(English) 3 ways to explore Barcelona’s Raval Quarter

Barcelona’s Raval Quarter, the most multicultural and cosmopolitan face of Barcelona. Nestled in Barcelona’s old town, Raval is one of the most vibrant and symbolic neighbourhoods in the whole of the city, truly offering something very different indeed. The district is a melting pot of different nationalities and ethnicities, with exciting food and drink everywhere you turn, beautiful streets brought to life by new artists and an ability to offer some of the greatest tourist attractions and discoveries right here in the Raval quarter that simply captivate all those looking for a different side to the city.

Here, we suggest 3 different routes so you can really make the most of the Raval Quarter:

Historic Raval

As a neighbourhood in Ciutat Vella, Raval is certainly full of history. The place has evolved over time as the city grew. In its early years, the district served as the entrance to Barcelona through the Sant Antoni gate, and was incorporated into the city as a farming area in the modern age. Good links with the city centre led to the introduction of several religious monuments, but it wasn’t until the middle of the 19^th century and the Spanish confiscation that Raval became a true neighbourhood of the working classes, going on to reshape its network of cobbled streets and alleyways.

Today, you can enjoy a walking tour through Raval’s historic past, exploring some of the oldest Romanesque monuments in all of Barcelona, including the Sant Pau del Camp Convent and the Sant Llàtzer Chapel, as well as former factories like Can Ricart and other enchanting public buildings, such as the old Santa Creu Hospital or Casa de la Caritat.

Cultural Raval

If there’s one thing that makes Raval stand out from other parts of Barcelona, it’s the cultural character you’ll find here. Its streets are home to the MACBA (Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art) and a multitude of other great art galleries and design studios. But it’s the way all these artistic spaces coexist perfectly with some of the greatest examples of street art in the entire city that make it a real haven for tourists, as seen on a variety of local buildings, lending the area a truly unique and idiosyncratic feel.

The cultural landscape is further complemented by all the sounds and rhythms emanating from the neighbourhood’s lively music venues that intermingle with the sounds of the streets. The Raval Quarter is a real music box of Latin, African and Arab rhythms, not forgetting the famous Catalan rumba, which is very popular here in the neighbourhood.

Barcelona’s Raval Quarter: Culinary Raval

Raval’s bars and restaurants offer the very best cuisine from around the world, creating a variety of great smells, tastes and colours to form the largest culinary offering in all of Barcelona. And let’s not forget about the biggest showcase of fresh produce of all, which you’ll find at Mercado de la Boquería and Mercat Sant Antoni.

Head down to Raval and explore a neighbourhood that couldn’t be further off the beaten trail, as you get to know one of the most multicultural and diverse faces of the great city of Barcelona.

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