Explore Beautiful Barcelona: Self-Guided Audio Tour

Plaça de Sant Jaume holds an important role in the past and present of Barcelona and Catalonia's

government.

Two grand buildings dominate the square

; Casa de la Ciutat (or City Hall) on the right

and Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya (more commonly known as the Presidential Palace) on the

left.

15 min

The palace is located on the northern corner of the former city wall which enclosed the Gothic

Quarter, in place for almost 1,500 years until it was torn down in 1858 to make way for the Ildefons

Cerdà Plan.

15 min

The official name

of the building in Catalan is ‘Catedral de la Santa Creu I Santa Eulalia’, which

translates to ‘Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia’. This exquisitely crafted Neo-Gothic

structure has been a spiritual location within Barcelona for approximately 1,500 years.

15 min

This mesmerising 1.2 kilometre stretch is a pleasure to meander both night and day. Connecting the

hub of Barcelona's transportation and central districts: Plaça de Catalunya to Port Vell, it is now one

of the busiest boulevards in the world visited by 80 million people annually almost 60% of

whom are

foreigners.

15 min