Plaça Sant Felip Neri

It might seem next to impossible to find a quiet getaway in the big Barcelona city, but Plaça Sant Felip Neri offers you just the perfect escape from all the hustle and bustle. This seemingly hidden square, with its trickling fountain and shade-offering trees, is located in Barcelona’s Gothic quarter and is enclosed by old-world buildings. 
It’s more than just a tranquil respite, though, but also an important, albeit tragic part of Barcelona history. Indeed, this is where you’ll find the square’s namesake church, which was bombed during the Spanish Civil War in 1938, killing many people, most of whom were children. The church’s heavily bomb-pocked walls serve as a still-visible reminder of this sad event. Come here to contemplate the square’s somber past while you savor a moment of quiet and calm.

Practical Info

The almost completely wall-surrounded space is accessed via the tiny Carrer de Sant Felip Neri and the arched entrance of Carrer de Montjuic del Bisbe. Given that the square can be hard to find, and its proximity to other Gothic quarter destinations, you may wish to visit it and the neighborhood on a guided tour.