Sant Felip Neri Square

The history is so sad, but the space is so peaceful and beautiful! There's a lovely soap shop located close by I recommend checking out too. This is one of my favorite places in Barcelona.

A tiny plaza like there are hundreds of all over Europe. The place is small with several trees that give it a good amount of shade in the summer. The architecture of the townhouses is pretty simple and forgettable , there is however, a simple baroque church the façade of which is scarred by bullet holes from the Spanish civil war, left in place as a reminder of the struggle. There is a restaurant in the plaza as well. Overall a nice, out of the way place to relax and have a beer, nothing mind blowing though.

A small plaque the size of a pizza box serves as a haunting reminder of how 42 people mostly children were killed here by bombardment. A calm and quiet Plaça provides a peaceful break amidst the bustling Gothic Quarter. Enjoy a delicious gelato and slowly take in its history and beauty.

Small but very beautiful historical plaza. It is a hidden treasure in Barcelona. You can still see the civil war's trace. There is a cafe here. Nice place to give a break.

Very picturesque square, a few steps away from Barcelona Cathedral. It can be accessed both from Carrer de Sant Sever and Plaça de Garriga i Bachs/Carrer del Bisbe/Carrer De Montjuïc Del Bisbe. We stayed in the wonderful Hotel Neri Relais et Châteaux which is right on the corner of Plaça de Sant Felip Neri. Also, the restaurant "a", opens into the square, on its one side. Even though those who are well familiar with the history of Barcelona, know that the place is far from authentic, with some houses having been moved into Plaça de Sant Neri from other locations, it is pretty much the case with dozens of other locations in Barri Gòtic. The school, still in operation today, was the site of one of the most tragic events during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) in Barcelona. In January 1938, the fascist regime of Franco, used its Italian allies', Mussolini's airforce to bomb the location. About 30 civilians, mostly children, were killed in the brutal attack. The traces of the shrapnel from the bombing are seen today in the school's wall. During certain school recreational activities, with the children playing outside, the square is cordoned off.

"An enjoyable and calm square in the heart of Barcelona", would be the headline of this comment. Impossible to not get in love with this small square just behind of main Cathedral and close to city hall. Unfortunately there are no public seats to stay more time relaxing there. It is also the place of one of saddest moments of Barcelona when 80 years ago in the civil war a bomb fallen down here and killed many children in the school in front of square.

A square that (probably due to its tragic history) seems to have an eerie feel about it that just made me come to a stop as I was walking through. It has a fountain and a few trees in the square and there's an old church bordering the square as well as a bar. It was extremely quiet during the morning when I was there, not a single other person at all.

To me, this is the most iconic place in Barcelona (not mentioning the fact that evanescence's my immortal ha been shot here). It's the hart of the Barrio Gotico : very quiet, very intimate and, at night, when none's around you can hear the sound of the small fountain in the middle of the square. The Neri's hotel is just overlooking Sant Felip Square.