City Hall (Casa de la Ciutat / Ayuntamiento)
City Hall (Casa de la Ciutat / Ayuntamiento)
City Hall (Casa de la Ciutat / Ayuntamiento)
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Neighbourhood: Barrio Gòtico (Barri Gòtic)
With its iconic, old-Europe streets and alleys, this picturesque neighbourhood is the very heart of Barcelona. It blends historic artifacts from its days under Roman dominion up through the Spanish Civil War with a vibrant modern-day culture of artisan shops and authentic culinary experiences. Avid explorers will be thrilled to discover quaint terraces and plazas brought to life by the many small bars and local musicians lasting late into the night. Fashionistas will be drawn to Portal de L’Angel, which is lined with well-known brand names and smaller boutique stands.
How to get there
- Jaume I • 3 min walk
- Liceu • 5 min walk
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4.0
190 reviews
Excellent
57
Very good
90
Average
42
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia34,571 contributions
May 2023 • Family
Barcelona's City Hall is striking in its small size. I doubt that all the officials fit into this modest building, originally built in the XIV century on the Plaça San Jaume in the Gothic Quarter. The City Hall is located just opposite the building of the Government of Catalonia (Generalitat). Little remains of the former Gothic facade. The building acquired its current neoclassical facade in 1830-1847. Designed by architect Jose Mas y Vela.
Written 31 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BGJ-DC
Washington DC, DC4,737 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Barcelona’s City Hall, the Ajuntament, is open to the public for free on Sunday mornings (10am to 1pm when we went). It is well worth making time to visit. The Ajuntament is a working city hall that oozes history and art. Among other attractions, the hall features the massive and dazzling 14th century Salo de Cent – the Catalan Gothic meeting hall of the Consell de Cent; impressive sculpture by Catalan masters, including Miro and Mares, and a room full of murals by Josep Maria Sert depicting the campaign against the Turks led by Roger de Flor. The building has been altered significantly and enlarged over time, from its Gothic origins to its neo-Gothic façade on Placa Sant Jaume, and it is interesting to trace the changes from the interior. The pamphlet for visitors is somewhat confusing, but docents in the building offer helpful information and orient you. Note that this TA entry is somewhat confusing, as many of the reviews discuss only the outside of the building in Placa Sant Jaume, and not the interior.
Written 2 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BhawaniPathania
Mumbai, India3,683 contributions
There we were..trying to locate the address of our segway ride. And suddenly the narrow lane opened up into a square with beautiful buildings. Then we realised that this place is called the city hall and houses some important government offices.
Barcelona is a beautiful city and an architectural delight. The city hall is no exception. Make a wonderful backdrop for some memorable photographs.
Barcelona is a beautiful city and an architectural delight. The city hall is no exception. Make a wonderful backdrop for some memorable photographs.
Written 11 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil K
Liverpool, UK829,522 contributions
Sept 2018 • Friends
For architectural gems Placa Sant Jaume is a great square to check out on any holiday to Barcelona your planning, some great buildings in this square including City Hall ( Casa De La Ciutat ).
This is a wonderful building built in the very evocative Neo Classical style of architecture, I think this building may be free to enter but on our resent holiday it was most definitely not open to the public,there was a peaceful gathering of people demonstrating for independence for Catalunya.
The building makes for some great photographic opportunities and is most definitely well worth checking out.
Way to locate on Placa De Jaume.
This is a wonderful building built in the very evocative Neo Classical style of architecture, I think this building may be free to enter but on our resent holiday it was most definitely not open to the public,there was a peaceful gathering of people demonstrating for independence for Catalunya.
The building makes for some great photographic opportunities and is most definitely well worth checking out.
Way to locate on Placa De Jaume.
Written 13 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,708 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
Sunday is the only day that Barcelona's 15th-century City Hall opens its doors to the public. As an architecture buff, I was disappointed to learn that when I saw its magnificent neoclassical facade on the south side of the big rectangular Placa Sant Jaume on a Saturday afternoon. I had seen photos of its stunning interior and wanted to go inside but had to content myself with careful scrutiny of the exterior, because I was leaving for Andorra early the next day.
The entrance is flanked by nicely done statues of King James I and his adviser, Joan Fiveller, in vaulted niches. Columns support the upper porch, in the middle of the three-story structure. I especially enjoyed the unexpected Gothic facade with stained-glass windows on the side, essentially untouched during later renovations. Earlier-era lampposts, each with five light fixtures, along the front of the building provide pleasing visual elements.
The City Hall opens on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Visitors can go on a self-guided tour (brochures provided) or take a guided tour. One in English begins at 10 a.m.
The entrance is flanked by nicely done statues of King James I and his adviser, Joan Fiveller, in vaulted niches. Columns support the upper porch, in the middle of the three-story structure. I especially enjoyed the unexpected Gothic facade with stained-glass windows on the side, essentially untouched during later renovations. Earlier-era lampposts, each with five light fixtures, along the front of the building provide pleasing visual elements.
The City Hall opens on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Visitors can go on a self-guided tour (brochures provided) or take a guided tour. One in English begins at 10 a.m.
Written 28 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fun_travelers_3
New York City, NY188 contributions
June 2017 • Friends
This was never on our list of places to see but our walking tour guide suggested it so we went in for a quick visit and ended up staying about an hour. The inside is absolutely beautiful, the staff is friendly and helpful (they answered questions about the art, the rooms, etc.). It was an unexpected but very pleasant visit! I would definitely recommend stopping in if you have time. Entrance is free and you learn a lot about the government/culture.
Written 13 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Moses P
London, UK828 contributions
June 2017
It is a MUST see architecture with beautiful interiors. Some people may not be aware that one can visit the City Hall. Entrance is free and it is amazing inside all the rooms which are decorative and ornated. History speaks for itself. There are no restrictions to take photographs but do have some respect for the place as it is a working Government building.
Written 24 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
London_foodies
New York City, NY352 contributions
July 2016 • Family
Tucked inside the narrow lanes of the Barri Gotic, this building is much nicer from inside. We visited on a Sunday morning and were lucky enough to be able to visit it (we understand it's only open a few days a month). Some rooms are quite impressive, with frescos and historic furniture.
Written 25 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
emloue
Redcar, UK269 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
The sign outside advertised a bit of gothic history. Once through the security we were blown away. This is a working city hall decorations going back 700 years in places, site of a revolution and where they store their carnival Giants. Yes you get to see it all for free and it's mind blowing. Oh and twice a day they do a free string quartet in the salo de cent. Really a gem not to be missed if you find yourself in las ramblas.
Written 28 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diane K
Venice, FL4,582 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
The main floor and first floor are open free for visiting on Sunday's from 10 to 1:30. You can take a guided tour - or visit on your own with a pamphlet written in English. We chose to tour on our own - vs. waiting 25 minutes. The upstairs rooms are quite beautiful. I also enjoyed the various works of art that they had around. You enter through a door in the back of the building - vs. entering through the main square door.
Written 28 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
La visita è possibile solo la domenica mattina? C'è un sito dove occorre prenotare o bisogna recarsi direttamente sul posto? Quanto tempo dura la visita? Grazie in anticipo.
Written 15 February 2017
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