Barri Gotic Barcelona
A concentration of medieval Gothic buildings only a few blocks northeast of La Rambla, and is the nucleus of old Barcelona. It's a maze of interconnecting dark streets linking with squares, and there are plenty of cafes and bars, as well as the cheapest accommodation in town. Most of the buildings date from the 14th and 15th century, when Barcelona was at the height of its commercial prosperity.
Around the Cathedral you can still see part of the
ancient walls incorporated into later structures.
The quarter is centred around the Plaça de Sant Jaume (St.
James Square), a spacious square, the site of a busy market and
one of the venues for the weekly dancing of the "sardana"
(typical regional dance).
Barcelona guide