Pont del Bisbe

This stunning marble bridge is usually the landmark most heavily associated with the Gothic Quarter. Suspended above Carrer del Bisbe, it blends perfectly into the scenery, yet it was only added in the 20th century. It’s part of the neo-Gothic elements introduced in the 1920s to make the district more appealing and reminiscent of the fluorishing Catalan cultural splendour of the 13th century. The bridge links the Government Palace to the former house of the canons, which has since become the President of the Catalonian Government’s official residence. When the architect, Joan Rubió, first presented his project, he was met with ridicule. A newspaper even published a caricature of the bridge, imagining all its potential “uses”. These included a theatre prop for the famous Romeo and Juliet balcony scene, a copy of the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, or even a shelter from the rain, with people huddled together underneath. Yet, what really got people talking was the skull pierced by a dagger at the centre of the arch’s ceiling. Imaginations soon ran wild and numerous rumours were spread. Many believe it’s a hidden message—a silent response from the architect to his critics. Some say that if the dagger is ever removed, all the buildings in the city will collapse. Optimists say that if you walk under the bridge and look the skull straight in the eye, your wildest dreams will come true. Whatever you believe, the Pont del Bisbe is a passage between past and present as well as legend and reality. While it’s one of the most photographed and analysed spots in the city, it’s still shrouded in mystery.