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Open air cinema at Montjuic castle

Monday, 31 May 2010 13:47

Enjoy a picnic in the grounds of the castle at the top of Montjuic during the Montjuic Open Air Cinema screenings. For only 5€ you can enjoy a screening of an original version film in 35mm format on a giant screen in the castle grounds. You can bring a blanket and a picnic, or you can rent a deckchair for an additional 5€.

This is a non-profit project, and screenings start at 20:30 on the days screenings are shown.
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Maremagnum Barcelona

Friday, 28 May 2010 11:48

Situated in the Port Vell, the Maremagnum is a big shopping mall on two floors, reached by crossing a wooden bridge at the foot of Las Ramblas. This is one of the best places for shopping in Barcelona. Its boat-shaped architecture and its location near the waterfront make it a mythical place enjoyed by all.

Built before the 1992 Olympics in an undeveloped area, it is one of the few shopping malls in Barcelona near the center, and is also a leisure complex, with an IMAX cinema and the aquarium. It is especially busy on weekends and particularly on Sundays because it is one of the few places where you can find shops open that day.

There are around 30 local stores such as Stradivarius, Bershka, Oysho and international stores like Quicksilver, Lacoste. There are also some accessory shops, a dozen restaurants to fast food seafood restaurant, several cafes and vendors of sweets, toy stores, several hairdressers and some decoration stores or electronics.

All stores are open from Monday to Sunday from 10 to 22. The restaurants are even open until 1am. Also take a look at our Holiday apartments Barcelona and Properties for sale in Barcleona

Portal del Angel

Friday, 28 May 2010 11:35

Located in the Gothic Quarter, between Plaça Catalunya and the Cathedral and Las Ramblas, Avenida Portal del Angel is a great place to shop. Many international and spanish brands are present and it is one of the best places go shopping because the shops are very concentrated and can enjoy the sunshine as opposed to covered shopping malls.

The street is very crowded, it lies in a great position as it makes the connection between old town and the Eixample. In contrast to Las Ramblas which is more known for its many restaurants and tourist stalls, this avenue focuses more on the fashion stores. It contains so many clothing stores as well as shoes, sunglasses, underwear and so on.

The street is very wide, in contrast to the image of the Gothic Quarter where the streets are winding and narrow. It is pleasant to stroll around as it is a pedestrian avenue. You can always find street performers and musicians to provide a musical backdrop to your shopping.

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The history of El Borne

Friday, 28 May 2010 11:25

Located between Barceloneta and the Gothic Quarter is El Borne, a historic neighborhood that has retained many features of medieval times.

El Born in medieval times

In the thirteenth century, El Born was the commercial district of the city. Thanks to its proximity to the Port, El Born enjoyed a privileged position to take advantage of shipping. Thus, many traders became rich and built palaces that can still be seen on Calle Montcada. However, in the sixteenth century, the area entered a  phase of crisis because of reductions in Mediterranean trade. Furthermore, Felipe V destroyed much of the neighborhood to build a large fortress now converted into a Park (Parc de la Ciutadella).

El Borne by the setting of the Eixample

In the nineteenth century, with the expansion plan of the city that created the construction of the Eixample, El Born district underwent a period of recovery. The wealthy merchants still in the area were replaced by new workers in textile mills. The construction of the Calle Princesa and Via Laetana both contributed to the reorganization of the district by making it more accessible and more airy.

The consequences of immigration in El Born

Following Expo 1929, many immigrant workers moved into this neighborhood because of its proximity to the port and train station de Franca. These numerous immigrants cluttered the neighborhood which became overcrowded and suffered from poor living conditions. The situation became so extreme that the Barcelona City Council decided to intervene in launching a renovation plan for the district in 1980.

The new face of the neighborhood of El Born

With the renovation plan, art galleries, small boutiques, nightlife and popular restaurants have moved into the district to give it a fashionable and trendy atmosphere. Its medieval setting has remained intact while new attractions arrived. These included the presence of the Picasso Museum on Calle Montcada one of the oldest and most famous street in Barcelona, the Palau de la Musica or the church of Santa Maria del Mar. In addition, the area reknowned for its bars and restaurants offering quality food in an authentic and warm atmosphere.

The El Borne district is today  known for its medieval architecture and its pleasant atmosphere and fashion.

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