Location
As the focus of the recent city renewal program in Barcelona, El Raval is quickly becoming the place to be for the latest trends, hippest art scene, and chicest night life. Since the 1980s, the Barcelona city planning commission has revamped the area, which is now home to the Barcelona Contemporary Art Museum (MACBA) and the Center of Contemporary Culture in Barcelona (CCCB), located in the Plaça dels Àngels. This area is the up-and-coming place for young artists and students, and with the majority of inhabitants under 35 years of age, it has become the premier location for the best art galleries, music stores, stylish boutiques, cafés, bars, and clubs. There is also a growing international group in the neighborhood, and it is home to Barcelona's own China Town.
The area is rich with Barcelona history and architecture. The Monastery of Sant Pau del Camp is located in the neighborhood's center, as well as the unfinished Església de Sant Augustí. There are two major markets in the area, the first being the Mercat de Sant Antoni, where on Sundays you can find a rare collection of old books, coins, records, stamps, and more. The other is the world-renowned La Boqueria Market, where you can buy some of the freshest goods on the Mediterranean coast. While staying here, you could even use the kitchen in your Barcelona apartment to try out some new Spanish recipes with delicious ingredients plucked straight from the market.
See area map