Plaça del Pi

• Big pine in the middle gives real shade, and the surrounding terraces and basilica wall keep it cool in the morning
• Weekend artisan food market sets up under the tree, often with street musicians
• Carrer Petritxol, just off the square, is lined with chocolate shops and granjas for churros con chocolate

A small pedestrian square in front of the Gothic basilica of Santa Maria del Pi, shaded by a pine that has stood here for centuries. There are no swings, but the flat traffic-free paving lets toddlers run while parents sit at a café terrace, and most weekends an artisan food market fills the space. Pair it with the chocolate shops on nearby Carrer Petritxol.