Living on the sea: discover la Barceloneta as a local
There’s so much more than beaches and restaurants in La Barceloneta… Get to know it and fall in love!
Built on the water
La Barceloneta neighbourhood owes its existence to land claimed to the sea. In the 18th century King Felipe V, set on building the Ciutadella (originally not a park, but a prison), decided to commission the project to Juan Martín Cermeño.
The layout of la Barceloneta is typical of the Enlightenment: grid-like and organised, it guaranteed buildings with cross ventilation and proper sanitation for the population.
The layout of la Barceloneta is typical of the Enlightenment: grid-like and organised, it guaranteed buildings with cross ventilation and proper sanitation for the population.
History in the making
History is deep in la Barceloneta, and working-class pride runs thick as blood in its veins. After the fishermen who first inhabited it in the 19th century, it was the turn of factory workers of important metallurgical and mechanical industries which were set up there.
Unions, strikes and fights for workers’ rights are part of this neighbourhood’s history, but so is its pride in community and civil associations. One of the most important festivities sprouting from these associations is els Coros, the choirs. In the 19th century, els coros were made up of fishermen, dockers and workers from modest and poor backgrounds. They met once a week to write the lyrics of their songs and rehearse them, developing their artistic and critical talents.
Nowadays, they take to the streets at the end of May and play music while dancing and connecting to the community, not unlike a New Orleans’ Second Line parade.
Find your home in Barcelona
Unions, strikes and fights for workers’ rights are part of this neighbourhood’s history, but so is its pride in community and civil associations. One of the most important festivities sprouting from these associations is els Coros, the choirs. In the 19th century, els coros were made up of fishermen, dockers and workers from modest and poor backgrounds. They met once a week to write the lyrics of their songs and rehearse them, developing their artistic and critical talents.
Nowadays, they take to the streets at the end of May and play music while dancing and connecting to the community, not unlike a New Orleans’ Second Line parade.
Beach People
The sea belongs to la Barceloneta, and la Barceloneta belongs to the sea. Long before Barcelona was discovered as a holiday destination or a preferred area for long-term flat renting in Barcelona, the inhabitants of La Barceloneta were the masters of the beaches.
The Club Natació Barceloneta –an actual gym that still stands today–was founded in 1908 to teach workers how to swim and became one of the country's first clubs to introduce water polo. Even if nowadays there are a lot of ex-pats who have discovered and enjoy it, the real people from la Barceloneta are still there in the Club, playing petanque and swimming every day of the year, no matter the temperature.
These are just a few of the things of la Barceloneta you can discover living in la Barceloneta, but there are so many more… why don’t you walk around its streets and try to uncover a few more of its hidden secrets?
Find your place in Barcelona
The Club Natació Barceloneta –an actual gym that still stands today–was founded in 1908 to teach workers how to swim and became one of the country's first clubs to introduce water polo. Even if nowadays there are a lot of ex-pats who have discovered and enjoy it, the real people from la Barceloneta are still there in the Club, playing petanque and swimming every day of the year, no matter the temperature.
These are just a few of the things of la Barceloneta you can discover living in la Barceloneta, but there are so many more… why don’t you walk around its streets and try to uncover a few more of its hidden secrets?
There’s so much more than beaches and restaurants in La Barceloneta… Get to know it and fall in love!
Built on the water
La Barceloneta neighbourhood owes its existence to land claimed to the sea. In the 18th century King Felipe V, set on building the Ciutadella (originally not a park, but a prison), decided to commission the project to Juan Martín Cermeño.
The layout of la Barceloneta is typical of the Enlightenment: grid-like and organised, it guaranteed buildings with cross ventilation and proper sanitation for the population.
The layout of la Barceloneta is typical of the Enlightenment: grid-like and organised, it guaranteed buildings with cross ventilation and proper sanitation for the population.
History in the making
History is deep in la Barceloneta, and working-class pride runs thick as blood in its veins. After the fishermen who first inhabited it in the 19th century, it was the turn of factory workers of important metallurgical and mechanical industries which were set up there.
Unions, strikes and fights for workers’ rights are part of this neighbourhood’s history, but so is its pride in community and civil associations. One of the most important festivities sprouting from these associations is els Coros, the choirs. In the 19th century, els coros were made up of fishermen, dockers and workers from modest and poor backgrounds. They met once a week to write the lyrics of their songs and rehearse them, developing their artistic and critical talents.
Nowadays, they take to the streets at the end of May and play music while dancing and connecting to the community, not unlike a New Orleans’ Second Line parade.
Find your home in Barcelona
Unions, strikes and fights for workers’ rights are part of this neighbourhood’s history, but so is its pride in community and civil associations. One of the most important festivities sprouting from these associations is els Coros, the choirs. In the 19th century, els coros were made up of fishermen, dockers and workers from modest and poor backgrounds. They met once a week to write the lyrics of their songs and rehearse them, developing their artistic and critical talents.
Nowadays, they take to the streets at the end of May and play music while dancing and connecting to the community, not unlike a New Orleans’ Second Line parade.
Beach People
The sea belongs to la Barceloneta, and la Barceloneta belongs to the sea. Long before Barcelona was discovered as a holiday destination or a preferred area for long-term flat renting in Barcelona, the inhabitants of La Barceloneta were the masters of the beaches.
The Club Natació Barceloneta –an actual gym that still stands today–was founded in 1908 to teach workers how to swim and became one of the country's first clubs to introduce water polo. Even if nowadays there are a lot of ex-pats who have discovered and enjoy it, the real people from la Barceloneta are still there in the Club, playing petanque and swimming every day of the year, no matter the temperature.
These are just a few of the things of la Barceloneta you can discover living in la Barceloneta, but there are so many more… why don’t you walk around its streets and try to uncover a few more of its hidden secrets?
Find your place in Barcelona
The Club Natació Barceloneta –an actual gym that still stands today–was founded in 1908 to teach workers how to swim and became one of the country's first clubs to introduce water polo. Even if nowadays there are a lot of ex-pats who have discovered and enjoy it, the real people from la Barceloneta are still there in the Club, playing petanque and swimming every day of the year, no matter the temperature.
These are just a few of the things of la Barceloneta you can discover living in la Barceloneta, but there are so many more… why don’t you walk around its streets and try to uncover a few more of its hidden secrets?
