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Placa Sant Jaume Review

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Plaça Sant Jaume

Address: Pl. Sant Jaume 1, Barri Gòtic, Barcelona, Catalonia | Map It
Phone: 93/402-7000
www.bcn.es

Category: Squares
Location: Ciutat Vella (Old City)

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Fodor's Review:

Two thousand years ago, this formal square was the center of the Roman forum, which seems fitting for the modern-day site of both Catalonia's and Barcelona's government seats. The Plaça was cleared in the 1840s, but the two imposing buildings facing each other across it are much older, the original Gothic facades on their respective north sides facing Carrer del Bisbat and Carrer Ciutat. The 15th-century ajuntament (City Hall) contains impressive black-and-burnished-gold murals (1928) by Josep Maria Sert and the historic Saló de Cent, where the Council of One Hundred, Europe's earliest proto-democratic body founded in 1372, governed until Felipe V abolished Catalonia's autonomous institutions in 1715. Filled with art, the ajuntament is open to the public on Sunday morning (10-1) and on special holidays. During the week, check listings for free concerts or events here. The Palau de la Generalitat, seat of the Catalan government, is a majestic 15th-century palace—through the front windows you can see the gilded ceiling of the Saló de Sant Jordi (Hall of St. George), named for Catalonia's dragon-slaying patron saint. Normally you can visit the Generalitat only on certain holidays, such as the Día de Sant Jordi (St. George's Day), April 23; check with the protocolo (protocol office). The Generalitat hosts carillon concerts, open to the public, on occasional Sundays at noon.

Open: Sun. 10-1
Metro: Catalunya, Liceu, Jaume I

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