DK Travel : Barcelona : Editor's choice

Carrer de Santa Llúcia

At weekends, amateur opera singers perform on this medieval street, home to the Casa de l’Ardiaca Casa de L’Ardiaca, which has a ravishing little patio.
Carrer del Bisbe

Medieval Carrer del Bisbe is flanked by the Gothic Cases dels Canonges (House of Canons) and the Palau de la Generalitat (Carrer del Bisbe). Connecting the two is an eye-catching Neo-Gothic arched stone bridge (1928).
Carrer Montcada

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.
Carrer Petritxol

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.
Carrer Regomir & Carrer del Correu Vell

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.
El Call

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.
Església de Sant Just i Sant Pastor

This picturesque Gothic church (1342) has sculptures inside that date back to the 9th century.
Església de Santa Anna

Mere paces from La Rambla is the unexpected tranquillity of this Romanesque church, with a leafy, 15th–century, Gothic cloister.
Plaça de Ramon Berenguer el Gran

This square boasts one of the largest intact sections of Barcelona’s Roman walls.
Plaça de Sant Felip Neri

Sunlight filters through tall trees in this hidden oasis of calm. The plaça is home to the Museu del Calçat (Top 10 Quirky Museums).