The neighborhood known as the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona is called that because it was previously the Roman Village and still has some remnants from that time. Currently there is a mix of old and new but the feeling of the neighborhood is that of an older era.

Probably the most prominent building in the Gothic Quarter is the Cathedral of Barcelona which is shown in the lead photo of this post.

Cathedral of Barcelona

The Cathedral of Barcelona was originally built in the 4th century but today’s building which was constructed on the site was constructed in the 14th to 16th centuries. The architectural detail of this building is amazing as shown in the following photos:

There are other churches in the Gothic Quarter that also have interesting architectural details but they aren’t as lavish as that of the Cathedral of Barcelona.

Narrow Streets

The Gothic Quarter is a maze of winding streets that can be confusing even when using a map. Trying to navigate through the maze can be challenging and if you are focused on the map then you will miss a lot of the charm of the neighborhood. Try to look around as you wander through the streets because there will probably be something interesting just around the corner or right over your head (don’t forget to look up).

One of the popular attractions that could be missed if you don’t look up is the Bishop’s Bridge. The bridge was built in 1928 and was intended to be the first of many similar bridges but the city decided not to continue the project so this bridge is one of a kind and that makes it more popular.

Plazas

One of the pleasant surprised in the Gothic Quarter are the numerous plazas. As you are navigating your way through the winding streets, you may emerge from the confinement of the streets into a nice relaxing plaza.

The plazas normally have a concentration of bars and restaurants where you can relax and enjoy the setting of the neighborhood. The first two photos below are from the Plaza Rieal and the third is from Plaza of Saint Jaume.

Restaurants

While the plazas are a great place to find something to eat, there are restaurants almost everywhere you look. There is no problem finding something to eat. The problem is having the will power to walk past so many tempting things to eat. Some restaurants are large and their food is displayed for everyone walking by to see like the photo below.

Other restaurants have a very small store front (like the photo below) but don’t let that fool you because food on the inside might be surprisingly good. The only way to find out is to walk through the door.

Doors and Tiled Art

One of the things that really caught my eye were all of the impressive doors and the tiled art on the buildings.
Many of the doors were creatively designed and extremely large. Some of the doors were so large that they had a smaller door within the larger door.

Some buildings have tiled art on the side of them. I don’t really know the meaning of these but they do add a feeling of historical significance to the building.

The photos that I have shown in this post are just a small part of the things to see in the Gothic Quarter but I hope that it will provide an idea of the things that you can expect to experience when visiting the Gothic Quarter.

Travel Tip: It is easy to get confused when walking through the narrow winding streets of the Gothic Quarter. Don’t let that bother you because you will eventually wander out of the maze and into a recognizable area. I think that getting lost might be the best way to experience the Gothic Quarter. Follow the things that look interesting and I think that you will enjoy what you see.

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