Gothic discovery in Barcelona: Roman pavement and 20th-century letter in Barcino room 110

An unexpected discovery at the Gran Hotel Barcino surprises Barcelona. A bottle with a handwritten message appears behind a sealed wall. The discovery provides unprecedented details about the building's history. The renovation also uncovers Roman and Gothic remains. Room 110 becomes the hotel's most special room.

Barcelona adds a new chapter to its urban history with the surprising discovery at the Gran Hotel Barcino, in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. During the recent extension works, workers found a glass bottle hidden behind a bricked-up wall, in an area of the building that had remained concealed for decades. The discovery has generated interest among residents and visitors, as it sheds light on the building's past and its transformation over the last century.

The bottle, found in room 110 during the restoration of the first floor, contained a handwritten message in Spanish. The document set out the list of nuns who bought the building in 1925 to turn it into a convent, as well as information about Juan Tudó, the builder responsible for adapting the space. The text also recorded the price of the transaction: 190,000 pesetas at the time. A fragment of a reused Roman pedestal was found alongside the bottle, reinforcing the historical richness of the site.

In the wood of the bricked-up window, restorers found two pencil inscriptions: one dated «Juan Tudó 9 February 1926» and another with the intriguing warning «watch the stopper, there is money». However, according to Gargallo Hotels, no trace of money was found during the intervention.

The renovation has not only made it possible to recover the original structure of the former convent, but has also brought unique architectural elements to light, such as a Gothic window with built-in window seats and part of the original joinery. Room 110, where Roman remains, Gothic heritage and convent memory converge, has become the jewel of the hotel, with prices ranging from €176 to €685 depending on the stay.

This discovery joins another recent one in the same building: the appearance of a 42-square-metre Roman pavement that has forced a rethink of the historical layout of the forum of ancient Barcino. The pavement, belonging to the Colonia Iulia Augusta Faventia Paterna Barcino founded by Augustus, makes it possible to better understand the city's urban organisation two millennia ago and has corrected historical maps believed to be accurate.

The Gran Hotel Barcino occupies a building with roots in the 14th century, at number 3 Hèrcules Street. Throughout its history, the property has gone from convent to hotel, adapting to the needs of each period. Since its acquisition by Gargallo Hotels in 2009, the establishment has sought to recover and highlight the original elements, becoming a benchmark for those seeking to stay in a space steeped in history in the heart of Barcelona.

Visit it Gran Hotel Barcino: c/ Jaume I 6. Booking +34 935 952 437.