Plaça del Rei
Plaça del Rei ( Catalan for "King's Square") is one of the landmarks of Barcelona . Located in the Barri Gòtic , the city's oldest district, it is the historic seat of the Counts of Barcelona and the Kings of Aragon .
history
The rectangular shape, which is still preserved today, was given to the square in the course of urban development during the reign of King Martin I , known as "the Humane", in the second half of the 14th century. In the course of this redesign, the market, which had traditionally taken place there, was moved to another location and tournaments were made possible.
The square is surrounded on all sides by Gothic and Renaissance buildings. The main entrance to the square is Carrer del Veguer on the southeast side . In addition, the small alley Baixada de Santa Clara connects the square with the back of the cathedral .
On the northern side is the Palau Reial Major ("Royal Main Palace") with a Gothic facade and the tower of Martin I (Catalan: Mirador del Rei Martí ). On the right, a staircase leads to the Saló del Tinell and the Santa Àgata Chapel , the facade of which closes the square on the northeast side. On the south-eastern side is the Casa Padellàs house , the seat of the City's History Museum (MUHBA) . Casa Padellàs is a Gothic palace that was moved from Carrer dels Mercaders to Königsplatz during the construction of Via Laietana . In the underground of the square, remains of the Roman settlement Barcino were found, which can be viewed in the museum. On the eastern side is the Palau del Lloctinent ("Lieutenants Palace"), a Renaissance palace from the 16th century that now houses the archives of the Crown of Aragon ( Arxiu de la Corona d'Aragó , ACA).
The sculpture "Topos V" by the artist Eduardo Chillida was set up in the very southern part of the Königsplatz . Many years ago a column of the Temple of Augustus was found there, which can be seen today in the Center Excursionista de Catalunya (on Carrer del Paradís street ). Because of its closed construction and its acoustics, the Königsplatz is often used for concerts and other events.
literature
- Xavier Barral i Altet (ed.): Guia del Patrimoni Monumental i Artístic de Catalunya , vol. 1. Pòrtic / Enciclopèdia Catalana, Barcelona 2000, p. 84.
- Julia Beltran de Heredia: The archaeological remains of Plaça del Rei in Barcelona: From Barcino to Barcinona (1st to 7th centuries) . Museu d'Història, Barcelona 2002. ISBN 84-932113-4-6
- Dorothea Massmann: MARCO POLO travel guide Barcelona . MairDuMont, Ostfildern 2012, ISBN 3829724144 .
Coordinates: 41 ° 23 '3 " N , 2 ° 10' 38.8" E