Gothic Quarter & La Rambla Walk

Welcome to Plaça de Catalunya, generally considered the centre of Barcelona. It's where the old city meets the Eixample, the grid of streets built in the 19th century after the medieval city walls came down. The square covers about 12 acres, and some of the city's most important streets meet here, including Passeig de Gràcia, Rambla de Catalunya, La Rambla and Portal de l'Àngel. It's known for its fountains and statues, the compass rose set into the pavement at the centre, and the flocks of pigeons.

The square was first laid out in 1902 and remodelled for the 1929 International Exposition. Look for sculptures such as Deessa by Josep Clarà, and the monument to Francesc Macià. In the Spanish Civil War, the square was the scene of key events of the May Days.

This is the Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, usually just called La Boqueria, a large public market and one of the city's best-known landmarks. Its history goes back a long way: in 1217, tables were set up near the old city gate here to sell meat, and from 1470 a pig market was held on this site. For a time it was called the straw market. The name Boqueria probably comes from the Catalan word boc, meaning goat, so it was a place where goat meat was sold.

Construction of an official market building began in 1840, but the structure wasn't inaugurated until 1853. A new fish market opened in 1911, and the metal roof you can see was built in 1914. Step inside for a look at its huge variety of goods.