Barcelona, Spain: History, Architecture and Fountains. Where Old Meets New

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.