The old city of Barcelona has its origin from the roman age, founded as a trade center connecting the roman trade route with the Mediterranean. The city was situated here because of the good port, and the connection to the trade route through the valleys of the rivers Llobregat and Besós. However, this was not the first settlement of Barcelona, but it was the beginning of the city as we see it now.
The Romans built within city walls which parts are prevented and can be seen around the Cathedral in Barcelona. As the city grew, the city walls where expanded several times, at latest in the end of the middle age. As the growth of the city was limited within the walls of it, Barcelona grew as a pressure cooker, a high dense city with narrow streets and organic street float based on the movements of the city. This medieval town is well preserved, and is still seen as the heart of Barcelona (it is even shaped like a heart). Also some of the latest medieval city walls are prevented and can be seen on the border of Poble Sec. Nowadays the Ciutat Vella is much occupied by tourists, but is still seen as the center of Barcelona.
La Rambla, the parade street of Barcelona, has its origin from the roman age, as it was the street just outside the roman walls. It remained through the expansion in the middle ages, and is an important infrastructural connection through the old town, but is also important for the city identity. It also divides the two areas Barrio Gothico and Raval. These days, it’s a busy street occupied by tourists and tourism, and might not have the same glory as in the old days.
The medieval walls were demolished in the middle of the 19th century, as the city expansion was necessary. But the structure still remained, except a few changes, contrasting the new Cerdá plan. One of the most important changes of Ciutat Vella of the Cerdá plan was the Via Laeitana, where blocks and blocks of buildings were demolished to give place for the street. It is by now a highly trafficked street, but is an important infrastructural connection through the district.
It is hard to compare Ciutat Vella and its position in the city to Oslo, both as a city center and as a structure. Oslo was also an important port in the middle ages, but there is no city structure even close to Ciutat Vella. The only obvious trace of medieval Oslo is the fortress, Akershus Castle, situated close to the city hall and the port. It is well prevented and is served as a park and museum where one can have guided tours inside.
