Plaça de Sant Jaume has been the political heart of Barcelona for over 2,000 years. It stands on the site of the ancient Roman forum of Barcino and remains a place for decisions, celebrations and protest. On one side is the Ajuntament; on the other, the Palau de la Generalitat. Between them lies a restrained square that holds both history and the present at once. Sporting victories are marked here, traditional festivals spill into the space and people gather to make their voices heard. It is not just a square: it is where Barcelona speaks out.
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Its current form dates from the 1823 redevelopment, when the old church of Sant Jaume, which gave the square its name, was demolished.
