The Gothic Quarter, a journey back in time exploring the streets of Barcelona
Time travel is one of mankind’s greatest challenges and dreams, but it can be easier to achieve than you might think. In fact, you can delve into the distant past in Barcelona without having to invent any of the fancy machines or mythical devices you see on the big screen… all you have to do is take a wander down the alleyways and thoroughfares of the city’s Gothic Quarter to turn back the clock and discover another side of the Catalan capital altogether.
In this unique part of the city, you can spot the oldest fountain, oldest home and oldest shop in Barcelona, the columns of a Roman temple, as well as tell-tale signs of the Spanish Civil War in one particular square, plus a mysterious skull that holds a secret or two… A thrilling part of the city that visitors to Barcelona won’t want to miss out on, which complements the rest of the city’s more typical tourist attractions. Read on to discover all the secrets of this enigmatic Barcelona neighbourhood!
Calle del Bisbe bridge, modern yet mysterious
It’s often surprising that one of the most enchanting streets in the Gothic Quarter is, in fact, home to one of the area’s most modern constructions, Calle del Bisbe Bridge. Built less than a hundred years ago, it’s one of the most photographed spots in the city.
The mysterious skull you can see as you pass underneath the bridge is pierced on the chin by a dagger, and is obviously the subject of all kinds of legends and myths. Among these tales, some suggest the skull is simply an ornament, while others affirm it’s very much real, whereas others say that passing under the bridge backwards while looking up at the skull will grant you a wish.
Whether true or not, undoubtedly the most apocalyptic theory is that if the dagger were ever to be removed from the skull, the whole city of Barcelona would crumble. Perhaps a more realistic story is that the bridge’s architect, Joan Rubió, placed it there as a symbol of death or an unlucky charm due to an ambitious project he had drawn up to renovate the area surrounding Monte Táber being rejected by the city’s authorities… so it could simply be an artistic way of stamping your feet in frustration…
Calle Paradís in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter
Parallel to Calle del Bisbe, Calle del Paradís is another street home to some of the Gothic Quarter’s most fascinating secrets. Here, you’ll see a medieval courtyard, the four remaining columns of the Roman Temple of Augustus, which with over 2,000 years of history takes you back to the origins of Barcelona and the Roman empire.
Categories: barcelona
