5 Curious Facts About Barcelona’S Gothic Quarter You Probably Didn’T Know of in . Official Website.

Sometimes, a historic building can hide much more than meets the eye. In 2023, during the expansion works at Gran Hotel Barcino, excavation work to install a lift in Casa Requesens, on Carrer Hércules, uncovered remains of the forum of ancient Barcino, the Roman city that gave rise to Barcelona.

One of the most significant discoveries was a monumental pavement made of Montjuïc stone. It has provided new clues about the layout and orientation of the ancient Roman forum of Barcino. What began as construction work ended up uncovering part of Roman Barcelona that had remained hidden beneath the building. The remains have been restored and incorporated into an exhibition space inside the hotel itself.

And you don’t need to stay at the hotel to get closer to this part of Barcelona’s history. You can visit the hotel and continue the experience at Vestalis Cocktail Bar, where you can enjoy a drink surrounded by the city’s most authentic history. If you want to experience this connection with Roman Barcelona during your stay, the Gran Barcino Room adds another chapter to the story.

The Pont del Bisbe is one of the most photographed spots in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter and, judging by its appearance, could easily be mistaken for a medieval construction. However, the Pont del Bisbe was built in 1928 by architect Joan Rubió i Bellver.

Its design, inspired by Gothic architecture, connects Casa dels Canonges with the Palau de la Generalitat and fits perfectly into the historic character of the Gothic Quarter.

There is also another detail that often goes unnoticed: beneath the bridge, you will find a skull pierced by a dagger, around which various popular legends have emerged.

The Gothic Quarter also has a connection with one of the most renowned Catalan artists of the 20th century: Joan Miró. The artist was born in 1893, at number 4 Passatge del Crèdit, in the building now occupied by Hotel Rialto. A plaque at the site commemorates this episode in the building’s history.

This connection with Joan Miró is also part of the hotel’s identity. You can discover it at Miró Restaurant, located beneath its distinctive stone vaults, or make it part of your stay by booking the Miró Suite, linked to the artist’s birthplace and preserving original elements.

Among the historic streets of the Gothic Quarter lies El Call, Barcelona’s former Jewish quarter during the Middle Ages. Its network of narrow streets preserves traces of that community and offers an insight into one of the key chapters of Barcelona’s medieval history.

The MUHBA El Call offers the opportunity to learn more about what life was like for the Jewish community and about its presence in medieval Barcelona.

Walking through El Call means discovering a part of Barcelona that remains hidden among the busiest streets of the historic city centre.

Very close to Port Vell, you will find Plaça del Duc de Medinaceli, whose name is linked to Luis Joaquín Fernández de Córdoba y Benavides, 14th Duke of Medinaceli.

The square was laid out in the 19th century on the grounds of the former Sant Francesc convent. After the convent was demolished, the duke, as heir to the Montcada and Cardona houses, claimed ownership of the land and ceded part of it to expand the public space. The new square was then given the name Duc de Medinaceli.

The Hotel Medinaceli, a Monument Hotel housed in a historic building, is located in the same area. Although access to the hotel is reserved for guests, you can also visit Chapter 8 Cocktail Bar to enjoy a drink in this unique historic setting.

In the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, history is not always found in the great monuments. It can appear beneath a hotel, in the details of a bridge, in the marks on a façade or in the building where an artist was born.
Exploring the streets of the Gothic Quarter with curiosity allows you to discover a different side of Barcelona, where every corner can tell a story.

And if you want to keep discovering the city’s history, you can also do so through the spaces of Gargallo Hotels: from enjoying a cocktail or a meal in historic buildings to staying in rooms and suites connected to Barcelona’s heritage.