Exploring the Medieval El Born neighbourhood of Barcelona

Description of El Born Neighbourhood

El Born Neighbourhood is the most fashionable place in the city full of boutique clothes shops for that one-off piece, as well as chic cafes, bars and restaurants. El born also has a vibrant nightlife and the largest concentration of art museums in Barcelona such as The Picasso museum, MEAM and MOCO.

El Born has Medieval origins as a settlement built on top of an area used for jousting competitions and celebrations. El born was a part of Barcelona that became urbanised by tradesmen and merchants due to it's proximity to the sea and growing Barcelona docks. El Born Montcada street was where the wealthiest of Barcelona's merchants built their town houses. Today these houses (or minor palaces) are now home to the Picasso Museum and MOCO.

El born district has Santa Maria del Mar cathedral rivalling that of the Gothic quarter Cathedral which offers guided tours to the roof terrace and bell tower. It is in the streets around the cathedral where you will find the greatest concentration of boutique shops.

Linking Santa Maria del Mar cathedral/major basilica to the El Born market is Passeig del born, a broad tree lined boulevard with great restaurants and tapas bars. At the end of Passeig del born is a building that once housed Barcelona's Municipal food distribution market but this has since moved to Zona Franca and the building is now El Born Cultural Centre, An incredible museum space with the remains of medieval houses and streets.

At the top of El born in Carrer de Sant Pere Mes Alt which has a modernist masterpiece called Palau de Musica Catalana. It was built on the grounds of a former monastery to serve as a music hall for the choir. Palau de La Musica offers guided tours as well as a broad program of live music. Continuing down this street you will find Plaza de Sant Pere with a very beautiful fountain in the middle and the 10th century Romanesque Sant Pere de les Puelles church which offers guided tours.

Getting to El born

To the left of El born is Gothic Quarter with the dividing line between them being Via Leitana with the yellow Metro Line (L4) running underneath. The best metro stop for el Born is Jaume I.

To the right of El Born is Parc Cuitadella with the best stop being the metro Red line (L1) Arc De Triomf station. This station is also served by Renfe Rodalies commuter rail trains.

At the bottom of El born is the Barceloneta neighbourhood which is served by Estacio de Franca Renfe station providing Regional and Rodalies rail services. The Yellow Metro line (L4) also stops at Barceloneta.

At the top of El born the Eixample district borders via Plaza de Urquinaona served by the red Metro Line (L1).

Click on any of the images below to for detailed information about that tourist attraction in El Born.

Happy Exploring!