Barcelona City Guide: The Gothic Quarter - 🇪🇸 Spain Best City

The cathedral was begun in 1298 on the site of an old Romanesque building. It had been completed by 1448 except for the main façade and dome which were added in 1898 and 1913. It is one of the largest buildings in the Gothic Quarter and one of the best preserved Gothic cathedrals in Europe. The St. Jaume's Square lies at the point where the two main streets of the Roman city crossed. Nowadays it hosts two of the most important political institutions of the city, the town council and the autonomous government. A stroll through the market of the Boqueria allows one to enjoy an incredible contrast of colors and activity. The market was constructed with its current metal framework at the beginning of the 20th century but the earliest records of the market's existence date back to the 13th century. It covers an area of 6,000 square meters and holds more than 300 booths. The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the cultural buildings that were constructed in order to renovate the Raval district. The building's architectural style is heavily indebted to modernism.