Ajuntament de Barcelona: Barcelona City Hall in the historic heart of the city

If you are walking through the heart of historic Barcelona, ​​the district Barri Gotic, definitely don't miss a visit to Plaça de Sant Jaume.

Ajuntament: Barcelona City Hall at Pl. Sant Jaume

This square is not only one of the city's oldest public spaces, but also an important political center Catalonia.

It stands on one side of the square Palau de la Generalitat, the seat of the Catalan government and directly across from it a majestic building Ajuntament de Barcelona, ​​i.e. City Hall.

The entrance to the building is guarded by Archangel Raphael, and below him you will find the city and royal coat of arms. 

Barcelona City Hall at a glance

• The town hall was built in the 14th century as the center of the city administration and was originally called Casa de la Ciutat.
• The oldest part of the building is the Saló de Cent, the original council chamber (Consell de Cents), which played a key role in the development of Barcelona during the Middle Ages. This Gothic hall with its beautiful vaults still retains its historic atmosphere and is occasionally opened to the public.
• However, the town hall building was expanded over the centuries and is still here today you can see different architectural styles – while the medieval part is hidden inside, the facade of the building is an example of the 19th century neoclassical style. The side Gothic facade from the beginning of the 15th century facing carrer de la Ciutat is also interesting.

For tourists, the Ajuntament is interesting not only for its architecture, but also for the importance it had and still has for the city.

On important occasions such as the National Day of Catalonia (Diada Nacional de Catalunya) or during Christmas season, public events are held here and the building is beautifully decorated and illuminated.

During celebrations and holidays, the town hall is usually illuminated or video mapping takes place here

When to visit the town hall?

Include the visit itself as part of the exploration Gothic quarter.

Guided guided tours regularly take place every Sunday (except holidays) at the town hall. The tour lasts 1 hour and during it you will learn more about:

• Lateral Gothic facade and courtyard
• Saló de Cent meeting hall (and several other halls and halls, e.g. Saló de Cròniques)
• A politician and historian named Carles Pi i Sunyer

The guided tour starts at:

• Catalan: 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30
• Spanish: 11:00 and 12:00
• English: 10:00 am

Just come at least 15 minutes early through the entrance on Font de Sant Miquel street and join the group. However, I recommend registering, to secure your spot, as interest tends to be high and the group is limited to 25 people. 

If you are lucky and your visit to Barcelona is based on one from holidays, e.g. on St. George's Day (April 23) or the National Day of Catalonia (September 11), you can see the interiors of the town hall for free at any time of the day as part of an open day.

The interiors of the town hall are richly decorated

Of course, you can go here even without the ambition to see rich interiors.

In that case, I recommend going here in the morning or, conversely, later in the afternoon.

In the morning, the light here is perfect for photos, and there are also fewer people and an overall calmer atmosphere. Likewise, in the late afternoon or evening, you will avoid the crowds (of which there are quite a lot!) and you will be able to enjoy the Gothic streets in much more peace.

Where to continue next?

Plaça de Sant Jaume itself is also a fascinating place: in this place in ancient Roman history was the main public square of the city (the so-called forum). Under the square there are still the remains of Roman buildings, which you can see, for example, when visiting the nearby Museums of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA).

To learn more about the city's history, visit nearby museum on Pl. del Rei

You can then continue to the surrounding streets of Barri Gòtic, where you will come across hidden courtyards, medieval churches and cozy cafes. Options that Old town in Barcelona offers are countless. Here are a few other random places that you can find in the vicinity of the town hall and which you can reach in a few minutes on foot:

• La Seu Cathedral
• Church of Santa Maria del Mar
• La Rambla boulevard
• Carrer de Petritxol