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The El Raval district, easily accessible on the opposite side of Las Ramblas to Barcelona's Gothic quarter, is coming into its own. Numerous urban renewal projects, including the location of one of Barcelona's best art galleries here - the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) and next door to it the Barcelona Contemporary Culture Centre (CCCB), have boosted the district, alongside its well established multicultural and bohemian student edge. If you're looking for Barcelona vegetarian, you'll find it aplenty in El Raval, with a choice of off the wall clothes shops, music shops and cafes too.
A number of Barcelona new hotels, some luxury, are popping up in El Raval, and new Barcelona University schools have also moved into the area. Popular with students, and with established attractions such as Gaudi's Palau Guell (still being renovated in 2007) and the historic Mercat de Sant Antoni market, El Raval is attracting considerable visitor attention. Its been known as Barcelona's China town for many years. (Metros Universitat, Catalunya and Liceu).
Barcelona's cutting edge contemporary art gallery consists of two buildings. The eye catching gleaming white structure on Placa del Angels designed by American architect Richard Meier and the Gothic Convent del Angels chapel dating from the 15th century (no.7 Angels Street). The two buildings together say much about the feel of the El Raval neighbourhood which is blending its Barcelona old town and new contemporary edge well.
The chapel has work by well established contemporary favourites such as Tapies. Move into the new white rationalist building, and a more perfectly designed art gallery you're unlikely to find. Inside is flooded with natural light.
The contemporary art collection held at the MACBA includes the best of both Catalan and Spanish contemporary art, and its a huge collection. See listings of the full collection on the MACBA weblink right, and details of forthcoming exhbiitions which are constantly changing and have plenty of international representation.
Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA), Placa dels Angels, 1 08001 Barcelona. Tel. (00 34) 93 412 08 10. (weblink right for details on current exhbiitions and entrance fee).
Situated next door to Barcelona's Contemporary Art Gallery, Barcelona's Cultural Centre offers an exciting programme of film, exhibitions, courses, lectures and debates and music and dance. The cafe's pretty funky too!
Combined tickets (with other galleries around Barcelona) and guided tours are available. Exhibitions here explore themes and historical events in innovative non linear ways.
Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona Montalegre 5, 08001 Barcelona Tel. 93 306 41 00. (see weblink right for programme).
Detour off La Rambla to view another of Gaudi's commissions for rich industrialist and philanthropist Eusebi Guell. Designed by Gaudi, and built between 1886-1889, Palau Guell was intended as Guell's home, although he didn't spend much time here.
An early example of Gaudi's modernista style, with distinctive columns and mish mash of styles including Gothic, Islamic and Art Nouveau.
Indicative of what was to follow, Palau Guell's chimney pot roofs in high colour mosaic broken ceramic tiles are one of Gaudi's most striking architectural designs in Barcelona. On a darker note, after the end of the Spanish Civil War post 1939 political prisoners were tortured in the basement of Palau Guell, as well as in Montjuic Castle.
Palau Guell, Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3-5, Barcelona. Tel. 933 173 974/933 175 198.
See also in El Raval Antic Hospital De La Santa Creu, Carrer de l'Hospital 56, Barcelona. Tel. 93 270 23 00. Gaudi died in here in what was the hospital, and now is a library. Inside is a cafe and exhibition space (see Barcelona Exhibitions weblink right for details on exhibitions here).
Cat Sculpture - 'Gat' by Columbian artist Fernando Botero on Rambla del Raval. Botero is renowned for his depictions of both humans and animals in opulent and exaggerated proportions. Botero's sculptures can be seen in numerous other cities around the world including Madrid, Tokyo and Los Angeles.
Barcelona's oldest church is in the El Raval district. Esglesia De Sant Pau Del Camp, Carrer de Sant Pau 101, Barcelona.
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