Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SNOOPING AROUND THE RAVAL
Barcelona-born author, journalist, critic and poet,
Manuel Vázquez Montalbán
(1939-2003) was one of Spain's most popular writers, whose shabby, fast-living fictional
detective
Pepe Carvalho
- ex-Communist and CIA agent - investigated foul deeds in the
city in a series of terrific novels spanning thirty years. It was hardly an accident that Mont-
albán's own passions - for Barcelona itself, and for politics, markets, cooking, food and
drink - all rubbed off on his detective, and Pepe Carvalho's cases took him around easily
identifiable parts of the city, particularly the earthy streets of the Raval. With an office on
the Ramblas, the gourmand detective is often picking out groceries in the Boqueria market
or grabbing a bite at
Pinotxo
, the classic stand-up market bar, while in the
Casa Leopoldo
restaurant (c/Sant Rafael 24, off Rambla del Raval,
casaleopoldo.com
) both Montalbán
and Carvalho found their spiritual home. The remodelled square nearby, by the
Barceló
Raval
hotel, has been named by the city in honour of the author, while an annual crime fic-
tionprizeestablished in2005(previouswinnersincludeHenningMankellandIanRankin)
bears the name of his celebrated detective.
