Barceloneta - Museu d'Història de Catalunya stop
If you want to learn about the Mediterranean character of the people of Barcelona, take a walk through the alleys of Barceloneta. And at the Palau de Mar, a 19th-century port building that houses the History Museum of Catalonia, you can discover the evolution of Catalan culture throughout its centuries of history.
Catalonia, from prehistory to the present day
The Barceloneta - Museu d’Història de Catalunya stop of the Red Route of Barcelona Bus Turístic is very close to the Palau de Mar building, a fine example of 19th-century port architecture and Barcelona’s industrial heritage and home to the History Museum of Catalonia, which shows you the culture of the region from its prehistoric origins.
At this stop, if you take a stroll to the bottom part of the Gothic Quarter, you will discover the baroque Basilíca de la Mare de Déu de la Mercè (Basilica of the Virgin of Mercy), built over another church from the medieval period and dedicated to the patron saint of Barcelona.
And from the past to the present: Barceloneta, the quintessential neighborhood of Barcelona’s fishermen, has the scent of the sea, paella, fried fish, and small squares and alleys filled with sunshine and sea breeze, perfect for walking through with the background music of Catalan rumba, which always lifts the spirits of the neighborhood and its people.
What to see
History Museum of CataloniaLocated in a building whose architecture is typical of the port style of the 19th century, this museum allows you to see how Catalonia’s culture has evolved.
Basílica de la MercèAn 18th-century basilica dedicated to the patron saint of Barcelona was built over a medieval church and convent.
La BarcelonetaLa Barceloneta was home to fishermen until the 18th century and is now a major tourist attraction.
Old Born Market. Born Cultural and Memorial CentreOne of the most remarkable iron architecture markets in Barcelona is home to an important modern age archaeological site.
Basílica de Santa Maria del MarOne of the finest examples of Catalan Gothic architecture, which stands out due to its breadth and sobriety.
Picasso MuseumMore than 4,000 works exhibited in five Gothic architecture palaces show the painter’s formative period and his close relationship with Barcelona.
La Llotja and Pla de PalauMedieval Barcelona’s main commercial square, where the city’s first exchange building was located. As the gateway for goods and people coming into the city by sea Pla de Palau was one of the major points of entry to Port Vell and the centre of commercial trading.
El BornIn this medieval district of Barcelona you can find Gothic palaces, museums, art galleries, churches, restaurants and innovative shops.
Els Porxos d’en Xifré / Porxos Vidal-QuadrasTwo large buildings surrounded by Neoclassical porticos are among the legacy left behind by rich men who had made their fortune in the New World upon their return to Barcelona.
MEAM – European Museum of Modern ArtAn 18th-century palace with a Modernista portal is home to figurative and realist works from the 21st century.
Carrer de MontcadaIts Gothic, Catalan Renaissance and even baroque palaces make this street the city’s most important civil architecture site.