On the other side of the palace there is another delightful courtyard which leads in the Museu Frederic Marès with its medieval sculpture collection
A Time and a Place
Plaça del Rei may be small, but it is dense with history. The Royal Palace - the Palau Reial Major - has enclosed the square for centuries, cupping it from the winds of time. As such, the Plaça del Rei is imbued with Barcelona’s Middle Ages splendour, and is perhaps one of the best windows into the city’s past.
The palace was the residence of the Catalan counts and King of Aragon who reigned during the Middle Ages. It dates from the 11th century, but underwent alterations in the 13th century. As a result, it’s a fine example of Gothic architecture, mingled with Romanesque elements.
Set in Stone
The highlight of the palace is surely the Salo del Tinell, a magnificent banquet hall which was added in the 14th century and now houses the temporary exhibitions of the city history museum. The museum itself can be entered by the stairs to the Palau Clariana-Padellàs, which was moved to this spot stone by stone from Carrer Mercarders early in the 20th century.
On the other side of the square you will find the Royal Chapel of St. Agatha, with its unique octagonal bell tower in the shape of a crown. Within the chapel is an outstanding example of Catalan Gothic art, Jaume Huguet’s Epiphany, and its ceiling is covered with striking polychrome tiles.
Hearsay
The steps that fan out from the corner of the square were allegedly where King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella stood to greet Christopher Columbus when he arrived home after his first voyage to the New World.
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