5 must-sees in El Raval

Next door is the ever-stimulating Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), which is a striking renovation of an old charitable house, the Casa de Caritat. In this exciting space, dance, music, film and other activities explore the urban experience. 

Retrace your steps to Carrer del Carme and the Gothic complex of the Antic Hospital de la Santa Creu (Hospital of the Holy Cross), a hospital and refuge for pilgrims for a thousand years. Gaudí died here in 1926. The courtyard is restful, with benches under orange trees that are either ripe with fruit or fragrant with blossom. The Escola Massana Art School, the National Library of Catalonia, and the Institute for Catalan Studies are all housed here.

Check out Rieva Baixa for vintage shops, a real treasure trove.

Around the corner is Sant Pau del Camp, a Romanesque gem of a church. The simplicity of its 12th-century lines is an agreeable change from the extravagance of Barcelona’s modernisme and the intricacies of Gothic architecture. It is believed to be the oldest church in the city. The lovely little cloister has curious, Arab-style arches.

In a city known for its classic artistic treasures, there is also something edgier to seek out – street art. Parts of Barcelona are well-known for their imaginative tagging – check out the Three Chimneys urban park in El Poble Sec, purpose-built for graffiti. Artists can work freely here without fear of fines. Or check out the tribute to Miró at the corner of Carrer Sant Pau and Carrer de la Riereta here in El Raval. Back in the Barri Gòtic, the city’s street artists continue to pump energy into these old streets, making the most of the atmospheric backdrops to frame their works.