Placa de Sant Josep Oriol (St. Joseph Oriol Square), Barcelona

Saint Joseph Oriol's Square and the adjacent Pine Square ("Plaça del Pi") are among the most vibrant and captivating areas within the Old Town ("Ciutat Vella") of Barcelona. These squares are bustling with popular outdoor cafes and often serve as venues for markets selling natural products or artworks, as well as impromptu concert halls for musicians. It is intriguing to note that this lively atmosphere exists atop the grounds of a former graveyard.

The square itself was named after Josep Oriol, a 17th-century priest who dedicated his life to caring for the sick and needy in the nearby parish of Santa Maria del Pi. While his statue adorns one of the doorways overlooking the square, it may require some effort to locate.

There are several attractions here worth noticing, namely:
~ the bronze statue of Angel Guimerà, an esteemed figure in Catalan literature, created by Josep Cardona i Furró;
~ the 16th-century Fivaller Palace, commissioned by the Fivaller family and now housing the Agricultural Institute, standing at Nº4;
~ Bar del Pi, one of the city's most iconic bars, occupying an 18th-century building at Nº1;
~ a plaque on the wall of the of Santa Maria del Pi Church marking the historic and rather lucky escape of builder José Mestres, who fell from the top of the church and miraculously survived without sustaining serious injury;
~ the "Square of the Unknown Soldier" inscription painted on the northern wall of the church by a soldier during the Civil War in 1939 (although the inscription was covered during Franco's regime, it was restored to its original form in 2009); and finally
~ Placeta del Pi, tucked in behind the church, with its outdoor tables, convenient for a coffee or tapas.

Tip:
Carrer de la Palla, located near the square, is a charming street adorned with a variety of shops offering antiques, clothing, and books.