DSC_1846 Plaça del Rei Barcelona - a photo on Flickriver

            La plaça del Rei és un dels llocs més emblemàtics de la ciutat de Barcelona, situada al barri Gòtic. Conserva la disposició rectangular derivada del projecte d'urbanització que es va dur a terme durant el regnat de Martí l'Humà, a la segona meitat del segle xiv. Aquest projecte es proposava fer una plaça allargada on poder-hi celebrar torneigs i eliminar, així, el mercat que s'hi feia tradicionalment.[1] La plaça del Rei ha estat la seu històrica del poder comtal i reial a la ciutat.

Es tracta d'una plaça monumental, envoltada per edificis gòtics i renaixentistes i tancada per tots els costats excepte per l'extrem sud-oest, per on es comunica amb la Catedral mitjançant la Baixada de Santa Clara i amb el carrer de la Llibreteria a través del carrer del Veguer. Al costat nord en destaca la façana del Palau Reial Major, gòtic, amb la torre del Mirador del Rei Martí a l'extrem esquerre, des d'on s'obté una bona vista de la ciutat medieval. Al cantó dret, l'escalinata que porta al Saló del Tinell i a la capella de Santa Àgata, la façana de la qual tanca la plaça pel costat est. El costat sud-est conté la casa Padellàs, seu del Museu d'Història de Barcelona, un casal gòtic que fou traslladat aquí des del carrer dels Mercaders a l'obrir-se la Via Laietana. El costat oest està ocupada pel renaixentista Palau del Lloctinent, del segle xvi.

Al subsòl de la plaça s'hi poden visitar els més de 1000 m2 de restes romanes.

Del 1853 al 1935 (quan es van descobrir les restes romanes), hi havia una font neogòtica dissenyada per l'arquitecte Francesc Daniel Molina i Casamajó. En aquest mateix espai, alhora, hi va haver durant molts anys una de les columnes del Temple d'August, que avui es pot visitar al pati del Centre Excursionista de Catalunya, al carrer del Paradís.

La columna romana i la font neogòtica que hi havia a la plaça de rei fins a 1935 quan es van descobrir les restes romanes del subsòl de la plaça.
Per la seva estructura gairebé tancada i la seva sonoritat, és un lloc on es duen a terme tradicionalment concerts de música i altres espectacles.

Plaça del Rei History

The Plaça del Rei (or King's Square) is one of Barcelona's most emblematic squares and arguably one of the best examples of Gothic design in the city. Although this picturesque paved area was formerly the courtyard of a royal palace, for three centuries it was also a bustling straw and hay market.

The Plaça del Rei is dominated by the Palau Reial Major (or Grand Royal Palace), with its imposing façade, tall semi-circular arches, and elegant rose windows approached by a shallow flight of steps in one corner of the square. Although the palace was first established in the 10th century, the present structure essentially dates from the late 14th century onwards. Designed in a predominantly Gothic style, the royal palace belonged first to the Counts of Barcelona and then the Kings of Aragon. One of these kings, Ferdinand II, married Queen Isabella I of Castile, thereby beginning a cooperative reign that would unite all of Spain and elevate the nation to a dominant global power. In fact, it’s said that it was here, on the steps of the palace, that King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella received Christopher Columbus and his crew upon their return from the first successful voyage to the New World in 1493.

The square itself was developed in the reign of Martin of Aragon (also known as Martin the Humane) in the late 14th century, to reflect the palace’s growing significance. The weekly market that had taken place here for centuries was moved and replaced by more suitable spectacles, including tournaments and theatrical performances. Martin also lends his name to the most distinctive architectural feature in the square. Above the palace’s façade rises an unusual structure, the Mirador del Rei Martí (or King Martin’s Watchtower), designed by Antoni Carbonell in the 16th century. This tall rectangular tower with its five superimposed galleries was built with such geometric simplicity that it looks more modern than the surrounding buildings, even though it was constructed around the same time.

It now seems that the Plaça del Rei was always important to the life of the city. 20th-century archaeological work unearthed extensive Roman and Visigothic remains dating back to the 1st century BC. To say that the Plaça del Rei is a collage of Barcelona's history is no overstatement.

Other noteworthy buildings surrounding the square include the 16th-century Palau del Lloctinent, to the southwest, once the residence of the Lloctinent (or Viceroy) of Catalonia, which has a beautiful Renaissance courtyard. Closing off the Plaça del Rei to the southeast is the Casa Padellàs, home of the city's history museum, which encloses the archaeological remains of Roman Barcino. Finally, built on the old Roman city wall and accessed within the Museu d'Història de Barcelona, is the 14th-century Capella de Santa Àgata (or Chapel of Saint Agatha), with its extraordinary ceilings and altarpieces.

Still imbued with the splendour of the Middle Ages, this square remains a fantastic hidden jewel in the heart of the Old City.

Taken on: June 11, 2023

Tags:

Barcelona

Spain

Europe

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Camera: Nikon D750, f/11.0, 1/250 sec, 24mm, ISO 125 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D750
Aperture:	f/11.0
Exposure Time:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Focal Length:	24mm
ISO:	125
Exposure Bias:	+1/3 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
White Balance:	Manual
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop 21.2 (Windows)
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