What I will remember most in Raval for all of my lifetime has to be Ovella Negra. But, I know there is more than awesome bars and immigrants. There is history and beautiful, maybe the most beautiful architecture in Barcelona.
Walking through Raval is like walking in Medieval times and it makes you feel like you came from somewhere. The narrow cobblestone streets and the stone buildings are very daunting and are reminiscent of a modern haunted house. At night, walking through Raval is eerie and almost like an obstacle course as you have to avoid the immigrants selling cocaine and marijuana, or 1 euro beers that is probably controlled by the mafia; or so I have been told.
Anyway, Raval is a very intriguing place as it is preceeded by cultural sites such as the Boqueria and various museums and ancient palaces. It was one of the first places I visited when I came to Barcelona so it is one of those things I automatically think of when someone mentions Barcelona. I imagine that it has a lot of meaning for the people of Barcelona because it partly symbolizes their heritage and their history.
To me it is like the North End in Boston because it is an original settlement and is where many immigrants made, and continue to make their homes. It is a place of culture, history, and beauty, which as an anthropology major and photography expert is a perfect place to walk around and explore.
I have taken my friends and family there and did a similar tour with them as they were fascinated as it compares to nothing in the United States. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten any pictures yet, but hopefully I will in the future, and I will surely be back to Ovella Negra...aka my favorite bar en el mundo.
La Ribera was one of the more interesting places I have been as well because of the history and culture that still exists. From the guilds, workshop houses, Santa Maria del Mar, and Canvis Vells, the area is filled with aspects of Catalan culture that have given it identity throughout history and continue to live and flow today.
After being inside Santa Maria del Mar, I have to say that it is the prettiest church I have seen in the world, and after this semester, I think I have seen 50 pus churches at least to compare it to, including the Sagrada Familia. The architecture and location of the church make it, to me, even more important and magical because it is not a huge tourist attraction and represents true Catalan history and true Catalan culture, which as a tourist, is often hard to find.
By far my favorite area in Barcelona for the uniqueness and history combined with the culture and meaning behind the places we visited.
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