El Raval

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El gat del Raval (The Raval cat), by Botero
Sant Pau del Camp church.
Plaça dels Àngels, with the MACBA main building in the background.

El Raval is a neighborhood in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona, Spain. The neighborhood is also known as Barri Xino, meaning "Chinatown." El Raval is one of the two historical neighborhoods that border the Rambla (the other being the Barri Gòtic). The neighborhood is home to 200,000 people.

An area historically infamous for its nightlife and cabarets, as well as prostitution and crime, El Raval has changed significantly in recent years and, due its central location, has become a minor attraction of Barcelona. It is currently the home to a very diverse immigrant community (47.4% of its population was born abroad[1]), ranging from Pakistanis and Indonesians, to a more recent Eastern european community, especially from Romania. El Raval is also becoming one of the hippest up-and-coming neighborhoods of Barcelona where many artists live and work. It is home to many bars, restaurants, and night spots.

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[edit] Delimitations

The northern border of the neighborhood is marked by Plaça Catalunya and Plaça Universitat, and the street which connects them, Carrer de Pelai. It ends in the east with La Rambla, and in the west and south, the neighborhood is delimited by Ronda Sant Antoni, Ronda Sant Pau and Avinguda del Paral·lel.

[edit] Landmarks

There are a few historical monuments such as the Monastery of Sant Pau del Camp, as well as newer additions such as the Rambla del Raval, and the MACBA (the Modern Art Museum of Barcelona) or the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona. In the southern part of the neighborhood, an old wall and gate of the medieval city called Portal de Santa Madrona still exists as part of the Maritime Museum. The Raval is also known for its large cat statue by Fernando Botero, located on the Rambla del Raval. The city's most famous market, La Boqueria, is also situated in the Raval.

[edit] Transport

[edit] Barcelona Metro

[edit] Cultural depictions

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ En el Raval de Barcelona

[edit] External links


Coordinates: 41°22′47″N 2°10′5″E / 41.37972°N 2.16806°E / 41.37972; 2.16806

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