Baixada de Santa Eulalia and the Roman wall
This street, Baixada de Santa Eulalia, was joint to Carrer de Sant Sever and they both formed Carrer de la Volta. Baixada de Santa Eulalia ended at the Roman wall, which was opened in 1394.
The northern boundary of el Call
The current odd-numbered houses in the streets Baixada de Santa Eulalia and Sant Sever were the northern boundary of el Call in the 14th century.
San Sever, a former Roman “cardo minor”
The street named Carrer de la Volta (Vault) which today is Carrer de Sant Sever and baixada de Santa Eulalia, was, in Roman times, a former cardo minor, which followed the cardo maximus (Carrer del Call) in a parallel line.
Carrer Marlet, section of the Call where more religious and scholars lived.
This street was one of the three entrances that lead directly to the Synagogue Major. One of the names this road was known by was Women’s school or Synagogue. It is thought that there was an adjacent building, or a separate entrance, for women to enter the Synagogue. (Image: Gravestone commemorating the Jewish Pia Almoina (heqdesh), founded by Rabbi Samuel Ha-Sardi, placed back into the building in 1820).
Sant Honorat, a street of doctors and surgeons
This street, Carrer Sant Honorat, is where a lot of physicians and surgeons lived. They worked for the king and they needed to live as close to the Royal Palace (Palau Reial Major) as possible in case they were required for a medical emergency in the court. (Picture: Hagadà de Barcelona (British Library, Londres).
The street of the french synagogue
This street was also known as the French School Street, there was a synagogue for French exiles. (Image: Arch Street San Ramon del Call. On the right, the medieval house belonging Interpretation Centre Call (MUHBA).
El carrer del Call, l’antic carrer dels Torners: un carrer ple de comerç
Antic cardo maximus de Bàrcino, en època medieval era conegut com a carrer dels Torners i donava accés al call. Era un dels carrers més dinàmics comercialment, car s’hi trobaven nombrosos mercadals i botigues.
The ancient Carrer dels Banys Freds (cold baths)
This site was in the confluence of two areas of cultural and religious significance in the Call: Banys Freds (cold baths) and the Synangoge dels Francesos (French Synagogue).
Synagogue of Massot Evangenà
There were several synagogues in the Jewish quarter. One of the most important ones was the synagogue of Massot Evangenà, that was located at number 4 at Carrer Sant Sever. (Image: Haggadà de Kaufmann, Catalonia (s. XIV). Budapest.)
El carrer de la Carnisseria o de la Sinagoga Major
Streets at the Call normally were named referring to important sites that were on that same street. The street known today as Carrer de Sant Domenec was the main street of the Jewish quarter. It was Carrer de la Carnisseria (Butcher’s) or Sinagoga Major.
The riots in 1391
The street named Carrer de Sant Domenec del Call was chosen because on the 5th of August in 1391, the day of the riots, was Sant Domenec religious name’s day.
These serious riots marked the disappearance of the Jewish quarter in Barcelona. The social, economical and political situations in Barcelona at the end of the 14th centuries weren’t easy. (Picture: riots in 1391. Josep Segrelles, ca. 1910)
One of the gates to enter the Call (Jewish quarter)
The main street of the Call was Carrer de Sant Domenec but at the time it was known as Carrer Carnisseria (Butcher), Major Synagoge or Major School. This street was the entry to the Call, Jewish Quarter.
Banys Nous (New Baths)
In this street is where the Baths of the city were, hence the name. They were built in 1160 after the Count Ramon Berenguer IV granted permission to Abraham Bonastruc to build them.
La muralla romana de Banys Nous i el permís reial de Jaume I per a esberlar-la.
En el veí núm. 16 de Banys Nous, s’hi ha localitzat un tram de muralla romana, que conserva tota la seva alçada. (Imatge: Permís Reial de Jaume I a Samuel Bonastruc per esberlar la muralla romana 1258)
Jewish presence in Barcelona
Jewish life in Barcelona is not clearly documented until the 12th century. The exact date of the first settlement of the Jewish community in Barcelona and its expansion around Catalonia it is not yet known. (Picture: The Barcelona Haggadah).
Per què aquest carrer es diu Baixada de Santa Eulàlia?
El carrer rebé aquest nom per Santa Eulàlia, primera patrona de Barcelona, qui, segons la llegenda, fou martiritzada als 13 anys en aquest indret, durant el regnat de l’emperador romà Dioclecià (segle III).
