Sants – Monjuic district a diverse place to visit in Barcelona
The district of Sants-Montjuic, located in the south of the city, is one of the most significant and emblematic districts of the city. Sants-Montjuïc is the place to come to enjoy the sea views, mountain walks and history. There are plenty of natural sites that embrace the beauty and uniqueness of the area. Its markets, lively squares, museums and all kinds of cultural and sports activities have made it one of the favorite districts among locals.
The are many areas of the district that are well-known and highly popular, but some are hidden from the touristic spotlight. The spectacles and the cultural and sports facilities, as well as the natural space that the park of Montjuïc offers, makes it one of the biggest historical legacies of the city. The mountain of Montjuic is not only the most distinct place in this district, but it is also one of the most iconic spots in all of Barcelona. It is 185 mts. high and has the shape of a cliff that sinks into the sea. The name is in Catalan, and means “Jewish Mount”, to make reference to the Sephardic community of medieval Barcelona that bought it to bury their dead.
Paral·lel avenue, which separates the district of Sants-Montjuïc from L’Eixample and Ciutat Vella, is one of its most dynamic axes and still preserves the tradition of the area being dedicated to leisure and entertainment, with theaters, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. The very well-known El Molino and Apolo are still standing and are livelier than ever.
Neighbourhoods of the Sants-Montjuic district
The Montjuïc mountain, the disctrict’s greatest attraction, is surrounded by the seven neighbourhoods that make up the district. These neighbourhoods are: el Poble-sec, the Marina of Prat Vermell, the Marina of the Port, Font de la Guatlla, Hostafrancs, la Bordeta, Sants-Badal and Sants. This district is not only the biggest but probably the most varied too.
The district’s origin goes back to the old independent municipality of Santa Maria de Sants, which in 1897 was annexed to Barcelona and that throughout the 20th century included the Bordeta, Hostafrancs, Sants-Badal, Montjuïc, Poble-sec and the Marina. The Font de la Guatlla neighbourhood were included after the exhibition of 1929. For its size and extention, Sants-Montjuïc shows how different its neighborhoods are: each with its own identity. Each of them contribute to the narrative of the many stages that the city has been through historically.
One of the most popular areas in the city to stay, is the colorful neighbourhood of Poble-Sec, located at the foot of the mountain Montjuic. It is formed by small streets, bars, cafes and it is always full of life. The barrio is characterized by its varied cultures, and is famous for its boulevard full of bars and restaurants, and small shops. Just off the main avenue you will find the Plaza del Sortidor that has a lovely local vibe and nice gastronomic offerings too.
Poble-Sec, o el Pueblo Seco, literally translates to “Dry Village”. It takes its name from the moment when a number of textile factories were installed in the area. They consumed a large amount of water, which they took from Montjuïc, although the area was never really dry. The history of the Poble-Sec dates back to the middle of nineteenth century, when it mainly a rural space, with orchards and farm laborers. Around 1850 when the city’s population no longer fit in Raval, the Poble-Sec began to be populated specially by families and immigrants. The neighbourhood is considered the first extension of Barcelona before the implementation of the Cerdà Plan. It remains until today, a neighbourhood characterized by narrow and very charming streets.
Another of the most important neighbourhoods in the district is Sants. It was one of the most important textile industry centres of the city in the 19th century. It still remains one of Barcelona’s iconic working-class areas in town. The most important landmark in Sants is probably Sants Estació, the city’s main railway station.
The Sants-Badal neighbourhood is a small area that originally formed the western part of the Santa Maria de Sants. The neighbourhood is characterized by its wide rambla – Rambla de Badal – that has some beautiful modernist buildings. Another iconic spot in the area is Plaza de la Oliveret.
Other of its neighourhoods, La Marina of the Port and La Bordeta, are the industrial areas of the city that continue to be the representative for what used to be the working area of Barcelona. This neighbourhoods consist of some smaller places, which are: Port, Can Carlos, Polvorín, Fomento, San Cristóbal, Estrellas Altas and Plus Ultra. The area is full of old factories, as it traditionally has been an agricultural zone. Most of the old farmhouses date back to the 1900’s and house some of the middle and working classes. The Marina area is also called the Port neighbourhood. Its origin dates back to the end of the 10th century, when the Castle of Montjuic was constructed. La Bordeta has always been an area comprised of small workshops. Here is were the the old factory of Can Batlló is located, a place that marked the life of the neighborhood, and recently was converted into a social and cultural center.
The small area located on the other side of Plaza España, the Hostafrancs, dates back to the 1840s, when Joan Corrades i Bosch bought the land around and built a hostel there, naming it after the town he came from – Hostafrancs. The hostel became very popular among the travelers coming to the city, and the neighbourhood got its name this way. Two of the most important attractions of this place are the municipal market and the Parc l’Espanya Industrial.
La Marina del Prat Vermell is considered to be a new neighborhood. Its name comes from the fields that used to occupy the lower area la Marina de Sants.
The Font de la Guatlla neighbourhood is one of the tiniest of Barcelona. You can find it beyond Plaza España, on the Montjuic side of Gran Via. The area is very lovely on the inside, and has lots of two-story houses with gardens. All of its streets are called after flowers: Dàlia, Lotus, Begònia and Crisantem. This is due to the neighbourhood’s original purpose of being a small garden city in the beginning of the 20th century.
In order to see everything that the dsitrict of Sants-Montjuic has to offer, you should go and discover it yourself! If you are planning on visiting, don’t forget to check our apartments for your best stay in the city of Barcelona!
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