Placa de Catalunya

1. Arrival
2. Nights
3. Guests (Age 10 and Over)
4. Children (Under Age 10)

The Placa de Catalunya is a large square in Barcelona’s city centre. The square is a focal point for the city, a place where many of Barcelona’s main streets meet. Known for its statues, fountains and flocks of pigeons, the expansive Placa de Catalunya is within reach of numerous attractions, and is a great place to start exploring the city from our apartments in Barcelona.

When Barcelona’s city walls were torn down in the 19th century, city planners began to use the increased space to develop the city’s public areas. The 1888 Universal Exposition gave the go ahead for the urbanisation of the central square, and extensive modifications continued for the next 40 years. Alongside the construction of a metro station in 1929, special attention was paid to the development of a showcase park in the very heart of the city.

Today, visitors from our apartments in Barcelona will find the Placa de Catalunya to be both a major transport hub, and an oasis of green in the city centre. The large central square is home to a number of sculptures, fountains and well-kept grass verges. For lovers of sculpture, there are a few notable works to look out for including Deessa by Josep Clarà, the large Francesc Macia monument and a handful of sculptures by Josep Llimona. Many of the sculptures are lit up at night (as are some of the spectacular fountains), making a trip to the square a wonderful experience after sunset.

A number of large department stores surround the Placa de Catalunya making it a good place for a spot of shopping : El Corte Inglés and El Triangle (with its three-story FNAC shop) are two of the biggest. Another popular landmark in the square is Cafe Zurich, an old establishment that has long been a social gathering place for Barcelona residents.

When one of Barcelona’s frequent fiestas is in full swing, live musical performances can often be seen in the square. It’s always worth checking out the upcoming fiestas when booking apartments in Barcelona, as these city-wide parties create a great atmosphere.

The Placa de Catalunya is a major transport hub (both below and above ground) making it easy to reach from any of our apartments in Barcelona. There is a main metro stop in the square itself: both the Green Line (L3) and the Red Line (L1) stop here. Numerous day and night buses (Nitbus) also stop on the square and the Plaça Catalunya train station (RENFE train) heads directly to the airport.