Placa Sant Just (St. Justus Square)

Welcome to Plaça Sant Just, one of Barcelona's most enchanting hidden gems, where you're standing in what many consider the most authentic medieval square remaining in the Gothic Quarter. As you take in this intimate space, you're experiencing Barcelona as it existed six centuries ago, virtually unchanged from the time when merchants and artisans filled these narrow cobblestone streets. The magnificent church before you, the Basilica of Saints Just and Pastor, holds the extraordinary distinction of being Barcelona's oldest parish church, with origins stretching back to the fourth century. The current Gothic structure you see was built in the fourteenth century, replacing an earlier Romanesque church that had served the community for centuries. Notice how the church's austere stone facade speaks to the Catalan Gothic style, with its clean lines and minimal ornamentation that contrasts beautifully with the more elaborate Gothic cathedrals you might have seen elsewhere in Europe. The church's bell tower, rising above you, has been calling faithful to prayer for over six hundred years. Step closer to examine the Gothic fountain at the square's center, which local historians believe to be the oldest surviving fountain in Barcelona, dating to 1367.