[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Secci\u00f3n” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” max_width_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”|60px||60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Today’s <\/span>Barcelona<\/span><\/b>, with its bustling atmosphere and modernity, hides beneath its streets the heart of an ancient city: the <\/span>old Barcino<\/span><\/b>. Founded between 15 and 10 BC under the full name of <\/span>Colonia Iulia Augusta Faventia Paterna Barcino<\/span><\/b>, this small city was built on <\/span>Mons T\u00e0ber<\/span><\/b>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With the fall of the Roman Empire and the arrival of the Visigoths, Barcino ceased to exist as such and its inhabitants laid the foundations for <\/span>medieval Barcelona<\/span><\/b>. Today, visitors can encounter remnants of this ancient past in the Gothic Quarter and its surroundings. Fragments of the <\/span>ancient defensive wall<\/span><\/b>, remains of the aqueduct and columns recovered from the Temple of Augustus evoke Barcino in the middle of the modern city. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Next, we will discover how modern <\/span>Barcelona <\/span><\/b>keeps the traces of its Roman origins alive. If you arrive at <\/span>Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Girona Airport, Reus Airport or Camp de Tarragona AVE train station<\/span><\/b>, we recommend <\/span>Shuttle2Sun<\/span><\/a>‘s <\/span>shared transfer services<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>private transfer services<\/span><\/a> to take you to the heart of <\/span>Barcelona<\/span><\/b>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||30px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|60px|30px|60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The<\/span> Roman colony of Barcino<\/span><\/b> was founded at the end of the Roman Republican era, during the reign of <\/span>Augustus<\/span><\/b>. Although the area had been inhabited by Iberians (the <\/span>Layetani<\/span><\/b>), there is no evidence of a previous urban centre on <\/span>Mons T\u00e0ber<\/span><\/a> when the Romans established the city, which was probably intended to house military veterans. Barcino grew slowly and, despite its small size, enjoyed remarkable prosperity thanks to its strategic location by the sea and on trade routes. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Barcino’s heyday was between the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, coinciding with the height of the <\/span>Roman Empire<\/span><\/b>. From the 3rd century onwards, the city, like the rest of the Empire, suffered economic and demographic decline. <\/span><\/p>\n However, by the 4th century, Barcino had regained its importance: its sturdy <\/span>walls <\/span><\/b>protected it from invasions and even allowed it to overtake Tarraco. With the fall of Rome, Barcino was occupied by the <\/span>Visigoths<\/span><\/b>; little by little, it disappeared as an independent city to make way for medieval Barcelona. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The colony of Barcino was designed according to the classic <\/span>layout<\/span><\/a> of <\/span>Roman cities<\/span><\/b>. Two main axes crossed it orthogonally: a <\/span>decumanus maximus<\/span><\/b>, the main street from east to west; and a <\/span>cardo maximus<\/span><\/b>, from north to south. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.shuttle2sun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Barcelona-romana.png” alt=”Barcino Barcelona’s hidden Roman legacy” title_text=”Barcino Barcelona’s hidden Roman legacy” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”|60px||60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The <\/span>decumanus<\/span><\/b> started at the eastern decumanus gate, located in what is now <\/span>Pla\u00e7a Nova<\/span><\/b>, and crossed what are now<\/span> Carrer del Bisbe<\/span><\/b>, <\/span>Pla\u00e7a de Sant Jaume<\/span><\/b>, <\/span>Carrer de la Ciutat<\/span><\/b> and <\/span>Carrer Regomir<\/span><\/b>, where the second decumanus gate towards the sea was located. The <\/span>cardo<\/span><\/b>, perpendicular to it, ran along<\/span> Carrer de la Llibreteria<\/span><\/b>, crossing Pla\u00e7a de Sant Jaume and <\/span>Carrer del Call<\/span><\/b>, continuing along what are now Banys Nous and connecting with Via Laietana in <\/span>Pla\u00e7a de l’\u00c0ngel<\/span><\/b>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Barcino also had a central area dedicated to the <\/span>forum<\/span><\/b>, at the top of Mont Taber, surrounded by public buildings. The <\/span>main temple<\/span><\/b> and other official buildings were located there. