Page 153 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

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The main draw of the Museu 5 Ajuntament
d’Història is under ground. Entire Plaça de Sant Jaume 1. Map 5 A2. Tel
streets of old Barcino are 934 02 70 00.  Jaume I, Liceu. Open
accessible via a lift and walk ways 10am–1:30pm Sun & public hols;
suspended over the ruins of 10am–8pm 2nd Sat in Feb, 23 Apr
Roman Barcelona. The site was & 30 May, or by appt (934 02 70 00).
found when the Casa Clariana- 8 10am in English. 7 ∑ bcn.cat
Padellàs, the Gothic building
from which you enter, was The magnificent 14th-century
moved here stone by stone in city hall faces the Palau de la
1931. The water and drainage Generalitat. Flanking the entrance
systems, baths, homes with are statues of Jaime (Jaume) I,
mosaic floors and the old forum who granted the city rights to
are among some of the world’s elect councillors in 1249, and The Italianate façade of the Palau
most extensive and complete Joan Fiveller, who levied taxes de la Generalitat
subterranean Roman ruins. on court members in the 1500s.
Inside is the huge council Governor. Above the entrance,
chamber, the 14th-century in its Renaissance façade, is a
4 MUHBA El Call Saló de Cent, built for the city’s statue of Sant Jordi (St George)
100 councillors. The Saló de the patron saint of Catalonia –
Placeta de Manuel Ribé s/n. Map 5 A2.
Tel 93 256 21 22.  Jaume I, Liceu. les Cròniques, on the first floor, and the Dragon. The late
Open 11am–2pm Wed & Fri, 11am– was commissioned for the 1929 Catalan-Gothic courtyard
7pm Sat & Sun. 7 & (free to under- International Exhibition and is by Marc Safont (1416).
16s, from 3pm Sun & all day on the decorated by Josep-Marià Sert Among the fine interiors are
1st Sun of month). 8 ∑ museu with murals of momentous the Gothic chapel of Sant Jordi,
historia.bcn.cat/es/muhba-el-call events in Catalan history. also by Safont, and Pere Blai’s
Italianate Saló de Sant Jordi. At
Part of the Barcelona History 6 Palau de la the back, one floor above street
Museum, this information level, lies the Pati dels Tarongers,
centre occupies a modern Generalitat the Orange Tree Patio, by Pau
building constructed over Plaça de Sant Jaume 4. Map 5 A2. Mateu, which has a bell tower
what was once the medieval Tel 93 402 46 00.  Jaume I. built by Pere Ferrer in 1568.
home of Yusef Bonhiac, a Open 10am–1:30pm 2nd & 4th Sun The Catalan president has
Jewish weaver. The touch- of the month; 10am–8pm 23 Apr, 11 & offices here as well as in the Casa
screen information panels 24 Sep (carry your passport). 7 8 dels Canonges. The two buildings
and exhibitions give an Sep–Jul: by appt. ∑ president.cat are connected by a bridge across
excellent overview of the Call Carrer del Bisbe, built in 1928 and
(the former Jewish quarter) Since 1403, the Generalitat has modelled on the famous Bridge
and the lives of its inhabitants. been the seat of the Catalonian of Sighs in Venice.

The magnificent council chamber, the Saló de Cent, in the Ajuntament

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