El Poblenou

In the northeastern suburbs of Barcelona, El Poblenou (‘new village’ in Catalan) is sandwiched between the Mediterranean Sea and the Avinguda Diagonal, which slices through the modern heart of the city. As one of Barcelona’s former working-class districts, Poblenou had a somewhat neglected feel prior to the 1992 Olympic Games, which saw vast swathes of the city scrubbed clean and regenerated. It was given a thorough facelift and today the chimneys of the former textile works stand side by side with warehouses converted into gentrified loft apartments. Along with the advent of the gleaming Torre Agbar – brightly illuminated at night – and other sleek modern skyscrapers, Poblenou has gained a reputation for being the home of technical innovation and sparkling creativity, evidenced in the galleries and hi-tech businesses opening up in its busy streets; a new addition to its cultural repertoire is the Palo Alto Market, held every first weekend of the month in a former factory and showcasing funky crafts and designs. The barrio’s main, tree-lined artery of Rambla de Poblenou is lined with tapas bars and boutiques and leads down to a seafront peppered with sandy beaches.

Practical Info

El Poblenou is just north of the center of Barcelona. Access is by Metro to Selva de Mar.