The Barri Gotic (Traditional Spanish: Barrio Gtico) is the core of Barcelona, and it is a preserved borough with buildings dating back to the late middle ages (around 14th century) . There's also a few remaining from the roman Barcelona. Santa Eulalia, the Cathedral of Barcelona, along with many other churches and convents, medieval and renaissance palaces, residential buildings, narrow streets and plazas form this beautiful town museum situated in the middle of the bustling metropolis, bordered by the famous promenade La Rambla, the harbor of Barcelona and Via Laietana. Remains of the squared Roman Wall can be seen around Tapineria and Sots-Tinent Navarro to the north, Avinguda de la Catedral and Placa Nova to the west and Carrer de la Palla to the south. El Call, the medieval Jewish quarter, is located within this area too. The Gothic Quarter retains a labyrinthine street plan, with many small streets opening out into squares. Most of the quarter is closed to regular traffic although open to service vehicles and taxis. In this area you have a lot to see and to visit.

One stumbles upon quaint charming plazas for beers and tapas while gazing at the Gothic Cathedral, towers, and residences. Plus, walkways intended for clergy and royalty to use to enter the cathedral, rather then use commoners' entrances. Pablo Picasso lived in the Gothic area and his museum with his famous pieces are available for viewing in this area. Joan Miro, also lived in "el Gotic." Other Gothic Quarter highlights are the museum dedicated to Frederic Mares and the Museu d'Historia de la Ciutat. The latter houses the most extensive - and most impressive - underground Roman ruins in the world. If you visit then you can see and walk the streets of Roman Barcelona - and visit an exhibition dedicated to how the city grew in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Barcelonas old roman forum was on the same site that was later occupied by the ancient parliament of Catalonia and - later still - by the modern town hall. Not far away stand the amazing gothic cathedral and the royal palace - the scene of the welcome home party for Christopher Columbus as he returned from the new world in 1492. You can find the monument erected to mark his success at the other end of Las Ramblas - down by the beach.

The appeal of the Gothic district of Barcelona stands out even more when compared to the gird like pattern of the Eixample area. The Gothic district, composed of dozens of tiny streets, that prohibit most forms of motor vehicles, is home to some the of the city's finest restaurants hidden on these little tiny streets. One of the most interesting differences between Barcelona's Gothic district and the Eixample area, is the conception of space. Many of the apartments in Barcelona's Eixample area are big and spacious, each with its own personal water closet, or even two. But the idea of space was quite different in the Gothic district. Many Apartments in Barcelona there today share one water closet with every other apartment in the building, usually located in the basement. Another major aspect of the life of the Gothic District in the middle ages is the idea of Guilds. Guilds were groups of craftsmen that worked as both a training and apprenticeship organization as well as a labor union to protect workers rights. Throughout the Gothic District are many apartment buildings that were, at one time the residences of the workshops. The workshop and store would be on the bottom, street level. On the first floor, would be the living quarters of the owner of the guild. These floors have the biggest rooms with the highest ceilings and also the largest windows. On the floor above that would usually be the living quarters of the manager of the guild. And beyond that floor would be the living quarters of the guild workers.

Barcelonas Gothic Quarter is also popular for its restaurants and bars - and there are a number of Barcelona Apartments to rent for tourists and locals alike. The Barri Gotic lies just off Las Ramblas - one of the world's most famous streets. A stroll down it with its tree shaded central area lets you walk all the way to the seafront beach area - taking in the shops, cafes and mansions as you go. The name Las Ramblas or Les Rambles in Catalan comes from the Arab word Ramla - which means sand.