GOTHIC QUARTER, Itinerary

Your stroll through the Barri Gòtic  can only begin in Plaça de la Seu, the square of the cathedral dedicated to Saint Eulalia, patron saint of the city.

To properly see the cathedral's exterior, go to Carris del Bisbe, or the "Bishop's road", which was once the main street of the ancient Roman city. Walking down this street, you'll pass two Gothic buildings: the Cases dels Canonges and Palau de la Generalitat, which are connected by a beautiful Neo-Gothic bridge with arches. You'll reach Plaça de Sant Jaume, which owes its name to a church devoted to Saint James that no longer stands today. Today you can find Palau de la Generalitat here, which is the seat of the regional government and the City Hall.

Enter the Jewish Quarter along Carrer del Call and turn right onto Carrer de Marlet to visit the Major Synagogue, which is one of Spain's five medieval synagogues. It was transformed into a museum and cultural center in 2002. Have fun wandering around the quarter's shaded and quiet alleys: the bubbling Ramblas of the modernist Barcelona in perpetual movement seems far, far away.

Now pause the audio and go to Plaça del Pi.

If instead you'd like to continue your tour, walk around the church and go to the beautiful Plaça de Sant Jorge Oriol. This is one of the nicest corners of old town, with bars, cafes, and outdoor tables: the ideal place for a break. Now go on to Carrer d'en Rauric until Carrer de Ferran, which is no longer medieval but nineteenth century.

Your walking itinerary can end at the noble Plaça Reial, with its massive porticoes and slender palms standing against the palaces' nineteenth-century façades.

FUN FACT: in the Jewish Quarter Call, the streets are so narrow that they say you can connect the walls of buildings with a simple handkerchief: try it! The name comes from the Hebrew word qahal, which means "meeting".