The Ribera neighbourhood, located between Via Laietana and Ciutadella Park, is known as “el Born”, which is the name of the old Barcelona central market located in this area. Charming, near but out of sight of the sea, its narrow streets afford a glimpse of the gigantic monumentality of the basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, the decrepit townhouses of Carrer Montcada, the Picasso Museum and Born and Santa Caterina markets. A part of the neighbourhood was demolished after 1714 due to the construction of the Ciutadella Park. The area lived off the economic activity of the Born market for many years and after it closed, it took a long time to recover. It is currently a fashionable neighbourhood: its old taverns and warehouses have been converted into designer boutiques, restaurants and music bars frequented by the city’s most chic clientele.
RECOMMENDATIONS: In the daytime, the best plan is to lose oneself taking photographs in the maze of narrow streets that make up this neighbourhood. The bicycle is a good way to get around. At nighttime, it's probably better to seek out the area's bars and restaurants on foot.
Originally designed by Josep Fontserè in 1872, with the help of the young Gaudí, this is the city’s most important park. It occupies what used to be the site of the despised citadel built by Philip V following the Spanish War of Succession. A well laid out complex of gardens, the park offers a number of interesting features such as the lake, the waterfall and a bandstand. It also contains a large number of open-air sculptures, cultural institutions like the Modern Art, Zoology and Geology Museums, as well as the city Zoo. The park is also home to the Catalan Parliament building.
Although it is now little used as a railway station, sharp eyed visitors will recognise this majestic construction dating from 1929 as the location for many adverts and films.
Opened in 1878, this was one of the first examples of the new architecture based on iron. When it became the central fruit and vegetable market, it gave rise to a large number of wholesale establishments and delivery agencies in the surrounding streets. After the central market was moved to the Zona Franca area in the 1970’s, the Born remained empty for many years. It has been undergoing reformation work for a number of years in order to become a cultural centre, a process complicated by the discovery of medieval remains in the year 2000, consisting mainly of the remains of the small streets that existed in the area before their demolition in the 18th century. Plaza Comercial, 12.
This avenue links the steps of one of the façades of the basilica of Santa Maria del Mar with the former Born market. It is a place for strolling and chatting that contains a number of boutiques, restaurants and bars.
Completed in 1384, this is one of the city’s most beautiful churches, whose building work finished in 1384, after only 59 years work, funded mainly by sailors and fishermen. It is the finest example of Catalan religious architecture, with a notable harmony of proportions, structural simplicity and absence of superfluous ornamentation. It has a central nave and two lateral ones and is often used for performances of religious and classical music. The history of this church was the inspiration behind the bestselling novel ‘La catedral del Mar’ by Ildefonso Falcones. In front of the side entrance is the Fossar de les Moreres, a square that pays homage to the Catalans who fell defending the city from the troops of Philip 5th in 1714. Plaza Santa María, 1.
Containing Barcelona’s most important collection of the works of Pablo Picasso, this museum occupies a number of adjacent town houses. In fact, the visit allows one to discover this interesting street full of aristocratic mansion houses of medieval origin that declined when their owners decided to move to the Eixample. At number 20, you can find Palau Dalmases, headquarters of Omnium Cultural, a landmark organisation in the defence of Catalan language and culture. Although the building dates from the 15th century, its patio and some rooms, such as the rather pretentious bar, are actually baroque. At number 12, there is the ex-residence of the Marques of Lió, currently the home of the city’s Textile and Clothing Museum, where one can have a pleasant snack sitting on the terrace.
Located in front of the Cathedral, Santa Caterina Market occupies what used to be the site of a Dominican Convent. It gave its name to the surrounding neighbourhood and has recently undergone a colourful renovation project designed by Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue. Av. Francesc Cambó, 16.
Built between 1905 and 1908, this concert hall was designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, one of the greatest representatives of Catalan modernist architecture. This year the Palau is celebrating its centenary and, after two decades of expansion and reform work, currently combines its priceless architectural value with modern concert hall acoustics. It has been the headquarters of the Orfeo Català, Catalonia’s most important choral society, since 1891. C/ Sant Pere Més Alt, 11.
THE CURIOSITY: The finding of a Gothic mask. At the corner of Carrer Carassa and Carrer Mirallers there is a mask corresponding to the face of an angel, according to some and to a prostitute according to others. It disappeared in 1983 due to the reformation of the building where it lay, but was recovered two years later and placed on the reformed façade.
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Dirección: Paseo Picasso, 10 Teléfono: 93 268 70 17 Web: www.danslenoir.com |
Bar: mon to sat 2pm-2am. Restaurant: Mon. to Wed. 1 sitting at 9pm, Thu. to Sat., 2 sittings at 8.30pm and 10.30pm. Sunday, 1 sitting at 2.30pm. The remarkable thing about Dans le noir? is that diners enjoy their exquisite dishes in a room that is in complete darkness. The fact that our dominant sense of sight is suppressed will make you question everything related to the senses and your relationship with others. Eating in the dark is an uncommon social experience. How many times have you spoken to someone that you can’t see and about whom you have no preconceived ideas? Prejudging is not possible in the dark. You will be able to speak more freely to the people around you. The absence of sight completely changes our way of acting and reacting at both the affective and social levels. With the help of your blind guides, you will be able to completely reconsider your ideas about taste and smell through dishes that are tasty and healthy, as well as providing a learning experience. You will discover a new way of enjoying food and a new way to experience flavours. Dans le noir? Much more than just a restaurant... A unique sensorial, human and social experience.more info. |
Address: Portal Nou, 20 Phone number: 93 310 36 76 |
your boutique bakery in the Born neighbourhood. Exquisite mini-cupcakes in a multitude of flavours! Lots of small delicacies to sweeten your day. Fruit juice, mousse, Illy coffee, picnic hampers, bagels, brownies,cookies,cheesecake, blondies, cakes. |