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The “palace row” of La Ribera is lined with Gothic architectural gems, including the 15th–century Palau Aguilar, home to the Museu Picasso. See Museu Picasso, and the 17th-century Palau Dalamses with its Gothic chapel.

This well-maintained medieval street is lined with traditional granges and xocolateries (confectionary cafés). Also here is the famous Sala Parés art gallery, founded in 1877, which once exhibited Picasso, Casas and other Catalan contemporaries.

You’ll find splendid Roman remains on Carrer Regomir, most notably within the medieval Pati Llimona. Two Roman towers are revealed on nearby Carrer del Correu Vell, and there are Roman walls on the leafy Plaça Traginers.

Sink your teeth into torró , the Spanish nougat-and-almond speciality. Casa Colomina, established in 1908, offers a tantalizing array.

At the foot of the Columbus statue (La Rambla), this long-time café is a choice spot to soak up the rays, knock back a beer and people-watch.

Founded in 1761, this is Barcelona’s oldest shop. Today you’ll find it crammed with every kind of candle imaginable.

In the heart of the Barri Gòtic is the beautifully preserved, medieval Plaça del Rei (Perfect Squares), presided over by the 13th- to 14th-century Palau Reial (royal palace). The impressive palace complex includes the Saló del Tinell, a massive hall crowned by Gothic arches, where Ferdinand and Isabel welcomed Columbus after his 1492 voyage to the Americas. The medieval Capella de Santa Àgata has a beautiful 15th-century altarpiece by Jaume Huguet. A visit to the Museu d`Història de la Ciutat gives access to the Palau Reial and to one of the largest underground excavations of Roman ruins on display in Europe.

Urbanites flock to this popular nightspot to groove to anything from Mambo Moves to Loungin’ chill-out tunes.

El Call was home to one of Spain’s largest Jewish communities until their expulsion in the 15th century. The dark streets of this ghetto are so narrow it is said you can tie a handkerchief across their width.