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remember that you can get to <\/span>Barcelona <\/span><\/b>with <\/span>Shuttle2Sun<\/span><\/a>‘s <\/span>shared transfer services<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>private transfer services<\/span><\/a> from <\/span>Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Girona Airport, Reus Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”|60px||60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.shuttle2sun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Barcelona-romana-2.png” alt=”Roman walls Barcelona” title_text=”Roman walls Barcelona” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The defence of Barcino was essential, and the <\/span>wall <\/span><\/b>is the most spectacular remnant of the Roman city. The first wall was erected when the colony was founded, built with large ashlars in <\/span>opus quadratum<\/span><\/i>. Around the 3rd century AD, a second outer ring of reinforcement \u2013 up to 8 metres wide \u2013 was added to the original wall. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Today, remains of that wall can be seen throughout the Gothic Quarter. For example, the southern gate of Barcino can still be seen in <\/span>Pla\u00e7a Nova<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n Other sections are preserved in the houses at <\/span>19 Carrer Aviny\u00f3<\/span><\/b> and <\/span>Carrer de la Palla<\/span><\/b>, finally connecting with the northern gate near Pla\u00e7a de Sant Felip Neri. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Water supply was another notable achievement of Barcino. Local wells were not sufficient for a growing colony, so Roman engineers built an <\/span>aqueduct <\/span><\/b>over 11 km long, which brought water from <\/span>Montcada<\/span><\/b>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Today, there are almost no visible remains of this aqueduct: only a 20-metre section with four arches and five pillars remains in the <\/span>Pla\u00e7a del Vuit de Mar\u00e7<\/span><\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n Likewise, in the<\/span> Pla\u00e7a Nova<\/span><\/b>, next to the gate in the wall, two arches were rebuilt in 1958 to mark the point where the aqueduct entered the city. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”|60px||60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” min_height=”181.8px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”3px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n In the heart of the <\/span>forum of Barcino<\/span><\/b> stood a temple dedicated to Emperor Augustus. In the 1890s, three of the<\/span> four original large columns <\/span><\/b>were discovered among the ruins of the old CEC (Centre Excursionista de Catalunya) building; shortly afterwards, the fourth was found and displayed in the <\/span>Pla\u00e7a del Rei<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Next to the boundaries of Barcino ran the <\/span>Roman burial road<\/span><\/b>, a funerary route that connected the colony with its outer fields. This open-air <\/span>path<\/span><\/a> is documented in the current <\/span>Pla\u00e7a de Vila de Madrid<\/span><\/b>, where the remains of tombs of inhabitants from the 1st to 3rd centuries AD have been discovered. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The remains of Barcino are now housed in the <\/span>Barcelona History Museum<\/span><\/b>. The <\/span>MUHBA <\/span><\/b>organises and displays urban archaeology at various locations. Its headquarters are in the Casa Padell\u00e0s in the Plaza del Rei, where underground excavations have been carried out, revealing the remains of the <\/span>forum<\/span><\/b>, <\/span>Roman villas<\/span><\/b> and other finds. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dare to discover the Roman city hidden in the streets of Barcelona! With <\/span>Shuttle2Sun<\/span><\/a>‘s <\/span>shared transfer services<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>private transfer services<\/span><\/a>, you can reach Barcelona from <\/span>Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Girona Airport, Reus Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today’s Barcelona, with its bustling atmosphere and modernity, hides beneath its streets the heart of an ancient city: the old Barcino. Founded between 15 and 10 BC under the full name of Colonia Iulia Augusta Faventia Paterna Barcino, this small city was built on Mons T\u00e0ber. \u00a0 With the fall of the Roman Empire and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21655,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[40,42,29,41],"tags":[46,69,135,45,44,43,125,139],"class_list":["post-21645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-barcelona-2","category-spanish-culture","category-travel","category-travel-tips","tag-airports","tag-holidays","tag-private-transfer-2","tag-shuttle","tag-transfer","tag-travel","tag-vacances-2","tag-winter"],"yoast_head":"\nHistory of Barcino \u00a0<\/h2>\n
Urban layout of the Roman city \u00a0<\/h2>\n
The Roman walls \u00a0<\/h2>\n
The Roman aqueduct \u00a0<\/h2>\n
The Temple of Augustus \u00a0<\/h2>\n
The necropolis of Barcino \u00a0<\/h2>\n
The Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA) \u00a0<\/h2>\n