Plaça de Sant Just
This small, tranquil square just south of the cathedral may be the site of Barcelona’s oldest church. The assymetrical 14th century Basilica dels Sants Just i Pastor stands on the footprint of the original 4th-century basilica, built to honor two early Christian martyrs. Through glass-covered openings in the floor you can glimpse remains of a previous Visigoth church, and even older foundations. It is said that the statue of Our Lady of Montserrat resided here until she was removed to the mountains for safekeeping when Moorish armies invaded in the 8th century. The interior is full of mysterious surprises, including several images of the damned burning in hell. The fountain in the plaza, believed to be the city’s oldest water source, was carved of Montjuïc stone in 1367. Above its three pipes you’ll see an image of one-handed Sant Just, another of the royal shield, and a third of a shield showing a hawk catching a partridge. In Roman times, Jews and Christians came to this square to trade.
This small, tranquil square just south of the cathedral may be the site of Barcelona’s oldest church. The assymetrical 14th century Basilica dels Sants Just i Pastor stands on the footprint of the original 4th-century basilica, built to honor two early Christian martyrs. Through glass-covered openings in the floor you can glimpse remains of a previous Visigoth church, and even older foundations. It is said that the statue of Our Lady of Montserrat resided here until she was removed to the mountains for safekeeping when Moorish armies invaded in the 8th century. The interior is full of mysterious surprises, including several images of the damned burning in hell. The fountain in the plaza, believed to be the city’s oldest water source, was carved of Montjuïc stone in 1367. Above its three pipes you’ll see an image of one-handed Sant Just, another of the royal shield, and a third of a shield showing a hawk catching a partridge. In Roman times, Jews and Christians came to this square to trade.
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