THE  PLACA SANT JAUME

Once the hub of Roman Barcelona, this impressive square today represents the city's political heart, and is dominated by two buildings; the neoclassical and Gothic Casa de la Ciutat (Town Hall) and, directly opposite, the Renaissance Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia).

The origins of Barcelona's municipal authority date back to 1249, when Jaume I granted the city the right to elect councilors, giving rise to the creation of the Consell de Cent (Council of One Hundred). The famous Salo de Cent (Chamber of One Hundred) and the black marble Salo de las Cronicas (Chamber of the Chronicles) are among the architectural highlights of the Town Hall.