The independent republic of Horta
The third biggest barrio in Barcelona is full of character and hidden gems, making renting a long-term flat in Horta an authentic Barcelonian experience. Read on to discover Horta as a local!
An authentic hortera
Horta was an independent town until 1904, when it was annexed to Barcelona. Its name comes from the Horta (or Orta) family, who owned the territory from 1036 to 1260. It was a water-rich land, which made it grow and become a sought-after territory, and curiously made people set up a lot of laundries there. Between the 16th and 20th centuries, it grew exponentially also due to the tramway arriving in 1901.
People in Horta are proud to be from there and feel like they have a different identity than those from the rest of the city, but beware: an hortera, in Spanish, means someone who dresses and grooms themselves in a flashy and tasteless manner, and it is usually a pretty dismissive term, so be careful when using it in your new neighbourhood!
Find your room in Barcelona
People in Horta are proud to be from there and feel like they have a different identity than those from the rest of the city, but beware: an hortera, in Spanish, means someone who dresses and grooms themselves in a flashy and tasteless manner, and it is usually a pretty dismissive term, so be careful when using it in your new neighbourhood!
City Hiking
Most of Horta is in steep hills, so you will pack in a major workout every time you try to find the perfect room in Horta or if you are already living there. Wear your most comfortable shoes and head for Labyrinth Park, the oldest surviving garden in the city. The Italian Renaissance-style Palau de les Heures garden is also worth visiting.
Don’t miss Carrer d'Aiguafreda, a narrow alleyway lined with tiny houses with water wells and some washing places, where the washerwomen did the laundry for the wealthy people of Barcelona until the 20th century. And then, when you are ready to sit and relax for a while sipping on your vermouth and watching people go by, go to the beautiful Plaça Eivissa, the beating heart of the neighbourhood.
Don’t miss Carrer d'Aiguafreda, a narrow alleyway lined with tiny houses with water wells and some washing places, where the washerwomen did the laundry for the wealthy people of Barcelona until the 20th century. And then, when you are ready to sit and relax for a while sipping on your vermouth and watching people go by, go to the beautiful Plaça Eivissa, the beating heart of the neighbourhood.
A quiet life
Living in Horta can give you the best of Barcelona (after all, it is very easy to jump on the L5 if you need to go downtown, to the beaches or anywhere else in the city) and the possibility of enjoying life in a no-frills Barcelona barrio. Access to nature, cleaner air, and an unsophisticated attitude will suit you if you are down-to-earth. Expat housing in Horta is easy to find (just check our site!), and the low and fully refurbished buildings will make you feel like you are in a little town while still being able to access the city you have chosen to make your home.
Us donem la benvinguda a Horta!
Find your home in Barcelona
Us donem la benvinguda a Horta!
The third biggest barrio in Barcelona is full of character and hidden gems, making renting a long-term flat in Horta an authentic Barcelonian experience. Read on to discover Horta as a local!
An authentic hortera
Horta was an independent town until 1904, when it was annexed to Barcelona. Its name comes from the Horta (or Orta) family, who owned the territory from 1036 to 1260. It was a water-rich land, which made it grow and become a sought-after territory, and curiously made people set up a lot of laundries there. Between the 16th and 20th centuries, it grew exponentially also due to the tramway arriving in 1901.
People in Horta are proud to be from there and feel like they have a different identity than those from the rest of the city, but beware: an hortera, in Spanish, means someone who dresses and grooms themselves in a flashy and tasteless manner, and it is usually a pretty dismissive term, so be careful when using it in your new neighbourhood!
Find your room in Barcelona
People in Horta are proud to be from there and feel like they have a different identity than those from the rest of the city, but beware: an hortera, in Spanish, means someone who dresses and grooms themselves in a flashy and tasteless manner, and it is usually a pretty dismissive term, so be careful when using it in your new neighbourhood!
City Hiking
Most of Horta is in steep hills, so you will pack in a major workout every time you try to find the perfect room in Horta or if you are already living there. Wear your most comfortable shoes and head for Labyrinth Park, the oldest surviving garden in the city. The Italian Renaissance-style Palau de les Heures garden is also worth visiting.
Don’t miss Carrer d'Aiguafreda, a narrow alleyway lined with tiny houses with water wells and some washing places, where the washerwomen did the laundry for the wealthy people of Barcelona until the 20th century. And then, when you are ready to sit and relax for a while sipping on your vermouth and watching people go by, go to the beautiful Plaça Eivissa, the beating heart of the neighbourhood.
Don’t miss Carrer d'Aiguafreda, a narrow alleyway lined with tiny houses with water wells and some washing places, where the washerwomen did the laundry for the wealthy people of Barcelona until the 20th century. And then, when you are ready to sit and relax for a while sipping on your vermouth and watching people go by, go to the beautiful Plaça Eivissa, the beating heart of the neighbourhood.
A quiet life
Living in Horta can give you the best of Barcelona (after all, it is very easy to jump on the L5 if you need to go downtown, to the beaches or anywhere else in the city) and the possibility of enjoying life in a no-frills Barcelona barrio. Access to nature, cleaner air, and an unsophisticated attitude will suit you if you are down-to-earth. Expat housing in Horta is easy to find (just check our site!), and the low and fully refurbished buildings will make you feel like you are in a little town while still being able to access the city you have chosen to make your home.
Us donem la benvinguda a Horta!
Find your home in Barcelona
Us donem la benvinguda a Horta!
