Experience neighbourhoods off the beaten path. See Barcelona through the eyes of a local. This guided walk in the historic center of Barcelona will let you discover more than the usual: buildings & squares you will not encounter easily. Immerse with us into the captivating history of the city while strolling through the maze of little streets in El Born & Gothic Quarter. Enjoy a drink in a magical square where mostly locals go.
At your hotel or by the entrance of the OHLA Hotel in Via Laietana 49.
Barcelona is full of magnificent architectural buildings. This is certainly one of them. It was built in the style of Catalan Modernism - the famous architect Gaudi has become the most famous of his time - however, the concert hall was designed by a different top architect of Barcelona around the turn of the century!
For me this is the last authentic area of the historic center of Barcelona. Let us stroll through the little streets and discover medieval history. The area used to be home to many craftsmen in the 13th and 14th century. If we are lucky we can enter the old romanesque church of Sant Pere with its 1000 years of history.
The Arch is certainly a highlight of Barcelona. It served as the entrance gate to the world fair of 1888. Its architecture is full of meanings. Learn about the most important king of this region that involved an exciting legend where a bat was decisive in a battle.
It used to be an important market hall but today this beautiful structure houses a museum. Full of history ruins of buildings of medieval Barcelona are now displayed here. Let's dive into the past!
The area has become an upmarket are with a wonderful vibe. In the middle of the maze of tiny backstreets you will find great restaurants and cocktail bars. Let's see how rich merchants used to live in the 15th century - we will see some stunning examples of Gothic palaces that they built for their families. In one of them you will also find the Picasso museum.
We will pass by fragments of the old Roman wall that protected the city for several centuries. It is 1700 years old. The square we are visiting is a wonderful spot to have a break and enjoy a drink. Afterwards we will learn about the oldest Christian church of the city that was constructed around the year 400 AD. We will visit the heart of the Roman city and understand the layout. Many streets have not changed their paths in 2000 years!
Let's learn about the moving Jewish history in medieval Barcelona. We will pass by the oldest Synagoge that was only recently rediscovered. We will also see the oldest residential building that has been home to many families since 1378.
Our final stop is a picturesque square in the middle of the Gothic Quarter with a dark history. Let's dive into the happenings of the Civil War from 1936-1939 that ended with General Franco becoming dictator of Spain until his death in 1975.
Plaça Sant Felip Neri close to the old Cathedral or at your hotel
- professional guide
- hotel pick up (to be discussed)
- transportation costs to the starting point (taxi, metro)
- entrance fee to any attraction
I am extremely happy that I was featured on German national TV with this experience in July 2022.
This was the third and final tour we booked with Christian and I think it was my favorite. He took us through some quiet streets and pointed out little tapas places along the way that he recommended. We almost felt like locals by the time the tour ended. Christian is an excellent guide and we would do it all again!
THANK YOU, Sue, for having spent 1.5 days with me and that I could share my passion for this beautiful city with you during our time together. Glad you also enjoyed our third tour about the history of Barcelona covering 2000 years! All the best for you and Mike! Christian
What a great morning spending time with Christian at some of Gaudi's buildings. Christian gave us so much insight into the design and meaning of the buildings that make them so much more interesting. He also highlighted buildings created by some other architects that were even more beautiful than some of Gaudi's. We ended up at the concert hall where we had a fantastic lunch.
Thank you, Sue! Glad you enjoyed the mix of sites that we visited and all the fascinating stories connected to them. All the best, Christian
Christian is an amazing guide! He thoroughly knows about the areas he took us to and makes it so interesting. It was our first day in Barcelona after a cruise and we saw so many interesting things and learned so much about the 1929 World's fair and the 1992 Olympics.
Thank you so much, Sue! It was a great pleasure sharing my passion with you for this part of the city that many guests miss! Glad you enjoyed the time! All the best, Christian