The neighborhood El Born is one of the three neighborhoods that make up the "Ciutat Vella", the Barcelona old town.
Starting from the left, looking out over the sea, we find the Ravalthe Gothic Quarter and finally El Born.
To find your way around the things to see in this area, I've decided to put together a full article devoted to the subject.
Follow the guide.
El Born: article summary
El Born: a glimpse of the past
Now Barcelona's booming bohemian district, its narrow streets hide many secrets from its past. In medieval times, it gained notoriety for hosting knights' tournaments, festivities and other processions.
Over time, its narrow streets have become home to a multitude of social and economic activities. In fact, this is still reflected in the street names, such as Calle dels Mirallers (glassmakers), dels Argenter (goldsmiths) and dels Sombrerers (hatmakers).
Initially, the El Born district was outside the city walls. However, as it quickly became the epicenter of the city's economy, it was integrated into Barcelona itself. Eventually, it became the home of wealthy aristocrats.
Things you need to see
For the perfect afternoon, take a stroll through the Parc de la Ciutadellacross theArc de TriompheThen meander through the narrow streets of El Born to soak up all its charm.
The narrow passages and cobbled paths of this region are home to so many of amazing sites you absolutely must see.
El Born: Santa Caterina market
The Santa Caterina market is at the top of the list, as it was the very first covered food market in Barcelona, dating from 1845. After the Spanish Civil War, when there were food shortages, people from the surrounding towns would take the streetcar to stock up here. In 2005, it has been renovated with a luminous mosaic roof.
The other market in El Born
Located at the very end of the Paseo del Born, the El Born market is one of Barcelona's most unique monuments. As its name suggests, it first opened its doors in 1876, as a
as a local market for local residents, and was also the first large-scale cast-iron building in Barcelona.However, after gaining in popularity, it was became the city's main fruit and vegetable wholesale market around 1921.
El Born: the Picasso Museum
Visit Picasso Museum is a popular place to visit in the city. In fact, it's a must-see. The museum features over 3,500 works by the iconic artist and houses the largest collection of Picasso's early works.
In addition to the stunning works of art on display, they also host regular exhibitions, events and live performances. If you'd like to find out more about this museum, I've devoted an entire article to this subject, which you can find here.
Palau de la Música Catalana
One of El Born's real hidden gems is the the Palau de la Musica Catalana. Although this place is fairly well known to some travelers, others tend never to find their way around. The streets that surround it are so small that no one takes the time to find this wonderful hidden gem.
This magnificent building holds an important place in the hearts of Catalans. It is also considered a Catalan national symbol. From the grand main hall to the ornate glass roof, it's quite a sight to behold. If you look closely, you'll see similarities between this hall and the work of Gaudíbecause the building's designer, Domenech I Muntaner, was one of his contemporary disciples.
El Born: Santa Maria del Mar
Barcelona is home to many stunning churches. Each one has its own unique characteristic. However, there are only three cathedrals in the city. The one you absolutely must visit when you visit Barcelona is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Mar.
This 14ᵉ century cathedral is a breathtaking example of Gothic architecture, meticulously fashioned by the most skilled builders of the day. In addition to the architecture, the cathedral's special feature is that, hidden in a stained-glass window, is the FC Barcelona logo.
It was the city's mayor who, after a violent storm, decided to have the cathedral's windows replaced, incorporating the coat of arms of his favorite team.
The El Born district is a must if you want to spend your vacation in Barcelona. Here you'll find many wonders and return from your stay with your head full of memories.
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