Barcelona is a lively city, with a lot of activity in its streets and squares. Take advantage of these longer days and visit the less known squares, ¡Hola Barcelona takes you there!
Squares have always been and still are, a meeting point for friends, family and couples. Barcelona is lucky enough to have a large number of squares, although some stand out more than others, either for their architectural features, the history that surrounds them or for their popularity.
Among residents and tourists, the most known are:
- Plaça de Catalunya: with five hectares, it is one of the largest squares in the country. Located in the city center, it is the backbone of the main streets of Barcelona, such as Les Ramblas, Rambla Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia...
- Plaça Reial: this square was built after the inauguration of the Gran Teatre del Liceu in 1847, with the aim of being a meeting place for the bourgeois and wealthy families of the area. The arcaded square hides authentic treasures, such as the two six-armed street lamps, one of the first works of Antoni Gaudí.
- Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia: characterized by the great activity that surrounds it, the square has been evolving, while it has lived different important historical moments, such as the Revolt of the Quintas in 1870, when the neighbors refused to enroll the young people of the neighborhood in the army.
- Plaça de Sant Felip Neri: in the Gothic quarter we find this historical square that was bombed in 1938 and, today, the damage it suffered is still visible. The square is named after the baroque church and, in addition, the buildings surrounding it were once part of the guild of shoemakers.
Not-so-well-known squares that are worth to discover
In the same way that Barcelona has a large number of well-known squares, it also has some that are not so popular, which does not mean that they are not equally, or even more, endearing.
From Ciutat Vella to Horta-Guinardó, through Les Corts, Poblenou and Sant Andreu, we find meeting places that, locals and visitors, can not miss:
- Plaça d'Eivissa: located in the center of the old village of Horta and annexed to the city in the late nineteenth century, the square still retains that atmosphere so characteristic of small towns: the shade of the trees that surround it, the bar of a lifetime....
- Plaça de la Concòrdia: in the middle of the district of Les Corts we can find this unique square: surrounded by bars and historical spaces, it is the perfect place to meet friends and have a drink, as well as to have a typical Sunday vermouth.
- Plaça de Delgado: known by many as the fishermen's square, it is located in the old part of the Poblenou neighborhood, from where you can still see the old fishermen's houses.
- Plaça de Sant Miquel: after years of works and located between Plaça de Sant Jaume and Plaça Reial, this playful square was inaugurated in 2020. With more than 4,000 square meters, the neighbors managed to double the play area for children and young people.
- Plaça de Masadas: built at the end of the 19th century and located in the heart of La Sagrera, until the nineties of the 20th century the square was a covered market, which was demolished due to its deterioration. Today, it is an open space surrounded by porches and is one of the few squares with this structure remaining in the city.
How to arrive: all places are accessible through different bus lines, metro, Barcelona Bus Turístic (blue and green line), FGC and Rodalies. Move around the city with your Hola Barcelona Travel Card!
