Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The two easternmost old-town neighbourhoods of Sant Pere and La Ribera sit one on
top of another, divided by Carrer de la Princesa. They are both medieval in origin, and
are often thought of as one district, but each has a distinct character. Sant Pere - per-
haps the least visited part of the old town - has two remarkable buildings, the
mod-
ernista
concerthallknownasthePalaudelaMúsicaCatalanaandthestylishlydesigned
market, the Mercat Santa Caterina. By way of contrast, the old artisans' quarter of La
Ribera has always been a big draw, by virtue of the presence of the graceful church of
SantaMaríadelMar,thecity'smostperfectexpressionoftheCatalan-Gothicstyle,and
the Museu Picasso, Barcelona's biggest single tourist attraction. Meanwhile, for time
out from the old town's labyrinthine alleys, retreat to the city's favourite park, Parc de
la Ciutadella, on La Ribera's eastern edge.
Both neighbourhoods have seen a fair amount of regeneration in recent years, particularly
Sant Pere, where new boulevards and community projects sit alongside DJ bars and designer
shops. La Ribera's cramped, narrow streets, on the other hand, were at the heart of medieval
industryandcommerce,andit'sstillthelocationofchoiceformanycontemporarydesigners,
craftspeople andartists.Galleries andappliedartmuseumsoccupythemansionsofCarrerde
Montcada - the neighbourhood's most handsome street - while the
barri
is at its most hip in
the area around the
Passeig del Born
, whose cafés, restaurants and bars make it one of the
city's premier nightlife centres.
