Discover 20 Meters of Medieval Wall in Barcelona

Travelers arriving in Barcelona these days will not be able to enjoy a Rambla free of obstacles. The ongoing renovation works aimed at modernizing it may pose a hindrance to exploring the city. However, it's not all bad news, as during the excavations, a crucial find occurred: 20 meters of medieval wall, as well as remains of the ancient Drassanes Barracks.

It all began a little over a month ago when workers responsible for refurbishing the area discovered various archaeological remains. Experts were dispatched to the heart of the City of Barcelona to confirm that the remains found belong to the first medieval wall from the 13th century. And, as we mentioned, it's not the only thing that has come to light, as remains of the ancient Drassanes Barracks, built in the late 18th century, have also appeared nearby.

This is not the first time that archaeological remains from past centuries have been discovered in Barcelona. In fact, during some work carried out in the Parc de la Ciutadella in late 2020, new ruins of the 18th century Citadel and the city's medieval wall were discovered. Also, previous remains dating back to the 13th and 18th centuries have appeared on La Rambla.

This issue does not only affect cities like Barcelona. In Rome, for example, every time work is carried out to expand the metro lines, they find remains that must be respected. This illustrates the complexity of having a functioning underground service.

But let's return to Barcelona to learn what has been discovered. Almost 20 meters of medieval wall (the first in the city) that in some parts rises to three meters high and was originally formed of rammed earth walls and wooden towers. This fortification was initiated by King Peter the Great in the 13th century to protect the city after the Crusade against the Crown of Aragon.

Around the 18th century, it was decided to urbanize La Rambla in a labor-intensive task that required diverting the natural drainage of rainwater and transforming this artery into the pedestrian zone as we know it today. This was achieved by dismantling parts of the wall that had resisted military confrontations, but could not withstand the city's order.

The remains of the ancient Drassanes Barracks, built in the late 18th century, have also emerged during the works. Any traveler who approaches the vicinity of the current Defense Delegation building will be able to view the place that once housed the barracks' parade ground along with the semi-bastion of Drassanes and the remains of the old Franciscan convent, which appeared months ago during other refurbishment works and were demolished in 1935.