General Information
El Born is situated in the old city of Barcelona, more exactly on the eastern part of the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic). It is one of the oldest parts of the city, and it played an important role in the history of Barcelona during the Middle Ages. Between the 12th and 17th century this was Barcelona’s richest and most influential quarter.
Although in the last few centuries it has lost its significance, today El Born is one of the most popular places of the city, where tourists can visit many museums, clubs, coffee shops and boutiques. There are also a lot of music events and festivals organized in the area, and it is highly recommended for those who want to enjoy the active nightlife of the Barcelona.
Things To Do in El Born
This quarter is mainly recommended for those who are keen on an active nightlife as there are a lot of bars and clubs where people can be part of the Catalan nightlife. Many concerts and festivals are held here, mainly for young people.
Nevertheless, there are also numerous tourist attractions for those who are not fans of nightlife activities. For example, tourists can take enjoyable walks on the quarter’s narrow, medieval streets such as Passeig del Born and Calle Montcada.
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| Passeig del Born |
Passeig del Born is El Born’s main street, and according to the tradition, back in the middle ages there were jousting tournaments organized in this place. Nowadays Passeig del Born is famous for the numerous cafes, bars and fashion shops where tourists can spend a great time.
Calle Montcada is another famous street. This is the street where the Museu Picasso and the Museu Textil i d’Indumentaria (Museum of Textiles and Fashion) are located. The former is recommended mainly for art lovers. At the Museu Picasso visitors can admire a wide collection of Picasso’s artworks, with more than 3,500 pieces exhibited from various periods.
In the middle ages, Barcelona’s textile guilds were located in El Born, thus making sense for the Museum of Textiles and Fashion to be placed here as well. The museum is recommended for those who are interested in the history of textile manufacturing.
Beside the walk on the medieval streets, El Born quarter offers many other tourist attractions and entertainment possibilities for its visitors. One of them is Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar, which is one of the most beautiful churches of Barcelona. Its name means Saint Mary of the Sea, and it comes from the fact that the church was mainly funded by the local merchants and sailors. The church was built during the 14th century in the Gothic style, and although over its history it was damaged many times, it still has an artistic significance and architectural value.
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| Santa Maria del Mar, which means “Saint Mary of the Sea”, is a church located in El Born quarter of Barcelona. |
In addition to these, El Born can be also a good choice for those who are fans of music. The Palacio de la Musica Catalana (Palace of Catalan Music) hosts many concerts and music events.
Museu de la Xocolata (Chocolate Museum) is another interesting tourist attraction in the area. This is a small, but extremely fascinating museum, because the visitors can get a lot of information about the history of chocolate in Europe and about the methods of its manufacturing.
The numerous restaurants and coffee shops of El Born offer unique food and special coffee.
A trip to El Born can be a good choice, not only for art lovers and young people, but also for families with children, because it is not far from Parc de la Ciutadella (Ciutadella Park) which is a highly recommended place for kids (for additional information – Kids and Families in El Born and Kids and Families in Barcelona).