Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Aside from the Antiga Sinagoga, most local Jewish buildings were destroyed, though a
plaquefurtherdownc/Marlet(junctionwithc/ArcSantRamondelCall)marksthesiteofthe
former
rabbi's house
, while in Plaçeta Manuel Ribé another house originally belonging to a
veil-makernowservesasasmallmuseum,the
Centred'InterpretaciódelCall
.Informative
storyboards (in English) shed more light on Barcelona's fascinating Jewish heritage, while
the centre also coordinates various historical tours and activities.
Plaça de Sant Jaume
Jaume I
Plaça de Sant Jaume
marks the very centre of the Barri Gòtic. This spacious square at the
end of the main c/de Ferran was once the site of Barcelona's Roman forum and marketplace;
now it's at the heart of city and regional government business, containing two of Barcelona's
most significant buildings, the
Ajuntament
, or City Hall, and the
Palau de la Generalitat
.
Whistle-happy local police try to keep things moving in the
plaça
, while taxis and bike-tour
groups weave between the pedestrians. The square is also the traditional site of demonstra-
tions, gatherings and local festivals.
Ajuntament de Barcelona
Pl. de Sant Jaume • Public admitted Sun 10am-1.30pm, entrance on c/Font de Sant Miquel • Free, English-lan-
guage leaflet provided • 934 027 000,
bcn.cat
• Jaume I
On the south side of Plaça de Sant Jaume stands Barcelona's City Hall, the
Ajuntament
,
parts of which date from as early as 1373, though the Neoclassical facade was added in the
nineteenth century when the square was laid out. You get a much better idea of the grandeur
of the original structure by nipping around the corner, down c/de la Ciutat, for a view of the
former main entrance. It's a typically exuberant Catalan-Gothic facade, but was badly dam-
agedduringnineteenth-centuryrenovations.OnSundaysyou'reallowedintothebuildingfor
a self-guided tour around the rather splendid marble halls, galleries and staircases. The high-
lightsarethemagnificentrestoredfourteenth-centurycouncilchamber,knownasthe
Salóde
Cent
, and the dramatic historical murals by Josep Maria Sert in the
Saló de les Cròniques
(Hall of Chronicles), while the ground-floor courtyard features sculptural works by some of
the most famous Catalan artists.
Palau de la Generalitat
Pl. de Sant Jaume, entrance on c/de Sant Honorat • 1hr tours on second & fourth weekend of the month (except
Aug), every 1hr, 10am-noon; advance bookings essential, by phone or through the website; public admitted
April 23, and Sept 11 & 24 10am-6pm • Free, ID required • 934 024 600,
gencat.cat
• Jaume I
OppositetheAjuntamentstandsthe
PalaudelaGeneralitat
,traditionalhomeoftheCatalan
government,fromwheretheshort-livedCatalanRepublicwasproclaimedinApril1931.Be-
gun in 1418, the oldest part of the building is the fifteenth-century facade on c/del Bisbe,
