Plaça de la Virreina & Sant Joan Baptista Church

About Plaça de la Virreina & Sant Joan Baptista Church

Plaça de la Virreina is one of my favorite squares in Barcelona framed by tall trees with the parish church of Sant Joan dating from 1884. Around the edges of this pedestrian square, there are many bars and restaurants with terraces, perfect in summer to come after work to have a drink and tapas.

Plaça de la Virreina is in the semi-pedestrianised naighbourhood of Gràcia and the square is only bordered by a street where cars pass. The square was created in 1878 by the architect Josep Artigas. It has a rare element on its left side, it is a plaque in homage to the gymnast Joaquín Blume, who was born in the neighborhood.

The square takes its name from the mansion the Viceroy of Peru, Manuel Amat who upon his death passed on his great wealth to his young widow María Francesca de Fivaller i de Brúa. Before his death he built her a palace on La Rambla, which bears the vicereine's name Palau de la Virreina, Virreina being the feminine version of Viceroy.

The fountain of Ruth with it's beautiful bronze sculpture by Josep M. Camps Arnau was dedicated in 1949. The most curious thing about this sculpture is that every morning, for years, somebody has placed a bouquet of flowers in the girl's arms which are removed before they wilt. Nobody knows who replaces the flowers.

Image Gallery for Plaça de la Virreina & Sant Joan Baptista Church

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