It used to be the residence of the eccesiastical hierarchy from the 12^th century. It has suffered many alterations through the years, such as the ones carried out in the 16^th century to connect the building with the dean´s house.

This building is a complete mixture between Gothic, Renaissance, and Romeo and Juliet style that has still some remains of the ancient Roman wall. Besides, it keeps some modernist details from the 19^th century, when the Lawyers´Association, set up its premises in the building.

Nowadays, l´Ardiaca is the home of the Municipal Archive.

Guarded by a medieval building, four temple columns bear witness to the magnificent origins of Barcelona in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. These columns are all that remains of the Temple of Augustus. They can be found at the end of Carrer Paradís in the Gothic Quarter. The uniform columns of the Temple of Augustus inside are 9 metres tall and comprise an imposing relic of one of the temples from Barcelona’s Forum which stood on a corner site at the rear. The temple was built in the 1st century BC and, as its name suggests, it was dedicated to the worship of Emperor Augustus. The temple was reconstructed by the architect Puig i Cadafalch in the early 20th century.

Gothic district will make feel its visitor as if taking a walk through a mix between the Roman city of Barcino and the medieval town it became centuries later. It is quite the spirit of the city where past and present keep coexisting.

The centre of the Roman city is still touchable in the remains of the Roman Temple of Augustus. Indeed, the old centre of both, the Roman City and the Medieval Twon are the heart of the 21^st century Barcelona.

This square was built to fill the space that many religious buildings had left in the city as a consequence of the confiscation of properties in 1835. It was designed by the architect Françesc Molina whose goal was to extol the Monarchy. There should be a statue of Ferdinand VII, but the project never came to fruition. So, instead, in that right spot stands the fountain os the Three Graces.

There are also two streetlamps designed by Gaudí, in his youth, which were put in place in 1879. This square is composed by uniform, noble buildings with porticoes. They used to be the home of the most important families in the city. The place shows an ambiguous character since it was designed to look luxurious, but somehow it became more bohemian that is translated in its nightlife.

It used to be the place where we could find the ancient Roman Forum, the meeting place and stage for political debate.  And, nowadays, its main role is almost the same, since it is the location for the two political powers of the city: Barcelona City Hall and the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya.

The City Hall is the most interesting building at the square. Its neoclassical façade hides the inside Gothic building. The Tour of the City Hall shows several rooms that are capable to testify the gothic past of the city and the building: Saló de Cent, Saló de Cròniques, the lobby and the staircase…