Plaça de Sant Jaume , Barcelona, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

Plaça de Sant Jaume is the political heart of Barcelona, a square in the Gothic Quarter where the Palau de la Generalitat, seat of Catalonia's government, faces the city's Casa de la Ciutat, or City Hall. It sits on the site of the Roman forum of Barcino, and the two buildings that frame it have shaped public life in the city for centuries.

The story behind it

Long before the palaces, the crossing of the two main Roman streets lay here, and the forum of Roman Barcino stood nearby. The Palau de la Generalitat dates from the early 15th century and has been tied to Catalan self-government ever since, although its history was interrupted by political upheavals. Its Gothic side, on Carrer del Bisbe, carries a medallion of Saint George slaying the dragon, carved by the sculptor Pere Joan. Above the main entrance on the square, a statue of Sant Jordi stands over the Palau de la Generalitat inscription.

Sant Jordi is the patron saint of Catalonia, and the legend is told across the region. A dragon terrorised a town and was fed first livestock and then people. When the lot fell to the king's daughter, a knight on a white horse killed the beast. A rose bush grew where its blood fell, and he gave a rose to the princess. That is why on 23 April, Sant Jordi Day, Catalans give roses and books to the people they love.

Across the square, the City Hall carries statues of King Jaume I and of Joan Fiveller, a medieval city councillor. Jaume I, the 13th-century King of Aragon known as the Conqueror, founded the Council of Hundred (Consell de Cent) in 1265, the governing body that gave its name to the street Carrer del Consell de Cent.

What to look for

• The statue of Sant Jordi above the main entrance of the Palau de la Generalitat, right over the inscription.
• The Gothic façade on Carrer del Bisbe, where the Pere Joan medallion shows Saint George and the dragon.
• The statues of Jaume I and Joan Fiveller on the City Hall façade, facing the Generalitat across the square.
• The contrast between the two buildings, one a seat of regional government and the other the seat of the city, standing face to face.

Tips for your visit

• The square is open to walk through at any time. Interiors of the Generalitat and City Hall are open only on certain occasions, so check current opening hours before planning to go in.
• Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for the square itself. Allow more if you want to circle the Generalitat and see the Gothic side.
• Early morning is the quietest time for photographs. Around festivals the square fills with crowds and performers.
• The Barcelona Cathedral and the narrow lanes of the Gothic Quarter are a short walk away, so it fits easily into a wider stroll.

See it on a quest

The Gothic Trail, Ghosts of Barcelona brings you to the square on foot as one stop on a longer route through the old town. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Romantic Barcelona: Love in the Gothic District suits the Sant Jordi story, the legend of the rose, and the square's place in the Gothic Quarter. You walk between stops, hear about each one as you reach it and solve a puzzle in front of it. One ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Barcelona turns the same streets into a mystery to solve on foot. You reach the square as part of the route, learn about it from the app and solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.