THE CITY HISTORY MUSEUM

The City History Museum is divided into several sections in various locations around the Placa del Rei. To start, visitors can familiarize themselves with the earliest origins of the city by wandering around along the underground walkways beneath the square, which explore a vast area of excavations that have exposed evidence of the ancient Roman settlement of Barcino. Casa Padellils, a medieval mansion, was moved here stone by stone when the Via Laietana was created in 1930. Inside the mansion, carefully selected and thoroughly documented exhibits trace Barcelona's remarkable evolution through 2,000 years of history from its beginnings as a Roman trading post to its status as a wealthy 18th century metropolis. The highlight is the majestic barrel-vaulted banqueting hall - Solo de linell, the seat of the first Catalan parliament, and where Ferdinand and Isabella were said to have feted Christopher Columbus on his return from the Americas.