Field Trip #2: Life in the Guilds and more

In this trip to El born district, I felt very integrated into Barcelona's history, specifically in the Ribera Quarter. These guilds we learned about were prominent in Barcelona's society during Medieval times, particularly beginning in the 13th century. What was most interesting was being able to use your imagination to bring you back to these times, especially with all the traces of people in the past.

One of the first aspects that stood out to me is that there are several roads named after certain guilds, where each guild produces a different good. Names I observed were the wool makers "Placa de la llana", candle makers "career de les candeles", hat makers "San Antoni dels Sombrerers, rope makers "Carrer de Corders", and wheat producers "Carrer de Semolers". This reassured my learning about the medieval guilds, and the importance of each of these groups of workers to Barcelona, and how these groups not only represented a business, but also social status. The building was both a home and workplace, as the upstairs is where the workers lived, and the poorer they were, the higher up they lived.

Below are some of the streets that are a reminder of the guilds historical presence and the examples of of the different guild workshops...

Looking at the exterior, here's what the area looked like that contained most of the guild buildings The buildings were made of stone and wood to ensure a long life expectancy. I thought it was very interesting that owners bough metal terraces for their building to show off their wealth and make a statement to competition. 

 Lastly, I found Placa Jaume I to be a very powerful as the old heart of Catalonia. Now it is the City hall of Barcelona and is currently where the President and parliament of Catalonia live.