A journey back in time through the Palau Reial Major in Barcelona

If you walk through the Gothic Quarter, you will realise that Barcelona is a city steeped in history with emblematic buildings such as the Palau Reial Major, located in Plaça del Rei. Surely you've passed in front of the main building of the MUHBA and you've noticed it, but do you know its history? This architectural complex has undergone a long and complex evolution, with successive alterations that have modified the structure and aesthetics to adapt them to the needs and tastes of the time.

On 27 April, you can enjoy a guided activity run by the MUHBA to explore the spaces that formed part of the old palace of the Catalan Counts and observe the transformation of this majestic building.

Barcelona's County Palace underwent a remarkable transformation over the course of the 14th and 15th centuries, from a Romanesque building to a Gothic royal palace, becoming the most important and symbolic palace of the Catalan-Aragonese monarchy. The building received the epithet major when Pere el Cerimoniós built another one in the city, the minor or queen's, to compensate for the loss of residential space caused by the enlargement of the great ceremonial hall. This is the Saló de Paraments, known today as the Saló del Tinell, designed by Guillem Carbonell and built between 1359 and 1370, one of the best examples of Catalan civil Gothic architecture. 

Later, in the 16th century, it was converted into the Sala de les Escrivanies de la Reial Audiència, except for a small section in the southern sector, which together with a large part of the palace complex was assigned to the Inquisition Tribunal. Between 1722 and 1936, the space was occupied by the church of the Benedictine monastery of Santa Clara, until 1937, when it was demolished and the Saló del Tinell was recovered.

Demolitions over the years and restorations have left as the only relic of the original Gothic work of Jaume II the Capella Reial, known as the Chapel of Santa Àgata, built on the Roman wall between 1302 and 1318. 

Take the opportunity to discover the history of the city in depth, thanks to the guided tour of the Palau Reial Major de Barcelona, which will take place on 27 April, from 11.30 am to 1 pm. The ticket price is 7,5 € and, if you want to buy it, you can do it from the website of the Museu d'Història de Barcelona (MUHBA).