Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EL RAVAL
The sleek, shiny, white wallsof the Museu d'Art Contemporani (MACBA)
juxtapose the decrepit, ramshackle tenement buildings; Asian grocery stores
sell herbs and spices next to what were once the most decadent brothels in
Europe; and smoky, decades-old bars share dark, narrow streets with high-
ceilinged art galleries showcasing video installations. The old-town barri of
El Raval is a traditional working-class neighbourhood in flux. Since the
1990s it has been undergoing an enthusiastic urban renewal, led by the ar-
rival of the MACBA. The barri now even has its very own Rambla, a pedes-
trian street called La Rambla del Raval. Not surprisingly, all of this has
sparked a real-estate boom, with renovated old-fashioned flats now com-
manding top-tier prices and acting as a magnet to the city's young, savvy
crowd.
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1. MUSEU D'ART CONTEMPORANI (MACBA)
An eclectic array of work by big-name Spanish and international contemporary
artists is gathered in the city's contemporary art museum. Excellent temporary ex-
hibitions feature everything from mixed media to sculpture and photography. See
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