One of the city's biggest squares, it is the junction of several major thoroughfares: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Avinguda del Paral·lel, Carrer de la Creu Cobertaand Carrer de Tarragona, and leads to the Palau Nacional through Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, which houses one of Catalonia's finest museums, the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC).

It was designed by Josep Amargós. The fountain at the centre of the square was designed by Josep Maria Jujol, a collaborator ofAntoni Gaudí, while Miquel Blay designed the statues. The buildings were designed by Nicolau Maria Rubió i Tudurí.

It features two Venetian towers which stand at 47m tall and lead the way to the MNAC down an avenue that is commonly used for trade fairs.