Poble Espanol all of Spain in the heart of Barcelona

Right in the centre of Barcelona, extraordinarily close to Plaza Espanya and on the hill of Montjuic, you may find Poble Espanyol, an exciting attraction which will transport you instantly out of the city, into the area of traditional Spanish towns.

A little history

Poble Espanyol was made at the time of the world Fair of 1929 by creators of great renown : the designer Puig I Cadafalch, initiator of the project ; 2 famous architects, Ramon Reventos and Francesc Folguera ; and the two artists Xavier Nogus and Miquel Utrillo. To carry out this project, they travelled thru common villages on the peninsula and got info about the architectural traits of each area to create a harmonious synthesis in one single village, Poble Espanyol Barcelona, right in the heart of the city of Barcelona. Their goal was to present to the world Spanish design in all of its variety, as well as the convivial ambiance of Iberian towns.
The village consists of elements reconstructed directly on the model of authentic Spanish buildings, whilst others are in original form, extrapolated and transported right to the middle of Barcelona. Carried out with great precision and a very harmonious aesthetic, this hamlet, which was to get destroyed after the Exposition, is still standing today, much to the delight of visitors. Aragon, Castilla, Andalusia, Asturias, Murcia, Catalunya.. You will be able to discover the standard architecture of all of these areas without leaving the centre of Barcelona, so be certain not to miss Poble Espanyol.

My experience in Poble Espanyol

After having entered the enclosure of Poble Espanyol, you’ve got the impression of having left the city and transported into the centre of a lively and agreeable hamlet. You are then able to ask for audio guides, which are available in Spanish, Catalan, English, French and Italian, giving you reasons about the regions of Spain, their design, their history, which is ideal in order to obtain an overall image of the country. Walking around gives you a full tour of Iberian design, whilst at the same time benefitting from the convivial ambiance of a Spanish hamlet, breathing in the delicate perfume of the orange trees.
Your visit starts in plaza Mayor, which abounds in small cafes offering top quality menus and whose patios will enable you to absorb the sun, whilst admiring the architectural landscape of the village. Upon continuing your visit, you may discover Galicia, Asturias and Aragon, and will make a stop-off in Andalusia with its white-washed towns. Then you’ll be ready to go to visit the Fran Fraudel foundation, a collection of contemporary art which gathers startling works from the up to date Catalan artistic world : Picasso, Mir, Dal, Tpies, Pon, Momp and many others.

After, you can take a look around the peaceful priory of San Miguel, as well as a big number of buildings reflecting all areas of Spain.
While walking through the little lanes of Poble Espanyol, you will discover all types of shops, plenty of which are essentially craft and artists’ workshops. Leather, jewels, guitar manufacturers, glass-blowers, fans, masks, hand-made embroidery, paintings, ceramics you will be ready to discover the trade methods of all these objects and see online how to blow glass thanks to one of the most famous glass-blowers in Spain. You may certainly be ready to dig out a few beautiful objects to take back home.
To entertain the children, there are also some workshops offering such stuff as puppets, storytelling, and even an enjoyable game which lets you discover the town all while having a great time. Many festivities are also arranged to entertain small ones and grown ups alike.
If you come later in the evening, you can eat in one of many restaurants in Poble Espanyol, after having a drink in one of the pubs and then enjoying the well-known clubs of the hamlet, to keep the party banging into the wee-small hours.
For those that wish to truly get into the Spanish vibe, an authentic flamenco show with dancing, songs and music is also on offer in the Andalusian lanes of the hamlet.
Poble Espanyol is a lively town, perfect for walking, and where you will have the facility to discover the areas of Spain through architecture and the standard craft industry. Likewise, Poble Esanyol regularly houses many events and festivities which liven up the life of the town and make your visit full of surprises. Check the Barcelona blog.