plaça del Rei (King's Sq, the former palace's courtyard), among the key
locations of medieval princely power in Barcelona.
Below ground is a remarkable walk through about 4 sq km of excavated Roman and
Visigothic Barcelona. After the display on the typical Roman
domus
(villa), you reach
apublic la
ublic lauunddry; outside in the street were containers for people to urinate into, as the
urine was used as disinfectant. You pass dyeing shops, a public cold-water bath and
shops dedicated to the making of
garum
(a fish sauce enjoyed across the Roman Em-
pire), a 6th-century church andwiinemaakiing s
g sttorres.
Ramparts then wind upward, past remains of the gated patio of a Roman house, the
medieval Palau Episcopal (Bishops' Palace) and into two broad vaulted halls withdis-
dis-
pla
plays o
ell, the royal palace ban-
queting hall and a fine example of Catalan Gothic (built 1359-70). It was here that
Fernando and Isabel heard Columbus' first reports of the New World.
s on m
n medie
dieval B
al Barrcelo
elona. The finale is theSaló del T
Saló del Tiinell
