District of Sants-Montjuïc

1.- POBLE SEC: AT THE FOOT OF MONTJUIC HILL

History and Architecture

Located at the foot of the northern face of Montjuic hill, bordered on four sides by Lleida street, the sea, Avenida Paralelo, and the hills, Poble Sec was originally an agricultural area between the mountain and the city wall defined as a military security perimeter around it.

This area was urbanized in the second half of the 19th century and was the result of the merger of three plots: Les Hortes de Sant Bertran, l'Eixample de Santa Madrona, and França.

In fact, this neighborhood was the first "eixample" or "expansion" carried out in Barcelona, even before that of Cerdà, the well-known area (now called l'Eixample) built after the demolition of the old city wall in 1854. Poble Sec is a modest neighborhood, with a working-class origin, and a place that has received waves of immigrants at different periods in history. Even today, the neighborhood hosts a large number of nationalities.

Given its humble origin, Poble Sec is not known for its architecture; except for a few interesting buildings, but it is certainly a modest yet charming and quiet neighborhood. Blai street, a purely pedestrian street, has a wide range of small restaurants, bars, and cafes, and Plaza del Surtidor is the perfect place to enjoy a drink in the sun.

The process of gentrification (a reality today in many European cities) has turned what were once modest areas, like Poble Sec, into interesting places to live and invest.

Points of Interest and References:

• Palau de l'Agricultura: one of the largest palaces built for the Universal Exhibition, which took place in Barcelona in 1929, was designed by Josep Maria Ribas i Casas and Manuel Maria Mayol i Ferrer. Part of it was demolished after the Civil War, but it was rebuilt in 1991 as a cultural center. It houses two of Catalonia's most important associations: El Mercat de les Flors, a center for performing arts, and Teatre Lliure, one of Barcelona's most prestigious theater companies. (C/ Lleida 59)
• Fecsa-Endesa Building: currently one of the headquarters of the Spanish electricity company Red Eléctrica Española. Using an old industrial building as a base, a new one was built while preserving parts of the old structure. (Av. Paral·lel 55)
• Montjuic Park: this is one of the city's parks and green spaces, covering around 450 hectares and offering a wide range of gardens and tourist attractions. The oldest remains found on the hill date back to the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. The castle at its peak was built in 1751 and served both to defend and attack the city, and as a prison on several occasions, the last of which was during Franco's dictatorship in the 20th century when many political prisoners were shot and buried on one of the hill's slopes. There is also a Medieval Jewish cemetery dating back to the 11th century, which is the largest in Europe. The Park is well known for the International Exhibition of 1929 when extensive areas were urbanized and several gardens were designed, which are now a fundamental part of the park's soul. Here you will also find the Joan Miró Foundation, the MNAC Museum, the Botanical Garden, the Mies Van der Rohe Pavilion, the Teatre Grec, various facilities built for the 1992 Olympic Games, and many other attractions such as the cable car that goes up to the castle from which you can enjoy some of the best views of the city.

Advantages: quiet neighborhood with fresh air. Close to Montjuic Park, the main port of Barcelona, and the city center. It has many cultural and sports facilities. Good access to and from Barcelona by car via the Ronda Litoral. Well connected to the airport by car and bus. Property prices for rent and sale are more reasonable, although they have risen slightly in recent years as the neighborhood has become more popular.

Disadvantages: Metro stations are only along Avenida Paralelo. The streets leading from Avda. Paralelo to Paseo de la Exposición are uphill. Large supermarkets are mostly located in the lower part of Poble Sec on Avda. Paralelo.

2.- LA MARINA DE PORT: ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MONTJUIC HILL

History and Architecture

Although few are aware, it is most likely here where the first Roman City was built, before finally being relocated to the north face of Montjuic hill, where Barcelona is said to have been founded. The territory was an agricultural area called La Marina de Sants. During the late 18th century, various industrial activities began to establish themselves due to the extensive land and water availability.

In 1846, a law was passed prohibiting the construction of factories in the city of Barcelona, ​​so entrepreneurs were persuaded to move to peripheral areas like this one. In the early 20th century, gardens and other green areas, orchards, and the fishing village were progressively replaced by a more industrial landscape.

Paseo de la Zona Franca is the backbone around which this area is organized and the main road that connects the different small neighborhoods, such as Port, Can Clos, Polvorí, and the Ferrocarriles Catalanes.

This area is next to the industrial Zona Franca and borders Prat de Llobregat (where Barcelona airport is located) and is in the process of rapid urban reform.

Different types of architecture are grouped here, from new contemporary works like the La Fira building, designed by internationally renowned architect Toyo Ito, to traditional single-story homes. However, between these two extremes, the architecture in this area consists mainly of residential buildings ranging from 4 to 15 floors, both independent and group-built, executed at some point from the mid-20th century to the present.

Points of Interest and References

• La Fira Barcelona: a contemporary design building, which hosts trade fairs and other events.
• Jardines de los Derechos Humanos: a public green space.

Advantages: it is close to Montjuic Park and its many sports and cultural facilities. Close and with easy and fast access to Barcelona airport. Metro Line 10 passes through the neighborhood's two stations, Foc and Fonería. It is a very quiet area away from crowds. Currently, it is affordable in terms of rentals and property purchases.

Disadvantages: it is still not a fully developed area and is far from the city center. There is no good Metro system. It is close to very industrial areas.

