El Raval

El Raval is a barrio in "Ciutat Vella" district of Barcelona, Spain. The neighborhood is also known as Barri Xino, meaning "Chinatown." El Raval is one of the two historical neighbourhoods that border the Rambla (the other being the Barri Gòtic). The neighborhood is home to 200,000 people.

An area historically infamous for its nightlife and cabarets, as well as prostitution and crime, El Raval has changed significantly in recent years and, due its central location, has become a minor attraction of Barcelona. It is currently the home to a very diverse immigrant community (47,4% of its population was born abroad [ [http://www.terral.ws/enelravdebcn.htm En el Raval de Barcelona ] ] ), ranging from Pakistanis and Indonesians, to a more recent Eastern european community, especially from Romania. El Raval is also becoming one of the hippest up-and-coming neighbourhoods of Barcelona where many artists live and work. It is home to many bars, restaurants, and night spots.

Delimitations

The northern border of the neighborhood is marked by Plaça Catalunya and Plaça Universitat, and the street which connects them, Carrer de Pelai. It limits in the east with La Rambla, and in the west and south, the neighborhood is delimited by Ronda Sant Antoni, Ronda Sant Pau and Avinguda del Paral·lel.

Landmarks

There are a few old icons like the Monastery of Sant Pau del Camp, or newer additions like Rambla del Raval, and MACBA (the Modern Art Museum of Barcelona) or the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona. In the southern part of the neighborhood, an old wall and gate of the medieval city called Portal de Santa Madrona still exists as part of Naval Museum. The Raval is also known for its large cat statue made by Fernando Botero, located on the Rambla del Raval. La Boqueria, the most famous market of the city, is also situated in the Raval.

Transport

Barcelona Metro

*Drassanes (L3)
*Liceu (L3)
*Paral·lel (L2, L3)
*Sant Antoni (L2)

Cultural depictions

*Eduardo Mendoza's 1975 book La verdad sobre el caso Savolta
*Cesc Gay's 2003 film En la ciudad
*Antoni Verdaguer's 2006 film Raval, Raval...

ee also

*Skateboarding in Barcelona
*La Paloma
*Raval (Santa Coloma de Gramenet)

References

External links

* [http://www.ravalnet.org/ Ravalnet.org]
* [http://elraval.publi-cat.net/ El Raval Digital]
* [http://www.ravalsolidari.org/ El Raval Solidari]
* [http://www.totraval.org/ Fundació Tot Raval]
* [http://www.casaldelraval.org/ Casal dels Infants del Raval]