Roman Walls

La Rambla & Barri Gòtic


From Plaça del Rei it's worth a detour to see the two best surviving stretches of Barcelona's Roman walls, which once boasted 78 towers (as much a matter of prestige as of defence). One section is on the southern side of Plaça de Ramon Berenguer el Gran, with the 14th-century Capella Reial de Santa Àgata atop. Another piece of wall sits towards the northern end of Carrer del Sots-Tinent Navarro, while more can be seen at the Porta de Mar archaeological site.

The Romans built and reinforced these walls in the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, after the first attacks by Germanic tribes from the north.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby La Rambla & Barri Gòtic attractions

1. Capella Reial de Santa Àgata

0.01 MILES

Accessed within the Museu d'Història de Barcelona, this is the chapel of the old Gothic Palau Reial Major (Grand Royal Palace). Outside, a spindly bell…

2. Plaça del Rei

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The courtyard of the Gothic former Palau Reial Major, this picturesque, almost entirely walled-in square is where the Reyes Católicos (Catholic Monarchs)…

3. Plaça de Ramon Berenguer el Gran

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Watched over by some of the most substantial remains of Barcelona's Roman walls, this square is dominated by a statue of count-king Ramon de Berenguer…

4. Palau del Lloctinent

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Flanking the Plaça del Rei, this 1550s palace was built as the residence of the Spanish lloctinent (viceroy) of Catalonia and later converted into a…

5. Museu d’Història de Barcelona

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One of Barcelona's most fascinating museums travels back through the centuries to the very foundations of Roman Barcino. You'll stroll over ruins of the…

6. Museu Frederic Marès

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The wealthy Catalan sculptor, traveller and obsessive collector Frederic Marès i Deulovol (1893–1991) amassed one of the wildest collections of historical…

7. Temple d’August

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Opposite the southeast end of La Catedral, narrow Carrer del Paradís leads towards Plaça de Sant Jaume. Inside No 10, an intriguing building with Gothic…

8. La Catedral

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Barcelona’s central place of worship presents a magnificent image. The richly decorated main facade, dotted with gargoyles and the kinds of stone…