Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya

The Palau de la Generalitat has housed Catalonia's government continuously since the Middle Ages, making it one of the oldest institutional buildings still in political use in Europe, and its Gothic architecture includes an orange-tree-filled courtyard and the ornate Chapel of Sant Jordi, patron saint of Catalonia. Like its neighbor City Hall across the square, it's a working government building with restricted access, typically opening to the public only on specific dates such as Sant Jordi's Day in April or European Heritage days.

From the outside, its understated stone facade on Plaça de Sant Jaume gives little hint of the decoration within, which reviewers describe as a pleasant surprise on the occasions it opens. Political symbolism aside, it's a compact stop that adds context to the square's role as Catalonia's civic heart.