subject: Explore El Raval: The Most Cosmopolitan District In Barcelona [print this page] Barcelona is a city of many faces and one of the most intriguing facets is that presented by the cosmopolitan and diverse district of El Raval. This is part one of Barcelona's oldest quarters and is well known for its exciting night life, cultural diversity and historical streets and squares.
The Old Town of Barcelona lies close to the Port Veil in the centre of Barcelona, either side of the popular and busy market street of Las Ramblas and contains the oldest and historically interesting parts of Barcelona. To the north of Las Ramblas is the Gothic Quarter, but it is to the south that El Raval has its tightly packed streets.
As the main thoroughfare along the north of El Raval, Las Ramblas is a walk that all visitors to Barcelona are encouraged to take. It is a beautiful tree-lined walk that hosts many of the most popular tourist attractions in the south, abutting the marina, is the Estua de Colon, the towering monument to Columbus. Along the length of the streets are to be found the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona's glorious Opera House, as well as the Centre d'Art Santa Mnica, which houses major touring exhibitions of contemporary art.
Further along is the Font de Canaletes, the city's most famous fountain - those who drink from it are said to be destined to return to Barcelona. And no amble along Las Ramblas would be complete without shopping at Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, the dazzling market place that is as much a feast for the eyes as it is the stomach.
Las Ramblas opens out into the Plaa Catalunya, considered the heart of Barcelona proper, and home to many interesting sculptures and spectacular fountains; a great place to relax with a coffee after the walk up from the harbour.
El Raval proper is also home to the small, but historic, Monastery of Sant Pau del Camp, which still displays remnants of Barcelona's Visigothic past. And juxtaposed to the ancient history is the very modern glass and white faade of the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, home to challenging exhibits of post-war Catalan art.
Within the boundaries of El Raval and along its steep, narrow streets, are to be found many of the most interesting bars, cafs and night clubs - a hangover from the days when El Raval was Barcelona's most notorious red light district. El Raval is now home to a very large immigrant population, mainly from Pakistan, Indonesia and Romania; and it's this jostling of cultures and languages that gives El Raval it's continued vibrancy today.
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