LLEI D'ART 10

Desde aquí, proponemos descubrir el Barrio Judío de Barce- lona: El Call . Era el barrio con mayor densidad de población de toda la ciudad y con los edificios más altos. Conserva dos sinagogas, una de ellas de reciente descubrimiento. Cuando en el 1391 tuvo lugar un ataque a los judíos, éstos se vieron obligados a refugiarse y convertirse, marcando así el final de la comunidad judía de la ciudad. La Sinagoga del Call es ahora una asociación ubicada donde antaño lo estaba la Sinagoga Mayor de Barcelona, la más antigua de Europa. En este mismo barrio se encuentran el Palacio Episcopal, la Iglesia de San Felipe Neri y la famosa Plaza San Jaime. La plaza de San Felipe Neri acoge la Iglesia del santo que la bautiza, de aire barroco. Muchas de estas plazas públicas eran antiguos cementerios parroquiales, como es el caso de esta plaza, que se erige sobre el antiguo cementerio medieval de Montjuïc del Bisbe . La plaza está rodeada de edificios de estilo renacentista y en el centro encontramos una fuente de base octogonal. En la fachada de la Iglesia, podemos observar restos de la metralla de una bomba de la Guerra Civil, artefacto que, cuando explotó, causó decenas de muertos, en su mayoría niños refugiados. El palacio Episcopal, en origen de aire gótico catalán, aúna Nearby, in Palla Street, we might come across the peals of the octagonal belltower of Santa Maria del Pi church, a pure example of the Gothic style, with a single nave surrounded by chapels with beautiful stained-glass that are unfortunately not the originals, albeit wonderfully restored by José María Pujol. The façade of the main door is home to a sculpture of the Virgin bearing two pine cones, in honour of the church’s name. The latter comes from the fact that it is said that there was a pine forest on the site of the building, and one can in fact be found opposite the church. If the ‘El Call’ quarter can be found to our right as we walk down Bisbe Street, now we will head to the left, known as Plaça Nova (New Square), where we can find the Cathedral of Santa Eulàlia, known as Barcelona Cathedral. The seat of the archbishopric, the building was constructed between the 13 th and 15 th century on top of an old Romanesque cathedral, which was in turn built on top of a Visigothic church. The cathedral is dedicated to the Holy Cross and was later dedicated to Santa Eulàlia, the patron saint of the city, and currently known as the Virgen de la Mercè. They say that the saint –mercilessly hunted and tortured by the judge Dacian, one of the Roman emperor’s minions– was exposed naked one spring in the city’s forum, when a miraculous snowfall covered her body. Next, her punishers put her body into a barrel full of broken glass, nails and shrapnel and threw it down a street that is now known as Santa Eulàlia’s Slope. She was given as many punishments as she was years old, until she was finally crucified. As architectural emblems of the city we should not pass over the main façade, the lantern tower, the doors (including one main door and four others than provide access to the interior), the bell towers, the gargoyles, the Chapel of Santa Llúcia, the main altar, the stained class, the keystones, the crypt of Santa Eulàlia, the Choir, the Retrochoir, the Old Chapter House; the Internal Chapels (it contains 27), the Sacristy and the royal tombs. A touch further on we can find Ramón Berenguer III ‘The Great’ Square, the Count of Barcelona between 1096 and 1131 represented by a statue on horseback by Josep Llimona. The element to focus on in this medieval square is the section of Roman wall that, if we look closer, will reveal itself to be made of parts of other building. Originally the wall was 15 metres (50 feet) high and had 74 towers. A little further on, where we can now find the entrance to Jaume I metro station is Plaça de l’Àngel (Angel Square), cut in half by Via Laietana. The square has various names according to the locals, such as ‘Corregters’ (Strapmakers), ‘Blat’ (Wheat) for the cereals bought and sold here or ‘Cabrits’ (Goats) for the sale of goats around Easter, amongst other names. This is where Sant Jaume Street starts, which ends in the square of the same name, the centre of ancient Barcino, where we can currently find the Palace of the Catalan Generalitat (regional government) and Barcelona City Council. This is one of the more recent squares, as it was built on top of the remains of the demolished Sant Jaume church. Turning down Bisbe Street, and with the help of Basílica de la Merced/ Basilica of La Merced. Foto Josep Renalías 129