The market at Carrer de la Volta
(Image: News published in the newspaper. Years ago, the building of St. Sever Street no. 3, was a board for Catholics and priests, called “LA VERDAD Pension”).
The old Vault of the Call
In medieval times, these streets Carrer de Sant Sever and Baixada de Santa Eulalia were one single street, Carrer Volta del Call (the Vault of the Jewish Quarter). This street went from the current Carrer del Bisbe up to the Roman wall. That section of the wall was demolished in 1394.
The alleys of the Call or Jewish Quarter
Within the limits of the Call had up to 8 deadlocks (o cul-de-sac) within the islands. Only the current streets of St. Philip Neri has remained a way, the rest are missing. (Image: Street of St. Philip Neri and St. Severus. Plant excavations of 2001 (according to N. Nolasco).
Archaeological finds: Roman domus and medieval wells and silos
Archaeological excavations carried out in this building helped to trace the different historical periods of the area: the remains were from Roman and medieval times, as well as some remains from the 13th up to the 19th century.
The origins of the Palau de la Generalitat
The Palau de la Generalitat, the Catalan Government headquarters, was built in 1401 after several Jewish homes and buildings were demolished, among them the synagogue Xica and the house of the poet Moixé Natan.
The House of the poet Samuel Bonastruc
Towards the end of the 14th century, this was a poet’s house, Samuel Bonastruc. It was located where today we find number 9 Carrer de Sant Honorat.
La font de Sant Honorat
El carrer de Sant Honorat era conegut en època medieval com a Carrer de la Font. Aquesta font gòtica fou construïda el 1357, en temps del rei Pere el Cerimoniós, amb la finalitat d’estalviar als jueus episodis de baralla i trencadissa amb els cristians. (Imatge: Excavacions al palau de la Generalitat (1907).
The street grocers and apothecaries
Engaged in trade and production of drugs, drugs, culinary spices, dyes, candy, candles and perfumes. A trade between the pharmacy and the art of transforming products through formulas.
Who were the booksellers who settled here?
In 1540 the street was known as the booksellers or Llibreteria. Vendors were scrolls of paper, blank books or other desktop objects. He also worked as binders (pictured, a book of notary).
Llibreteria Street was the scene of many civic festivals.
During the Middle Ages and the Modern Era usual civic festivals were held in public spaces. The street was decorated with Llibreteria ephemeral architecture and spectacular decorations (pictured, King Alfonso the Magnanimous, promoter of these events).
Francesc Ferrer, one of the spice of the street
On the street lived the grocer Llibreteria Francesc Ferrer. His house had a bakery, a shop and private stays. He died in 1410, leaving several debts. To pay the heirs had to auction the objects of the deceased.
Freneria, of Hospital Street to the street of artisans
The street was home to the medieval Freneria d’en Guitart Hospital, where he was attending poor, pilgrims and the sick. Later, Count Ramon Berenguer IV (are displaying his trademark) transformed this space into homes and workshops.
Stones of ancient Roman buildings to new buildings
The houses Miraculum environment (as called Roman ruins) were built with materials taken from these old buildings. In the image, the sale of a house.
A street tied to the history of the Cathedral
In the fourteenth century most of the houses on this street or staying belonged to the clergy. Religious processions passed through the streets of Freneria. Later, the fairs were held here Christmas.
¿ De donde proviene el nombre de la calle Freneria ?
La frenería era un oficio especializado en la confección de productos del ajuar militar. El nombre deriva de los frenos: los instrumentos de metal que se atan a las riendas y se colocan en el morro de los caballos. En la imagen, el escudo del gremio de los freneros. Tenéis este escudo bien cerca…
In this block of houses was an oven very important for Barcelona.
The furnaces were referral facilities because it was the place where families not only brought the bread to bake, but also their food.
The jail was here until 1839
The prison was in Barcelona this property until the nineteenth century. That is why this street would bear the name of Lowering the prison for many years.
You are in front of the old jail in Barcelona!
This place was in jail during the Middle Ages. At that time the prison had join deplorable conditions. Relatives of the defendants chose not to enter. Visits were made through a window overlooking the street.
Tras la pista de un castillo medieval
Este inmueble que tiene delante es de origen medieval, tal y como lo acredita la ventana lobulada del primer piso.
