Surrounded by imposing buildings and giant department stores, Plaza Catalunya is undoubtedly the heart and soul of Barcelona. Smack-dab in the center of the city, it’s the meeting point of the main thoroughfares, like the Rambla, the Paseo de Gracia, the Rambla de Cataluña, and the wide avenues that lead to the University, San Pedro, and calle Pelayo, not to mention the Portal del Ángel, the city’s busiest shopping district, and the site the of the old city walls.

The plaza spans an area of 5 hectares, upon what was once an esplanade of the city’s surrounding towns, just in front of the main gates. This location made it the natural meeting place between the city’s urban center and the towns and villages that were built around it, so it was an ideal spot for outdoor markets, and a major center of life and activity for the city and suburban dwellers alike.

The plaza’s present-day iteration was inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII in 1927, and is considered the center of Barcelona and Km 0 of Cataluña. It’s also the first and last stop for most of the city’s bus routes leading to all sorts of destinations near and far, as well as stations for the city’s underground Metro, commuter rail, and regional train services.

The plaza also stands out for the various sculptures by famous artists that can be found along its perimeters, among them Josep Clarà’s Diosa, Frederic Marès’s Barcelona, and Pablo Gargallo’s Pastor, as well as works by Josep Llimona and Enrique Casanovas. Josep Maria Subirach’s monument to Francesc Macià is particularly worth noting – and seeing.

The large open space enveloped by the plaza is also frequently the site of public concerts and celebrations, as well as regularly programmed exhibitions and competitions.