Right in the heart of the old town adjacent to the cathedral you'll find the fascinating Museu d'Història de Barcelona. In one compact space, this unique site encompasses centuries of civilization in Barcelona:- ruins of the old Roman city of Barcino from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD;
- remnants of political and ecclesiastical buildings from the Visigoth era (300-700 AD);
- medieval spaces, including the Chapel of Santa Àgata, begun in 1302; and
- the steps up which Christopher Columbus strode to report the discovery of the New World to Fernando and Isabel of Spain.
The Barcino excavations are accessed via an elaborate underground network of suspended glass walkways that float over and alongside an impressive villa with gorgeous tile work and ancient workshops devoted to the important activities of laundry and dyeing, fish salting, and wine making.
Total walking time: approximately 20 minutes . . . unless, of course, you stop to ooh and ahh!
PS: your 7 euro ticket to the Plaça del Rei site also admits you to another dozen MUHBA sites.
