Barcino, Roman settlement in Gothic Quarter, Spain.
Barcino was a Roman settlement in what is now the Gothic Quarter, and its original rectangular street grid remains visible today. Thick stone walls about two meters across mark where the ancient buildings stood and daily life unfolded.
The settlement was founded during the reign of Emperor Augustus under the name Colonia Faventia Julia Augusta Pia Barcino. It served as a military colony for veterans returning from campaigns in the Iberian Peninsula.
The Jewish community established roots here by the 4th century and shaped the city's social fabric for centuries to come. Today you can still sense this presence in the narrow streets and the way different groups shared this medieval space.
Most remains are scattered throughout the quarter, but the Museum of History of Barcelona at Plaça del Rei is the main place to see everything together. There you can view Roman artifacts and walk through underground spaces from the Roman era.
Columns from the Temple of Augustus survive in a courtyard at Carrer del Paradís 10, marking the heart of the ancient forum. These overlooked stones reveal where religious ceremonies and public gatherings took place.
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