Barcelona Roman Wall | Gothic Quarter Walking Route

About the Roman Wall Remains & Plaça Ramon Berenguer III

Step into the layered history of ancient Barcelona by exploring the surviving sections of the Roman city walls in the Gothic Centre. Roman Barcelona — known as Barcino — was a thriving Roman colony founded under Emperor Augustus. Its fortified Roman city walls defined the layout of the medieval old Roman town map that still shapes the Gothic Quarter today. These ancient stone walls were reinforced in the 3rd century by Emperor Claudius, adding 75 Roman watchtowers and gates to protect the growing Roman city.

Remarkably, the Roman wall remained intact for over a millennium until the 13th century, when King James I of Aragon commissioned a new medieval wall to enclose the expanding city. While most of the medieval wall has vanished, a small section survives near Avinguda Paral·lel beside the Barcelona Maritime Museum.

It’s worth noting that Barcelona was not the Roman capital of Hispania. That honor belonged to Tarraco (Tarragona), a city rich in Roman heritage and well worth a day trip for history enthusiasts.

Image Gallery For the Roman Wall Remains & Plaça Ramon Berenguer III

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Key Roman Wall Sites in the Gothic Quarter

Roman Barcelona City Walls — 1: North East city gate survives and is now part of the **Barcelona Dioceses Museum**.

3: Roman wall remains at **Plaza de Ramon Berenguer**. on top of which the 14th century Gothic Chapel of Santa Agueda now stands and at the bottom the remains of the original moat.

4: The remains of the merchants houses are preserved in the basement of the **Barcelona City History Museum**.

5: Four remaining columns of the **Temple of Augustus**.

6: The south east corner watch tower and Sea Gate can be found in **Plaza dels Traginers and MUHBA porta de Mar sites**.

Walking Route Along the Roman Wall

To explore the Roman wall remains in Barcelona, follow a route that traces the original outline of Barcino, the ancient Roman city. Begin at Plaça Nova, where the Roman gates are embedded in the Casa de la Ardiaca. From there, walk along Carrer de la Tapineria to Plaça Ramon Berenguer III, home to the Ramon Berenguer III statue and the Gothic chapel of Santa Àgata, which dramatically rises above the Roman city walls. Continue along Carrer del Sots and Carrer del Pom d'Or to reach Plaza dels Traginers, where the Sea Gate and southeast Roman watchtower still stand.

For a more immersive experience, follow my curated Gothic Quarter Walking Route, which guides you step-by-step along the Roman wall walking route in Barcelona. This self-guided tour connects key Roman ruins in the Gothic Quarter and offers insights into the transition from Roman Barcino to medieval Barcelona.

Roman Wall Remains Homepage

Accessability & What to take with you

The Roman ruins in Barcelona are fully viewable from the street, making them ideal for visitors seeking accessible Roman ruins or outdoor Roman ruins in Barcelona. Whether you're exploring with family, using a pushchair, or simply looking for free Roman sites in Barcelona, this route offers a rich experience of ancient Barcelona without barriers.

Roman Wall Remains & Plaça Ramon Berenguer III Summary of Prices

Train/Bus Fare Entry Ticket Additional Information Train/Bus Fare Entry Ticket Additional Information Adult Zone 1 T-casual FREE Child € 1.25 FREE

Getting to the Roman Wall Remains & Plaça Ramon Berenguer III

Address: Plaça de Ramon Berenguer el Gran, 08002 Barcelona

Take the Jaume I Metro station on the yellow (L4) line. From the metro, walk toward Carrer de la Tapineria to reach the plaza. Use a T-Casual card or the Hola Barcelona Travel Card for unlimited transport across the city.