Barri Gotic, Barcelona

The Gothic Quarter is the heart of old Barcelona, a medieval city built upon Roman foundations Most of the buildings are from the 14th and 15th century, when Barcelona was at the height of its commercial prosperity and before it had been absorbed into Castile.  This historic hodge podge of narrow and, in many cases, pedestrian-only streets and squares is full of character and charm and home to hundreds of shops, bars and restaurants, as well as good old fashion people watching.  The folks who loiter in the Barri Gotic are far more interesting to watch than those up in L'Exaimple, let me tell you.  One afternoon I sat in a small square of a church and before 15 minutes had passed a group of 9 people with medeival instruments set up music stands and started to play and sing.  Such a treat!

The gothic quarter is located between Barcelona’s famous boulevard Las Ramblas and Via Laietana, with Plaza Catalunya at the top and the port at the bottom.Portal de L'Angel, a modern pedestrians shopping street which starts in Plaza Catalunya, leads to the traffic-free square dominated by the Cathedral and to the Roman walls that once enclosed the city. From here all of the major attractions are easily accessible, including the Roman remains beneath the City History Museum.On the south side of the Gothic Quarter is the Plaza Real, a palm-lined square just off Las Ramblas whose bars and restaurants around each side are a relaxing place to stop and watch life during the day and at night when the square becomes a hive of activity.  The well known modernist cuisine restaurants are in L'Exaimple, but I recommend staying in the Barri Gotic and walking to dinner.