Plaça del Rei
The Plaça del Rei ( Catalan for King Square) is one of the landmarks of Barcelona. It is located in the Barri Gotic, the oldest district of the city, and is the historic seat of the counts of Barcelona and the Kings of Aragon.
History
The rectangular shape of the space, which is still preserved today, the Plaça del Rei received 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. As part of this transformation of the market, which had taken place there traditionally was moved to another location and enables the implementation of tournaments.
The square is surrounded on all sides by Gothic and Renaissance buildings, only on the southeastern side he is by Baixada de Santa Clara connected with the cathedral and through the Carrer de la Llibreteria with Carrer del Veguer.
On the northern side of the Palau Reial Major is with a Gothic façade and the tower Martins I. ( Mirador del Rei Martin). On the right side a staircase to Salò del Tinell and the Santa Àgata Chapel, whose facade completes the square on the eastern side leads. On the southeast side of the Casa Padellàs, the seat of the Historical Museum of the City is ( MUHBA ). The Casa Padellàs is a gothic palace, which was transferred to the royal court during the construction of the Via Laietana of the Carrer dels Mercaders. In the underground of the square also Roman remains have been found that can be seen in the museum. On the eastern side is the Palau del Lloctinent, a Renaissance palace from the 16th century, is housed in the now the Archive of the Crown of Aragon ( Arxiu de la Corona d' Arago, ACA).
On the southern part of the Plaça del Rei, the sculpture V topos of the artist Eduardo Chillida was erected. Many years ago there a pillar temple of Augustus was found, which can be today at the Centre de Catalunya Excursionista visited ( at Carrer del Paradís ). Due to its closed design, and its acoustics of the Royal Square is often used for concerts and other events.