Spanish Learning immersion: Barcelona Gothic quarter

Football club, Gaudi’s architecture, Sagrada Familia – this is probably the most of what most school students (and many adults too) can think of when they hear the name Barcelona. Although all of these do reflect the city’s identity, the truth is, the city has more than 2000 years of history to boast of, influenced by the Mediterranean Sea that dominated a huge part of the medieval era. There were many significant events that helped shape the course of history of this Spanish city. Join this walk to learn about ancient Barcelona where Spanish learners will also get the opportunity to practise their language with natives.

Located right in the heart of Barcelona’s old town, the Gothic Quarter came to be known by its name only after the restoration in the late 19^th century, when the wall of the city were destroyed. Barcelona was hosting the Universal Exhibition (an international fair) in 1888, and in preparation, rebuilt many of the buildings in the old town in Gothic style, earning the area its name. As we walk along the cobble stone narrow paths, you’ll see that the area has a personality of its own with a strong medieval history, reflecting in its architecture too.

As we make our way through the little streets of the Gothic Quarter, you’ll notice a lot of the buildings – such as the remains of the ancient wall and the Cathedral of Barcelona – have facades of Roman heritage interspersed with the pointed arches and gargoyles typical of Gothic architecture. Walk along towards the Placa del Rei and the beautiful building that now holds the Museum of History Barcelona. As we go past the Jewish Quarter, the streets seem to tell stories of the Jews who lived there until the Spanish Inquisition in the 14^th century. We then Placa de Sant Felip Neri where the bombed walls remain a stark reminder of the Spanish Civil War, and finally arrive at Placa del Jaume. This central square in the Gothic Quarter is where we let you in on Catalan traditions and legends that form an essential part of the region’s culture.