Barcelona's El Raval & Gothic Quarter: A Self-Guided Tour

Absorb art and unique architecture in the city that inspired Picasso and Gaudi on this self-guided audio tour. Immerse yourself in the magic of GPS playback on this walk through Barcelona.

• See art and unique architecture in the city that inspired Picasso and Gaudi while strolling along narrow lanes, hidden alleys and through popular squares
• Hear from producer John Hipper, an Australian now living in Spain who’s passionate about history
• Do it all in 75 minutes or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish
• Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it
• Use the virtual tour option at home

Barcelona is a captivating city that attracts visitors time and again. You too will be destined to return, or so the legend goes, once you’ve drunk fountain-water from Font de Canaletes or rubbed the crown jewels on Fernando Botero’s fat feline statue, El Gato de Botero. On this walking tour around the city, I’ll share its lesser-known stories as well as some of its myths, legends and folklore.

After leaving La Rambla, you’ll stroll through El Raval, once the most densely-populated urban area in all of Europe, and the city’s Red Light District. There, I’ll tell you about its connection to prostitution, and share the tale of Enriqueta Marti who was wrongly accused of being a serial killer. You’ll hear about the bread riots of 1789 and how Antoni Gaudi, the great Catalan Modernist architect, died tragically in an accident. You’ll cross over La Rambla into Plaça Reial (the Royal Plaza) and the Gothic Quarter, where you’ll find out how the small fortified Roman village of Barcino developed into the great city that Barcelona is today. I’ll show you where the stream that provided the village with water used to run and where the tombs of the dead used to line the ancient village wall. You’ll see slightly more modern attractions too, like the gothic-looking Cathedral of Barcelona and Pont de Bisbe (the Bishops Bridge).

On this tour, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Gaze upon one of Gaudi’s most understated buildings, Palau Güell (Güell Palace)
• Find out how Barcelona’s destitute mothers used to drop off unwanted babies through a hole in the wall at the House of Mercy
• Step into Mercat de la Boqueria, a food market that’s been operating since the 1100s
• Hear Can Culleretes Restaurant’s two origin stories and decide which one you believe
• Take a shortcut through Carrer d’Avinyo, which inspired Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d'Avignon painting
• Visit Meson del Cafe, where you’ll find the city’s best coffee and possibly bump into the mayor
• Soak up El Peto, the kissing mural composed of 4,000 photographic images of “freedom”, donated by the public

On this 75-minute walk, you’ll stroll along narrow lanes, hidden alleys and through popular squares like Plaça de Sant Jaume, Plaça Nova and Plaça Sant Felip Neri. You’ll hear about the city’s enchanting history, see its captivating architecture and find out about its quirky urban legends. Have your cameras ready, there are countless photographic opportunities along the way.

• Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, Barcelona, Spain
• El Gato de Botero, Rambla del Raval, Barcelona, Spain
• Plaça de Sant Jaume, Plaça de Sant Jaume, Barcelona, Spain
• La Rambla, La Rambla, Barcelona, Spain
• Plaça Reial, Plaça Reial, Barcelona, Spain
• Mercat de la Boqueria, La Rambla, Barcelona, Spain
• Cathedral of Barcelona, Pla de la Seu, Barcelona, Spain
• Plaça de la Vila de Madrid, Plaça de la Vila de Madrid, Barcelona, Spain
• Pont del Bisbe, Carrer del Bisbe, Barcelona, Spain
• Palau Güell, Carrer Nou de la Rambla, Barcelona, Spain
• Barcelona's Baby Drop-off, Carrer de les Ramelleres, Barcelona, Spain