Plaça de Catalunya, Barcelona – A place for relaxing and people watching.  

Plaça de Catalunya, Barcelona – A place for relaxing and people watching.  

Plaça de Catalunya is one of the most famous squares in Barcelona. Known as Plaza de Cataluña in Spanish, it was built in the 19th-century. Located in the Eixample area at the top of Las Ramblas, it borders El Raval and Barri Gótic. The area, considered to be where the new city meets the old, is a common meeting place for tourists and locals.

 

Plaça de CatalunyaPlaça de Catalunya

 


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Plaça de Catalunya

The square is approximately 50,000 m² and is surrounded by some of the most important streets in the city. Las Ramblas, Rambla de Catalunya, Passeig de Grácia, Portal de l’Àngel, Carrer de Pelai, Carrer de Vergara, and Ronda de Sant Pere all surround the plaza. The square is not just for people. A hundred pigeons or more gather in the center of the plaza which is surrounded by statues and fountains.HistoryThe site was formerly an open piece of land outside the gates of the city wall. Plaça de Catalunya was unofficially created in 1859 after the medieval city walls were demolished. It wasn’t until the 1888 Universal Exposition when permission was given by the government and it was urbanized in 1902. Modifications took place in 1929 including the construction of a metro station. The plaza was designed by Francesc de Paula Nebot, Puig i Cadafalch, and Pere Falqués. Sculptures and FountainsPlaça Catalunya contains several sculptures that represent Neo-Classicism, Noucentisme, and various avant-garde movements. They were created by Josep Llimona, Pablo Garallo, and Josep Clará.

La DeessaLa Deessa

La Deessa

‘La Deessa o l’Enigma’ is a white marble sculpture by Josep Clara. Known as The Goddess or The Enigma, the 1982 replica of a female figure is placed in the center of a pool.

Monument a Francesc Macià – This is one of the most prominent sculptures in Plaça de Catalunya. It was created by Josep Subirachs in 1991 in honor of the former president of the Catalan government. Josep Subirachs also worked on the Passion Façade of the Sagrada Família.

 

Plaça de Catalunya fountainPlaça de Catalunya fountain

 

Plaça de Catalunya fountain

You will also see two fountains in the plaza. One is located on the corner of Carrer de Fontanella and Plaça de Catalunya. The other is a large fountain near the top of the plaza near Ronda de Sant Pere. About Plaça CatalunyaSurrounding Plaça de Catalunya you will find many hotels, restaurants, and cafés. The El Corte Inglés is a large department store on the corner of Ronda de Sant Pere and Plaça de Catalunya. On the ninth floor of the building is a cafeteria. Most people are not aware of the cafeteria so is not as busy as the surrounding cafés and restaurants and offers a stunning view of the city.

 

Plaça de CatalunyaPlaça de Catalunya

 

Plaça de Catalunya

Plaça de Catalunya is also a transportation hub. Not only is it surrounded by nine main streets, but it also is a stop for two metro lines (L1 and L3) and a stop for the national rail. This makes Plaça de Catalunya one of the busiest metro stations in Barcelona. Several buses including 24, 41, 42, 55, 66, 67, 68, V15, and H16 all stop at Plaça de Catalunya. It is also the main stop for people taking the Aerobús to and from the airport.

 


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