Plaça de Sant Jaume
Barcelona
Plaça de Sant Jaume is the square of the governments of Barcelona and Catalonia. It stands where the two main streets of the Roman town crossed.
The heart of Barcino
The cardo and the decumanus, the two great streets of the Roman town of Barcino, met here. For two thousand years this has been the centre of public life.
The Palau de la Generalitat
The palace of the Catalan government is largely Gothic and keeps its old look. The side façades are Gothic; the one on the square, built later, is inspired by the Italian Renaissance.
Inside there is a Gothic chapel from 1434 and a courtyard with 24 trees. The palace also has a concert carillon with 49 bells.
The Casa de la Ciutat
Barcelona's city hall has a neoclassical façade from 1847. On either side of the entrance stand the statues of King Jaume I and the councillor Joan Fiveller.
Inside is the Saló de Cent, built from 1369 onwards. It is one of the finest examples of civic Gothic in Catalonia. On Carrer de la Ciutat the old Gothic façade survives.
A square for festivals
For the Mercè, the city festival in September, teams of castellers build human towers here. At Christmas there is a nativity scene.
