URBAN TREK IN BARCELONA: commemoration of 300 years of the Barcelona conquest in 1714

In 1714, after a severe siege of 14 months, the Spanish trops of the King Felip V conquered Barcelona and Catalonia lost its freedom.
Three centuries later, Catalonia commemorates in 2014 this historical event and claimed to the recovery of its freedom.

The Council of Barcelona and the Association of trekking and hiking BARNATRESC organized a popular walk that allow us to visit the main sites of the siege and the facts occurred in Barcelona during the succession war.

You can find more information of this commemoration in:

http://tricentenari.gencat.cat
http://tricentenari.bcn.cat
http://tricentenari.gencat.cat/ca/agenda/activitatcontent/Ruta-1714/

If you want to visit the main historical sites and know how the succession war occurred and how Barcelona was conquered, follow this interesting itinerary. You can find more information at:

http://www.euro-senders.com/barnatresc/propera.htm
http://www.euro-senders.com/barnatresc/img/caminades/guia_caminada.pdf

Walk starts at the Parc de la Ciutadella. This area was transformed in the Spanish troop headquarters since the conquest and from here, the troops organized the control of the town. The way cross the Born Centre Cultural where you can visit the ruins of the quarter demolished by King Felip V to built the Ciutadella. More information at:

http://elborncentrecultural.bcn.cat/ca/jaciment

The walk continues following the Montcada street and cross the Roman Chapel of Marcús. After this nice building, you arrive to the medieval convent of Sant Agusti (do nor forget to visit the gothic cloisters inside). From here, we arrive to the convent of Sant Pere de les Puel.les, and latter, the Ronda de Sant Pere where the old walls of the town were erected. Huge battles occurred here in 1714. Here, the statue of Rafel Casanova commemorate the figure of the defender of the town in 1714.

You cross the Urquinaona Square and, arriving to the Catalonia square, turn left and follow the Portal de l'Àngel street arriving to the Cathedral and the Roman walls. From the Cathedral Square, we continue to the west and walk along the Rambles until the Hospital street. Turn right and continue this street passing in front of the medieval Hospital of Santa Creu (nice gothic gardens inside!).

We reach the Ronda of Sant Antoni; from here turn left and you arrive to the Roman monastery of Sant Pau, a jewel of Roman architecture in Barcelona (do not forget to visit it!). Continue along the Paral.lel street and you reach the medieval shipyard of Barcelona (called Drassanes), close to the Colom statue at the end of Rambles. At the east you can see the Montjuïc hill; from here Spanish trops bombed this site of the town.

Crossing again the Rambles, we walk along the Carrer Ample until the Basilica of La Mercè, of Baroque stile.

Turn right and walk along the Regomir street until the Sant Jaume Square, where the Catalan Gouvernment and the Council of Barcelona are placed. Before reach the Square, at the Regomir Street, enter to the Pati Llimona Civic Center and visit the archaeological remains of the maritime door of Barcelona Roman walls. If you can visit the Council, do not forget to take a look to the medieval Consell de Cent: it is absolutely impressive.

From Sant Jaume Square, turn right and walk direction to the Via Laietana and reach Santa Maria del Mar following the Argentera street. This church is a jewel of the catalan gothic stile. Follow direction to the see, crossing the Pla de Plau and reaching the Old Harbour. From here, cross the maritime Barceloneta quarter -in the past occupied by fishermen- and reach the beach. Follow eastern the maritime promenade to the Villa Olimpica district and walk again to the Ciutadella Park.

You can do the walk and it visiting some places in 3-4 hours.