Plaça del Rei

Plaça del Rei was the palace courtyard of the centre of power of the medieval city, the Palau, built in the 9th century, which was the official residence of the Catalan counts from the 8th century to the early 15th century. Even though it contains Visigothic and Roman remains, the style of the building is predominantly Gothic.

On one side of the Palau Reial is the Torre Mirador del Rei Martí (King Martin’s Watchtower) and on another side, on Barcelona’s old Roman wall is the royal chapel of Santa Àgata, with ceilings and altarpieces by Jaume Huguet inside. In front is the Palau del Lloctinent, (now the Archive of the Crown of Aragon), which dates back to the 16th century and has a Renaissance patio in its interior.

The Saló del Tinell, features a series of semicircular arches of great architectural value.

The old Casa Clariana-Padellàs, is home to the Museu d’Història de Barcelona.Read more