3.- LA MARINA DEL PRAT VERMELL: CREATING A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD

History and Architecture

The history of this neighborhood is similar to that of the La Marina del Port neighborhood in that it began as an agricultural area in the early 19th century. After 1846, when Barcelona passed a law prohibiting the construction of new factories within the city, these peripheral areas became an attractive option.

The name of this area, "prat" in Catalan, or "meadow" in Spanish, refers to the green areas around the factories. These fields were used by the factories to lay out fabrics to dry after dyeing them red, or "vermell" in Catalan. After 1860, this area entered a period of crisis and became an area for large industrial companies.

Various urban interventions saw the construction of housing for low-income people throughout the 20th century. In 1955, SEAT, Spain's most important automotive company, established its headquarters there and built a neighborhood around it for its workers, thus reinforcing the working-class character of the neighborhoods.

In this area, new and modern facilities have recently been planned, including the new Fira de Barcelona (grounds and fairground), large urban reform projects such as the "D38 Business District," and public housing projects, all aimed at transforming the area from one with predominantly industrial activity to one where housing and economic projects are compatible.

Points of Interest and References:

• Parque de Montjuic: this is one of the city's parks and green spaces, covering around 450 hectares and offering a wide range of gardens and tourist attractions. The oldest remains found on the hill date back to the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. The castle at its peak was built in 1751 and served both to defend and attack the city, and as a prison on several occasions, the last of which was during Franco's dictatorship in the 20th century when many political prisoners were shot and buried on one of the hill's slopes. There is also a Medieval Jewish cemetery dating back to the 11th century, which is the largest in Europe. The Park is well known for the International Exhibition of 1929 when extensive areas were urbanized and several gardens were designed, which are now a fundamental part of the park's soul. Here you will also find the Joan Miró Foundation, the MNAC Museum, the Botanical Garden, the Mies Van der Rohe Pavilion, the Teatre Grec, various facilities built for the 1992 Olympic Games, and many other attractions such as the cable car that goes up to the castle from which you can enjoy some of the best views of the city.
• Cementerio de Montjuic: officially called Cementerio Suroeste, it occupies the southern face of the Montjuic hill. Inaugurated in 1883 and designed by architect Leandro Albareda.
• Llobregat Lighthouse.

Advantages: part of the neighborhood is close to Montjuic Park and its many cultural and sports facilities. Affordable rental and housing purchase prices. Proximity to Barcelona airport. Plans to urbanize the entire area and build 11,000 flats, some of which will be free housing and some subsidized housing.

Disadvantages: it is still not a developed area and is far from the center. There is no good Metro system. It has very industrial areas.

4.- SANTS: FROM THE INDUSTRIAL HUB TO HIGH-SPEED TRAINS

History and Architecture

The neighborhood of Sants, with its origins as a village along the royal road leading to Madrid, is the urban center of the Sants-Montjuic district. It was a rural area until Sants began to develop during the late 19th century when a new main road was built.

Around 1850, Sants began to progress rapidly economically, coinciding with the construction of large factories and the railway. The old road of Sants attracted many of the shops that were leaving Barcelona due to high taxes.

The rural core of Sants transformed into a major industrial center that was incorporated into Barcelona. However, it remained true to its origins as a working-class neighborhood.

Currently, Sants is a central and dynamic part of the city, where one of the most important nodes of the public transportation network is located: the Sants Station, the main train station. The station is a junction of Metro and train lines, including high-speed lines that connect Barcelona with the rest of Europe. Meanwhile, Sants maintains its traditional festivals and celebrations, such as the Fiesta Mayor, which pays tribute to Saint Bartholomew, the patron saint of the neighborhood. The events last for a week, including public activities held in the streets, where residents and visitors can interact together.

Sants may not be the city center, but it is located right next to Eixample Esquerra (the left part of the Eixample district). Along its main streets, you will witness significant urban activity, which fades away as you delve into the small streets and alleys that characterize the area, with older and smaller buildings. As a traditional urban center and very well-located area, Sants has several public transportation routes (buses, Metro, and trains) throughout its extent. Like the rest of Barcelona, Sants hosts various types of activities and businesses, including shops and public facilities such as hospitals, schools, gyms, etc. It's not a neighborhood known for being modern but rather traditional, with less flashy restaurants, bars, and shops.

Points of Interest and References:

• Parque de la España Industrial: a park, residential blocks, and a school built on the land where an old textile factory "La España Industrial Sociedad Anónima" used to be.
• Public spaces along Josep Tarradellas Avenue and Gran Via Carles III.
• Cocheras de Sants: a civic center and public facility that hosts a series of cultural and social activities. Located in a renovated former industrial complex composed of three buildings.
• Plaza de los Países Catalanes: an innovative and controversial square (due to being a large space that was not well utilized for the neighborhood people and was seen as a waste of resources), designed by Catalan architect Albert Vilaplana in 1983.

Advantages: it's still a neighborhood reminiscent of old times. There are many buildings with beautiful decorative elements and many small streets with little traffic. It has what is considered Europe's longest commercial street: Carretera de Sants. Easy access to universities on Diagonal. Quick exit from Barcelona. The main train station (Sants Estació) is in this neighborhood. Good connection to the center with several Metro stations. More affordable property prices.

Disadvantages: a bit far from the center. Some buildings are of more humble construction.