Photograph of the Plaza del Palacio in Barcelona, Catalonia. In the foreground stands a large water fountain crowned by a marble statue of a winged genius. Behind the fountain stands the Custom House. An avenue of trees can be seen on the left.

The Plaza del Palacio was at the heart of Barcelona's business district and provided the only entrance to the rest of the city from the harbour. The plaza provided a focal point for the city's commercial buildings many of which dealt with both incoming and outgoing goods that were transported across the sea.