Tour Details
An historical wander around El Born following the shadows of medieval punishments, Barcelona’s legends and the infamous Spanish Inquisition. Enter a world of tortures and public executions while discovering the darker side of Barcelona.
When
- March 27th to October 31st: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 9pm
- November 1st to November 30th: Monday and Friday at 7pm
- December 1st to March 26th: No scheduled group tours available, only private tours (€195)
Tour highlights
The Spanish Inquisition / Dark legends of the city / Medieval punishments and tortures / Forgotten cemeteries / Life as an executioner
More details +
Wheelchair friendly tour
Reviews
FUN NIGHT TOUR IN BARCELONA
"Highly recommend this very enjoyable evening tour through the streets of Barcelona. Tour guide was very entertaining."Read on Trip Advisor
CREEPY, CRUEL AND COOL!
"As promised, this tour was highly entertaining, informative, and grizzly in nature. Gorka also used an effective role-play technique to involve participants to make the event more personal, interactive, fun, and memorable. "Read on Trip Advisor
ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS THAT WE DID IN BARCELONA
"We could not rave about this more. This was definitely worth the trip, alone. The group was friendly, fun and I would highly recommend this on your next holiday in Barcelona."Read on Trip Advisor
CAN A TOUR ABOUT THE "DARK PAST" BE FUN? YES
"Learn about the Spanish inquisition, a very dark and deathly period, in an engaging and humorous way. Lorna is a fantastic tour guide."Read on Trip Advisor
THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR VISIT TO BARCELONA
"I had no idea what this tour would be like but I liked the idea of wandering around the city at night. Wow! It was awesome!"Read on Trip Advisor
Meeting Point
Arc de Triomf
(under the monumental arch)
How to get to the meeting point
Nearest metro stop: Arc de Triomf (L1). Take the the exit named “Sortida: Arc de Triomf” and look for the big red brick monumental arch.
How to find the guide
Your friendly guide will be waiting under the monumental arch wearing a bright green vest and a name tag.
Other night tours start at the same meeting point. Please be sure that you join the Runner Bean Dark Past Night Walking Tour.
Tour Highlights
THE SPANISH INQUISITION STORY
We learn about the history and methods of the infamous Spanish Inquisition. From the trials and interrogations to the big Auto De Fe, the grand finale to showcase the power of the Catholic Church in Spain.
DARK LEGENDS OF THE CITY
Barcelona’s medieval city has many dark stories to tell, some real ones and others the fruit of the imagination and fears of its inhabitants. The guide will intrigue you with some of these unsettling tales from the past.
MEDIEVAL PUNISHMENTS AND METHODS OF EXECUTIONS
Up until recently, harsh punishments and public executions were the staple diet in Barcelona. Find out about the gruesome details of the tortures and the different methods of execution that were most commonly used.
FORGOTTEN CEMETERIES AND THEIR TRANSFORMATION
We visit the site where an old cemetery used to be. A beautiful square nowadays but not so much in the past. The guide will introduce you to the changes that happened to these graveyards 200 years ago and how it affected the development of the city.
THE MOST INFAMOUS EXECUTIONER OF BARCELONA
Each place has its own favorite executioner but Barcelona has a very special one with very peculiar ideas. Learn about his tragedies and triumphs to get a glimpse of this fascinating character.
Important Info
- This is not a paranormal activity or a scary pranks type of tour. It is a walking tour based on Barcelona’s legends and actual historical facts.
- Because of the content, it is not recommended for children younger than 14.
- Pre-booking is essential for this tour.
- Numbers are limited to 15 people per tour so it is recommended to book early.
FAQs
Is this a Ghost Tour?
No, not really. It is not about fright and gore but an historical walk. Fascinating at times and fun at others but not a Ghost stories based tour, although a couple of dark legends of the city will be included.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Because of the historical content and one or two stops that can be a bit harsh for young children, we have put the age limit to 14. However, it is all entirely up to each child and parent. We have had younger participants on the night tour and they have thoroughly enjoyed it :-)
Is there a lot of walking involved?
Not really. As long as you can do a short stroll around a city you are ready to walk a Runner Bean tour. However, it is a night time tour and after a day of sightseeing you might feel the walk more than during the day.
What if I arrive late to the meeting point?
The tour will start on time out of respect for the other participants and our office is closed at night for phone enquiries. The first stop takes approximately 5 minutes at the meeting point and then the guide will head towards Plaça de Sant Pere and then the Convent of Sant Agustí Vell. After that time, we will enter the narrow streets of the the medieval city and finding the guide might be tricky so please arrive on time so you don't miss out.
What should I bring?
Please remember that, if the tour takes place from October to May, temperatures drop in the evening and an extra layer will probably be needed.
Do we stop for a break?
The tour is only 2 hours long so we don't stop for a toilet or food break. If you need to use the toilet at some point, of course, the guide will point you to the nearest one.
What if it rains?
Our walking tours run in all kinds of weather. In the case of heavy rain the tour will not be cancelled and will run as usual so please bring suitable rain gear and an umbrella.
