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Formally known as the ´Barrio Chino´ and infamous as Barcelona´s red light district, the area of Raval has seen vast improvements in recent years and is now considered by many to house the trendiest and more alternative bars and restaurants.
A major clean-up operation was put in place before the 1992 Olympics, when Barcelona clearly wanted to show its brightest face to the world and a city filled with prostitutes and drug-addicts wasn’t precisely the image it was hoping to portray. Many of the more offensively seedy buildings were demolished entirely, and by the year 2000 the broad Rambla de Raval, a broad palm-tree lined rambla running parallel to La Rambla, had been completed.
El Raval is situated between La Rambla and Avenida Parallel; as a district it is yet to shed its previous notoriety and it has a high proportion of immigrant residents attracted by the comparatively low rents. It is filled with small art galleries, bohemian types and independent shops, but care should be taken at night and a close eye kept on bags and wallets at all times. One of its main advantages is its central location and good communication to other areas, whilst being free of the huge numbers of tourists to be found in the Gothic area or the Born.
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The most famous building is undoubtedly the modern art museum MACBA (Museu de d´Art Contemporani de Barcelona) which is a vast block of white concrete and glass, designed by Richard Meier. It is set in a large open square populated with university students and skateboarders with some good restaurants with outdoor tables. Close by is Spain´s largest cultural centre, CCCB (Centre de Cultura Contemporánia de Barcelona) which hosts contemporary cultural events in all manner of forms, from photography exhibitions to club nights.
For fans of modernist architecture there is also a Gaudí building worth visiting, the first commission by his patron Eusebi Güell. It has some wonderful indications of his developing style, and whilst not has famous as some of his later buildings is definitely worth a visit. The Palau Güell is located in Nou de La Rambla and was intended as extension de the family’s residence on La Rambla, now a hotel, and by which is still connected by a passageway. |
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The Rambla de Raval is a wide open space running between Carrer de l´Hospital and Carrer de Sant Pau and is the focus point for the redevelopment of Raval with a luxury hotel and modern shopping centre currently under construction. Always filled with a quantity of men milling about or occasionally playing cricket, the bulbous Gat (cat) sculpture by Botero is a great favourite with tourists. There is an ethic market held on the rambla every Saturday and plenty of bars and restaurants. Admittedly some of these are kebab focused, but bars such as Madame Jasmine, Raval 24, Café de les Delicies and Ambar are all excellent places for evening drinks. The upper part of Raval (towards Plaza Catalunya) has many highly recommendable restaurants with cuisine from all over the world.
Aside from bars and restaurants, the area also has many offbeat shops offering far more alternative clothes and jewellery than the usual Zara and Hennes. In particular, Calle de la Riera Baixa (just of Carrer de l´Hospital) has a number of second hand retro clothes shops.
El Raval is well connected to the metro, with the stations Paral.lel (L2 and L3), Liceu (L3) and Universitat (L2) on either side of the district. |
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Barcelona tourist apartments close tourist places, cheap vacation rental, flats by days close to Ramblas, large list of central and quality apartments in Barcelona to rent for busines or holidays. Online reservation system 24 h. |
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