Attractions in Barceloneta, The Born & La Ribera (Barcelona)

Basílica de Santa María del Mar

Apart from the Cathedral and Sagrada Familia, this is the most visually appealing religious building in the city. You should include it during any visit to the Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter). It's an austere Gothic structure with a large and impressive 15th-century stained-glass window in the shape of a rosette. Built between 1329 and 1384, it features some outstanding sculptures on its facade and in the tympanum. Mass is conducted in Catalan and also in Spanish on certain days. On Sundays mass is held in the main altar; otherwise it's in the Santísimo chapel.

Parc de la Ciutadella

A great place for a stroll away from all the traffic, this is one of the city's most popular parks, located where Felipe V's ciutadella (military citadel) was; a place used to repress Catalan nationalism during his reign. In 1870 the citadel was made into a park to house the 1888 World Fair. You will find a small lake in the centre and beside it, the Cascada, a lovely fountain built by Josep Fontserè and his assistant, Antoni Gaudí. You can visit the city zoo and the Catalan parliament building in here as well.

Carrer Montcada

This street runs down towards the sea, and is full of palaces that were built from the Middle Ages until the 18th century. The architecture is mainly Gothic, and the palaces tend to have attractive central courtyards surrounded by a main stairwell. The street dates back to 1148 when Guillem de Montcada ceded the land to the city, and this area soon became the centre of commercial life in the Ribera quarter. The first palace you come across when heading towards the port is Palau Berenguer d'Aguilar, which now houses the Picasso Museum and dates from the 13th century. The next two, Palau Castellet and Palau Meca, are also part of Museu Picasso. Just opposite is Palau dels Marquesos de Llió, now housing the Textile Museum. Beside it lies Palau Dalmasses, rebuilt in the 17th century. Finally, at number 25, is Palau Cervelló-Giudice. Along with the historical buildings and museums, the street also has many bars, cafés and souvenir shops.

Estació de França

This was first developed during the 1929 World's Fair, when there was great need for a new station because of the traffic created by the expo. The building's architects were Pedro de Muguruza and Raimón Duran, and the engineer was Andreu Montaner Serra. There is a huge hall that opens out into the platform area, which also opens into a structure full of arcs and pillars. The Room of Mirrors, where receptions during the World's Fair were held, is exceptional. Nowadays, the station is not used much for trains, but still serves as a conference and exhibition hall.

Barri de La Ribera

In the 10th Century, the Islamic population of Barcelona was banished from the city and sent outside the city walls, to where Carrer Argenteria now lies. With time, the population of this quarter became more diversified and it expanded notably. This is the area that became the Ribera quarter. The neighbourhood was full of economic activity, and in it lived merchants, aristocrats, sailors and Jewish money-lenders. The most important commercial street was Montcada and the old boat factory was also here, before moving beside Las Ramblas.

Barri de Sant Pere

This quarter of medieval origin is found below Plaza Urquinaona and on the left side of Via Laietana. It is called Sant Pere because the area grew around the Monastery of Sant Pere de les Puelles, and you can still see some of the monastery's ruins in the Sant Pere square. Traditionally, this quarter was the centre of textile production in Barcelona and you can still find a large number of fabric and cloth shops. One of its more marvelous non-garment-related attractions is the Palau de la Música Catalana, built by Domènech i Muntaner, with sculptures of Miquel Blay. It's a nice area to spend time in, to get a feel of the old, pre-shopping mall Barcelona.

Barri de La Barceloneta

This old fisherman's quarter is by the beach, to the south of the zoo and on the other side of the Estación de Francia railway station. It was built in the mid-1700s with straight, narrow streets and it still retains the village atmosphere. In summer the place is full of beach crazy people, and due to its characteristic charm and the plethora of fish restaurants, this place is worth a visit. The Sant Joan festivities are celebrated with fervor here on the 23 of June, with bonfires, traditional dances, and spectacular firework displays until dawn.

El Zoo

Part of the Parc de la Ciutadella (City Park) complex, the zoo houses over 7000 animals from over 500 different species. You can see dolphin shows and other aquatic mammals performing in the marine enclosure. There are tropical birds, reptiles, spiders, lions, tigers and more. The Barcelona Zoo was renowned for nearly forty years as the home of Snowflake, a rare albino gorilla. Unfortunately, this much beloved creature died and the Barcelona Zoo maintains his memory directing visitors to the website "Snowflake's group," that includes a video and other mixed media presentations. The Zoo is open from 10 AM.

Desconsol

This sculpture is found in Ciutadella Park, in front of the Museu d'Art Modern. It represents a woman who has fallen over the water of the park's little lake. The piece is called El Desconsol (sadness), and the Catalan sculptor Josep Llimona created it in 1906. The woman is in a typically Modernist pose, with a softly curved line giving a slightly decadent effect. This is a beautiful sculpture, as well as an indication of what can be seen in the Museu d'Art Modern, just stone's throw away.

Moll de Ponent

Barcelona's Moll de Ponent runs a ferry to Genoa several days a week. It is also the location of the annual Jule  Verge del Carme festival.

Moll de la Fusta

This great wooden boardwalk runs along the shorefront Passeig de Colom. The upper level offers a variety of trendy modern restaurants, cafés and discos while the lower level is a lovely place for a seaside stroll surrounded by palm trees and park benches to sit on. The construction was improved in 1987 in preparation for the 1992 Olympic Games.

Fossar de les Moreres

This is one of two cemeteries (fossars) close to Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar and it's of great historical and symbolic importance to the Catalan people. The Catalan soldiers who died fighting the Bourbon King Felipe V's troops were buried here. Catalunya's defeat meant that the kingdom of Aragón lost its special rights and freedoms. There's a commemorative plaque here with a poem paying tribute to those who died. On September 11th, Catalunya's national day, politicians gather to lay wreaths and make speeches.