Placa de Catalunya (Catalonia Square), Barcelona
Catalonia Square, a meeting place between the historic Old Town and the modern upscale Eixample district of Barcelona, is rightfully considered the city's central point. Several of Barcelona鈥檚 main arteries converge here, such as Gr脿cia Boulevard, La Rambla, Rambla de Catalunya, and the Angel's Gate, making it a significant urban hub. Covering approximately 50,000 square meters, the square is known for its fountains, statues, and numerous pigeons.
Catalonia Square began to take shape after the medieval city walls were demolished in the 19th century, starting its initial development in 1902. Further urbanization occurred in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exposition, based on designs by architect Francesc de Paula Nebot. During the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, the square witnessed some key moments in Barcelona鈥檚 history, including the so-called May Days, a series of clashes between 3 and 8 May 1937 during which factions on the Republican side of the Spanish Civil War engaged one another in street battles.
Today, the square is home to several prominent sculptures such as 鈥淒eessa鈥� by Josep Clar脿 and 鈥淧astor de Pau鈥� by Pablo Gargallo, along with a monument dedicated to Catalan politician Francesc Maci脿.
The Barcelona Telephone Exchange, situated nearby, features stained glass windows by artist Brian Clarke, created in 1991 to celebrate the 1992 Olympic Games. The underground mosaics were designed by students of Massana School.
Although historically Catalonia Square has hosted various theaters, none of them remains today. Similarly, many of the famous cafes that once attracted writers and artists disappeared during the Spanish Civil War. Caf茅 Zurich is one of the few surviving establishments. Presently, the square is surrounded by shopping centers like El Corte Ingl茅s, FNAC, and El Triangle, as well as several hotels.
As a major transportation hub, Catalonia Square connects different parts of the city through its extensive above-ground and underground networks, making it an essential point for locals and tourists alike.
Tip:
While the fountains are beautiful during the day, make sure to witness their display at night when they come alive with alternating colored lights.
Catalonia Square began to take shape after the medieval city walls were demolished in the 19th century, starting its initial development in 1902. Further urbanization occurred in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exposition, based on designs by architect Francesc de Paula Nebot. During the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, the square witnessed some key moments in Barcelona鈥檚 history, including the so-called May Days, a series of clashes between 3 and 8 May 1937 during which factions on the Republican side of the Spanish Civil War engaged one another in street battles.
Today, the square is home to several prominent sculptures such as 鈥淒eessa鈥� by Josep Clar脿 and 鈥淧astor de Pau鈥� by Pablo Gargallo, along with a monument dedicated to Catalan politician Francesc Maci脿.
The Barcelona Telephone Exchange, situated nearby, features stained glass windows by artist Brian Clarke, created in 1991 to celebrate the 1992 Olympic Games. The underground mosaics were designed by students of Massana School.
Although historically Catalonia Square has hosted various theaters, none of them remains today. Similarly, many of the famous cafes that once attracted writers and artists disappeared during the Spanish Civil War. Caf茅 Zurich is one of the few surviving establishments. Presently, the square is surrounded by shopping centers like El Corte Ingl茅s, FNAC, and El Triangle, as well as several hotels.
As a major transportation hub, Catalonia Square connects different parts of the city through its extensive above-ground and underground networks, making it an essential point for locals and tourists alike.
Tip:
While the fountains are beautiful during the day, make sure to witness their display at night when they come alive with alternating colored lights.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Barcelona. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51爆料网 App
Placa de Catalunya (Catalonia Square) on Map
Sight Name: Placa de Catalunya (Catalonia Square)
Sight Location: Barcelona, Spain (See walking tours in Barcelona)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Barcelona, Spain (See walking tours in Barcelona)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Barcelona, Spain
Create Your Own Walk in Barcelona
Creating your own self-guided walk in Barcelona is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Barcelona Food Tasting Walking Tour
No one should visit Barcelona without making an attempt to get acquainted with some of Spain鈥檚 best food 鈥� Catalan food. An abundance of fresh fish and superb meat, a plethora of great vegetables, plus local inventiveness, have produced a very diverse, distinctive and delicious cuisine, including the famous (and trendy) tapas dishes.
Follow this self-guided walk to treat your taste buds in... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Follow this self-guided walk to treat your taste buds in... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
La Ribera Walking Tour
La Ribera is a culturally rich, historic area of Barcelona鈥檚 Old Town; somewhat less touristy than the Gothic Quarter (which one should really visit as well) and quite unspoiled, authentic and pretty. Centuries ago, it was a very well-to-do neighborhood inhabited by aristocrats, merchants, wealthy sailors, and Jewish money-lenders. Today, it is regarded as the Soho of Barcelona 鈥� a popular... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Barcelona Shopping Walk
A long-time prime cultural destination, Barcelona is also en route to becoming one of Europe's top shopping spots. Each new day, fashionable designer stores, from well-known international brands to local start-ups, are filling the city streets. If you're a fan of shopping, you're in for a treat when visiting this beautiful city. Here are some of the most popular shopping locations... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Montjuic Walking Tour
Montjuic is a hill in Barcelona which offers a variety of great attractions of historic, cultural, and architectural value. Here, you can watch a spectacular water show at the Magic Fountain of Montjuic, visit the place where matadors faced the bulls in the past, and explore the ancient Montjuic Castle with its breathtaking views.
A convenient start point, Placa d'Espanya is the second... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.0 Km or 3.1 Miles
A convenient start point, Placa d'Espanya is the second... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.0 Km or 3.1 Miles
Antoni Gaud铆's Masterpieces Walking Tour
Antoni Gaudi, a seminal figure in the Catalan Modernism movement, is one of the top architects of the 20th century. The unique technique and use of natural forms in his works stand out from the pack and have left an indelible mark on the face of Barcelona.
Our journey through Gaudi's Barcelona begins at the G眉ell Palace, by far the most budget-friendly of his projects. Located near La... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Our journey through Gaudi's Barcelona begins at the G眉ell Palace, by far the most budget-friendly of his projects. Located near La... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Gothic Quarter Walking Tour
A walk through the Gothic Quarter 鈥� Barcelona鈥檚 oldest part, dating from the Roman era 鈥� is like a journey through time. The typical Roman grid plan is still visible in the quarter's layout. Only a few roads are open for car traffic, so there is little in the way of enjoying the narrow, atmospheric streets filled with high-quality architecture, numerous boutiques, and coffee shops.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Barcelona Souvenir Shopping: 17 Uniquely Spanish Things to Buy
Spain, in general, and Barcelona, in particular, are a treasure trove of all things exciting. Set your foot in Barcelona and you'll be spoiled for the choice of things worth trying and taking home. Before your head starts spinning, check this guide out to put yourself in the right...
Top 10 Spanish Foods and Drinks to Try in Barcelona
In the countries like Spain, food is a national heritage and cultural attraction in its own right. The latter is even more true of Catalonia in general and Barcelona in particular. Presented here are the 10 staples of Catalan food tradition, missing which would be a gastronomical...
10 Sightseeing Walks During Covid-19
Borders closed, flights canceled. As countries across the globe scrambling to curb the spread of coronavirus, it is nearly impossible to travel these days. For those with wanderlust at heart, living without exploring is a really tough challenge.
But even in times of hardship like this, one should...