Barcelona, 1802. Manuscripts of the Court Library of Parma and his artistic vision of the City

Abstract

In the year 1802, Barcelona became the point of encounter of the Spanish and Neapolitan Royal families, which arrived to attend the marriage of their children. The choice of the city as the promised exchange point meant a great challenge to the Barcelona autho rities at that time, who were forced to deal with a multitude of issues in order to render the presence of such illustrious guests comfortable and workable. One of the aspects that had to be dealt with was an exemplary urban reform at all levels, from the pavement of the streets to problems related with sanitation or the availability of water. The square then called Plaza de Palacio, which housed the royal families of Spain (in the Royal Palace) and Naples (in the Palacio de la Aduana Nueva) and the Prime Minister Manuel Godoy (in the Casa Lonja) was one of the more drastically remodeled areas. The result not only made the participants proud but it was also reflected in the written impressions provided by foreign visitors and chroniclers of the royal trip.