Placa Sant Felip Neri
Placa Sant Felip Neri
4.5
Plan your visit
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Barrio Gòtico (Barri Gòtic)
With its iconic, old-Europe streets and alleys, this picturesque neighborhood is the very heart of Barcelona. It blends historic artifacts from its days under Roman dominion up through the Spanish Civil War with a vibrant modern-day culture of artisan shops and authentic culinary experiences. Avid explorers will be thrilled to discover quaint terraces and plazas brought to life by the many small bars and local musicians lasting late into the night. Fashionistas will be drawn to Portal de L’Angel, which is lined with well-known brand names and smaller boutique stands.
How to get there
  • Jaume I • 4 min walk
  • Liceu • 5 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,265 reviews
Excellent
741
Very good
426
Average
92
Poor
5
Terrible
1

CPaM68
Texas663 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2020
This was a stop on Rick Steves walking tour of the Gothic Quarter. The name of the square comes from the baroque church (Esglesia de Sant Felip Neri in Catalan), which during the Spanish Civil War was used as a home for orphaned and evacuated children. In January of 1938, a bomb was dropped by General Franco’s air force which exploded directly in front of the church killing numerous people, including 30 children. While people were trying to rescue and treat survivors, a second bomb was dropped in the square. In total, 42 people were killed and many others injured. You can still see the scarred and pitted walls of the church and there is a plaque that commemorates the tragic event. The square, which also marks the entrance to Barcelona's Jewish Quarter, has reportedly been a film location for several movies.
Written October 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KiwiKerry53
Wellington, New Zealand4,648 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
We visited here on a walking tour of the Gothic Quarter. A romantic and quaint square with a sad tale to tell. Once it was stories of firing squads but the hidden truth was that 153 people were killed here on 30 January 1938 in a bomb attack, most of them orphans.
The square is also home to a church that the incredible Anton Guadi visited daily. He was on his way here when he was hit by a tram and subsequently died from his injuries.
Written April 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

𝓝𝓪𝓽𝔂 ® 👑
Moscow, Russia118,396 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Couples
The architecture of the square is made in the medieval baroque style. It is named after the church of San Felipe Neri located here. In the center of the square is an octagonal fountain, which is a symbol of life.
Written December 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

macedonboy
Glasgow, UK179,694 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019 • Solo
The Placa Sant Felip Neri is a small public square in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. It's a very popular square for tour guides because one tragic night in 1938, the Nationalists bombed this square city killing 42 citizens. The damage from the bomb are still visible on the walls of the Church of Sant Felip Neri.

Not a great square, but great history
Written July 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ady
Tehran, Iran532 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2014 • Family
Plaza de San Felipe Neri is a quiet square found hidden amongst the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter, very close to the Cathedral. It was constructed on the medieval cemetery of Montjuïc del Bisbe and was named in honor of an Italian Jesuit preacher who was beatified in 1615.
Possibly the most beautiful square in Barcelona, yet also the most tragic. It was to the baroque church in this tiny square that Gaudi was travelling when he was run over by a tram in the Gran Via and subsequently died. It was also here that a Fascist bomb blast killed many people including 20 children sheltering in the church during the Civil War. There is a plaque to commemorate them, and you can still see evidence of the violent past in the pockmarked stone of the church.
Perhaps it is fitting that there is a school here now, and that children play peacefully around the fountain. The trees, fountain and absence of cars give the place an almost rural feel.
*It is here that Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall are seen having lunch on an outdoor terrace in Woody Allen's film Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
The romantic Plaça Sant Felip Neri is an unmissable corner of the Gothic Quarter.
How to get there:
Metro: L3 stop Liceu. Bus: 14, 59 and 91.
Written September 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TXRavingFan
Spring, TX73 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019 • Couples
This small Plaza is is home to a beautiful church, school and Hotel Neri. when school is closed the Neri provides chairs and tables for light snacks, coffee and other beverages. The Plaza is usually quiet and offers a nice change to the very crowded streets in and around the neighboring cathedral. Visit or worship inside the Church. Behind the walls which were damaged in the Civil War is a beautiful tribute to 18th Century Christian architecture.
Written April 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Juanita L
Berlin, Germany29 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2018 • Friends
Inside El Barrio Gótico is hard not to find magic places every in every corner. But this square has something special. It's own history is amazing and you can see it in its walls and the buildings around. Is a small square full of energy. Don't miss the opportunity to take a look of the trees just look up and see how great they are reflecting life in contrast with the surrounding. Do some research about the meaning of this square during the civil war and let yourself to get a little bit into Spanish history. Is also worth it to visit at night where usually there is someone playing music or telling stories. The walls with the light are magic.
Written October 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,778 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2018 • Couples
We've been to Barcelona many times but somehow managed to miss this charming square when wandering through the Gothic Quarter. We would have missed the square this time, too, except for a man who emerged from a narrow street and urged us to follow it to an amazing place. So off we went to "discover" what I now consider to be one of the prettiest spots in the quarter.

About 10 people gawked at the small square's Gothic buildings when we arrived. An octagonal fountain acted as a focal point in the area's center, and acacia trees in the space likely provide shade in summer but had few leaves at the end of March. The dominant building proved to be a simple church with a violent history. An information plaque indicated that 42 people -- mostly children -- died here during the Spanish Civil War when Franco's air force bombed the area. The church bears witness to the bombings with a shrapnel-marked facade.

Many of the Gothic buildings went up here in the mid-20th century because of much empty space after the bombings. They were moved stone by stone from areas scheduled for demolition and reassembled in the square.

Placa Sant Felip Neri is quite near the Barcelona cathedral. I suggest going to the visitor information center close to the cathedral for detailed instructions on how to reach the square.
Written June 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Angel T
Barcelona, Spain53 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2017 • Couples
Lovely place in Gothic,

Barcelona is a beautiful city, very pleasant to walk, go shopping, ... with an excellent gastronomy.
Ideal to come and spend a few days.
Do not worry.
The political situation may be complicated but the Catalan society does not tolerate violence and we will not allow visitors to be affected by any violent act.
Come and you will be welcomed with the same hospitality as always.
Written October 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gill Johnson
Barcelona, Spain48 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2012 • Family
I love this square because it is so hard to find. Hidden away in a knot of streets and alleyways which so well characterises the Barrio Gotic, it also reveals some of the scars from the Civil War. we can also find here the museo de Calçat Antic (the ‘old shoe-maker’s museum’), a small baroque church, a convent, the hotel Neri H&R, with a bar and some tables, and in the centre just a fountain in the shade of two acacia trees.
Also, for those who read The Shadow of the wind, this little square plays quite an important role.
It is indeed a rather sad place, but I will let the reader investigate why...
Written January 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Placa Sant Felip Neri, Barcelona

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