The Old Town of Barcelona – Ciutat Vella – is one of the most picturesque and atmospheric areas of the Catalan capital.

Ciutat Vella is located between Plaza Catalunya and the port and can be roughly divided into three parts. The oldest part – the Gothic Quarter – is located between La Rambla and Via Laietana Avenue (cat. Via Laietana).

A leisurely walk is the best way to get to know amazing and beautiful Barcelona and see the city in all its splendor and breathe in the fragrant and delightful sea air that inspired the great creators of culture and art.

Today we invite you on this virtual walking tour of Barcelona through its atmospheric streets of the Ciutat Vella (Old Town).

Walking through the Old Town of Barcelona

The Old Town is the oldest of the 10 districts in Barcelona. Formerly district was within the city walls.

The Old City of Barcelona is easy to see on every map of Barcelona – is a territory in which a systematic grid of sprawling streets flows into a labyrinth of narrow lanes, suddenly leading to squares the most phantasmagoric geometric forms.

These are the last fragments of medieval Old Barcelona, ​​which saved the grid of streets and mostly building.

Gothic Quarter

Let’s start our acquaintance with the Old Town of Barcelona with the Gothic Quarter – numerous medieval buildings of the period of power of the Kingdom of Aragon, located between the famous Rambla and Via Layetana.

Most of the streets and buildings here date back to the 14th-15th centuries, but there was also a fragment of a wall from the era of the Roman Empire since it was at that time that people began to inhabit this area. Many streets were restored at the beginning of the 20th century and now – pedestrians.

In the center of the Gothic Quarter is the Cathedral of Saint Eulalia, the main cathedral of Barcelona and the residence of the Bishop of Barcelona.

The medieval district of La Ribera

To the north of the Gothic Quarter, the La Ribera district originates, which was formed in the Middle Ages as an area of ​​artisans and
merchants, at that time there were many pieces of jewelry, glass-blowing, weapons shops, a number of which “survived” to this day.

The main attraction of the area is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Mar, modest on the outside, but grandiose on the inside. It was erected in the 14th century with the assistance of all the guilds of Ribera, who sought to build a cathedral that was not inferior to the Cathedral of Saint Eulalia.

There are many museums, galleries, and shops on Montcada Street next to the temple, among which there is the Picasso Museum, who was born in Malaga but received his first recognition in his student years just in Barcelona.

Santa Maria del Mar

In the XVIII century, after the conquest of Barcelona by King Philip of Bourbon, a defensive citadel (a fragment of the coastal quarter of La Ribera) was destroyed. But, after 1,5 centuries, the fortress lost its military function, and in its place was arranged the Citadel Park, which was the only green oasis in Barcelona for many years.

The park area currently contains:

  • artificial lake
  • a number of museums
  • Barcelona zoo, which is a must-see if you are traveling with children

Residents evicted from La Ribera at the time of the construction of the fortress were moved to a new quarter – La Barceloneta.

District Raval

To the left of the Rambla is Raval, not the most harmless and neat area of ​​​​Barcelona, ​​but with its own unique aura. Its fragment, adjacent to the port, was previously known as the red light district, but at the beginning of the 20th century, the territory was ennobled and turned into a more harmless and friendly to guests.

There are many authentic cafeterias, small restaurants, small designer shops, as well as art studios and galleries. It also houses the Museum of Modern Art of Barcelona.

Walking through each of the districts of the Old Town of Barcelona will leave a lot of pleasant memories.