About this English self-guided 1h:50m walking tour in Barcelona
Welcome to Historic America & UCPlaces’ audio walking tour of Barcelona! I’m your tour guide, Aaron Killian. Today we’ll be walking through the historic core of this fascinating city. You’ll see stunning architecture, grand fountains and some of the world’s most unique homes in a journey through centuries of history, spanning from the Roman Empire to the present day.
We can’t wait to share Barcelona with you!
To get started, make your way to the Plaça de Sant Jaume. This is one of Barcelona’s many city squares. Look for street signs titled “Plaça de Sant Jaume” and stately government buildings bordering the square. If you see these, you’re in the right place.
Once again, welcome to Historic America & UCPlaces’ audio walking tour of Barcelona. We’re glad you could join us! I’m Aaron, your guide (but I also respond to professional history nerd). This is the part of the tour where I fit in my shameless plug for our websites (www.historicamerica.org & www.ucplaces.com) and I invite you to use #historicamericatours on social media while traveling alongside us today. Let’s begin the journey.
To begin, locate the street called Carrer del Bisbe which leads off the plaza to the northwest. Follow this street and as you do, begin looking upwards for a marble bridge connecting the two buildings on either side of the roadway.
Look up - do you see that ornate bridge spanning the two buildings on either side of you? This is our first stop, called the Pont del Bisbe, or Bishop Bridge. This impressive marble structure is emblematic of Gothic architecture – in vogue from the late 12th to the 16th century. It has characteristic Gothic features, such as columns and pointed arches. However, it is a far more recent addition to the city than it may appear. The Pont del Bisbe was constructed in 1928!
It was built in preparation for the second world fair held in Barcelona, the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. Twenty nations from all across Europe participated in the fair. Hosting the fair was a unique opportunity for Barcelona to showcase their modern industry, fascinating history, and rich culture. Urban development projects were sponsored all over the city, so that Barcelona’s best foot could be put forward. The exposition was originally planned for 1917, but was delayed due to the outbreak of WWI.
This delay meant that architects of all different styles and schools had additional time and opportunity to express themselves through urban development projects. Architect Joan Rubio y Bellver’s Pont del Bisbe was placed in the city’s Gothic Quarter, and reflects a growing movement in the 19th and 20th century to return to historic architectural styles from eras past. The Gothic Quarter (where you now stand) encompasses Barcelona's oldest neighborhoods. It houses important Medieval buildings, and has a layout typical of its age, with narrow, winding streets, periodically opening into large plazas. Walking through here is like stepping into a storybook land. Wouldn’t you agree?
Despite being known as the Gothic Quarter, the majority of the buildings in this particular neighborhood hail from the 19th and 20th centuries. This is because Barcelona undertook a number of revitalization projects starting in the 1800s, purposefully transforming the neighborhood from a somewhat dingy relic of the past into a bright and shiny tourist attraction. Nowadays, historians mourn this fact. However, the neighborhood still has tons of architectural interest, with many of its oldest buildings – such as the Barcelona Cathedral – remodeled in a distinctly Gothic style.
The Gothic Quarter even contains remnants from the Roman Empire. In the Imperial Period, from 31 BC to 476 AD, the land that is now Barcelona was known as the colony of Barcino. The colony was founded by Roman emperor Augustus between 15-10 BC. A fortification wall was built by the Romans during the 1st and 2nd century AD, the remains of which can still be found throughout the Gothic Quarter. But not everything has changed from ancient times — back then this region of Spain was known widely for its wine, and still is today. So make sure to grab a sangria at the end of our tour.
Returning to the Pont del Bisbe, its architect Joan Rubio i Bellver was intent on revitalizing Barcelona’s past with his 20th century work. He had expansive plans to “Gothic-ize” Barcelona, but the city council rejected many of his ideas. Infuriated, he placed a skull and dagger on the underside of the bridge to express his discontent. Legend has it that anyone who looks at the skull and dagger will be cursed; maybe avert your eyes when you walk under, just to be on the safe side. However, some say if you walk backwards under the bridge while looking at the skull, your wishes will be granted.
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1Plaça de Sant Jaume
Place 2Pont del Bisbe
Place 3Directions
Place 4Catedral de Barcelona
Place 5Directions
Place 6Directions
Place 7Placa de la Villa de Madrid
Place 8Directions
Place 9Avenida del Portal de I'Angel
Place 10Placa de Catalunya
Place 11Directions
Place 12Casa Batllo
Place 13Directions
Place 14Casa Mila
Place 15Directions
Place 16Casa de les Punxes
Place 17Directions
Place 18Palau Macaya
Place 19Directions
Place 20Placa de la Sagrada Familia
Place 21La Sagrada Familia
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How to take a UCPlaces tour
Taking a UCPlaces tour is fun and easy.
Download the app (Android or iOS), purchase the tour (either here on the website, or from within the app).
That's it, you're ready to go!
When you want to start the tour, find the tour in the app (via a quick in-app search or by clicking the tour link received in your confirmation email) and click "Start Tour" (headphones recommended for best experience.)
* After purchasing a tour you will receive a purchase confirmation email including the tour link and instructions on how to take the tour, so you don't have to remember anything now.
How does the tour work?
UCPlaces acts as your personal tour guide, providing self-guided audio tours fully navigated within our app using GPS-based navigation. You won't need to switch between external navigation apps.
Whenever you approach a point of interest (POI) on the tour, our app will automatically play the relevant audio story at the right time and place.
If you start the tour before reaching the first POI, the app will navigate you to the starting point and then begin the tour.
How is this more convenient than a traditional tour?
UCPlaces offers an innovative and flexible way to explore exciting destinations on your terms.
Here are some key advantages over traditional tours:
No need to commit upfront or purchase in advance; buy a tour only when you're ready to go.
Walk at your own pace.
No waiting for groups; go on your schedule.
Take the tour in your preferred language.
Start, stop and continue the tour whenever you want.
Returning to the same destination? Take the tour again, and again, and again... And bring a friend!
Enjoy preferred prices.
What's included?
A self-guided audio tour taken via the UCPlaces app [Android / iOS (iPhone) / Apple CarPlay].
Tour route map and in-app GPS navigation (via the UCPlaces app).
Audio stories for places visited during the tour.
Apple CarPlay connection (for iOS users); for a seamless driving tour experience.
What's NOT included?
Earphones (highly recommended).
Smartphone.
Any kind of transportation (including tickets and passes).
