Urban Planning, Ecological Transition, Urban Services and Housing

The remodelling work in the street uncovers archaeological remains, medieval buildings and part of the former structure known as the ‘Voltes dels Encants’ in C/ Fusteria.

The remodelling work being carried out in C/ Fusteria, between the streets of Ample and Mercè, have uncovered a set of five homes built in the medieval period and a paving section from the structure known as the ‘Voltes dels Encants’.

The work carried out so far allows us to document the evolution of the five buildings constructed in medieval times, but which were modified several times before being demolished in 1909 for the construction of the Via Laietana and the neighbouring post office building.

The ground floors and some basements of these homes have been uncovered, as has a floor section of the arches known as the ‘Voltes dels Encants’. In medieval times this structure gave on to the former Pl. Sant Sebastiá and the streets of Fusteria and Ample in their historical paths. From the 16th century, the arches in front of the medieval trading hall were home to carpenters, coopers and other city craftspeople. The structure later acted as a market, one of the oldest in Europe, where the unique system of “el cant” was used, where traders would allocate goods to purchasers to the beat of a drum. The ‘Encants’ market was definitively transferred to Pl. Glòries (part of its activity had already moved to other sites) for the opening of the Via Laietana in 1909.

In the area excavated in recent days (239 square metres, along a section 35.7 meters long and 6.5 metres wide), a 16^th century ceramic paving section has been found, as have wells, tanks and sanitation networks, plus various medieval and post-medieval structures. Ceramics from different periods, decorative pieces and fragments of glass items have also been unearthed during the excavation, but one of the most curious pieces is an image of Sant Antoni de Pàdua, possibly from the 18^th century, found in the paving floor of one of the homes.

Among the medieval homes excavated, the belief is that one may have housed the first documented museum collection in the Iberian Peninsula. The remains that have been found are also linked to the former Font de l’Àngel (one of the few water springs in the medieval city), found in previous excavations in Plaça Correus.

The work carried out so far offers valuable information about life in medieval Barcelona, but tasks are ongoing. The process is being directed by the archaeologist Toni Fernández Espinosa, under the supervision of the Barcelona Archaeology Service (ICUB) and the Archaeological and Paleontological Heritage Service of the Government of Catalonia.