– This post was written by Yasmin Gleghorn –
Barcelona is, without a doubt, the ultimate metropolitan city: cool, European and modern to a fault. Many may think it lacks the feel of other Iberian towns, with their rustic architecture, small family businesses and laid back culture. But what if that wasn’t the case? What if a small area of Barcelona had, as if by magic, concentrated the soul of Spain’s way of life in a single space?
Skip to a section
The best of Spain, all in one place
Enter Poble Espanyol. This “replica” village, right past the Fountains of Montjuïc, takes the best from all Spanish cities and brings them all to this 49,000 m2 area. The village was only meant to be a temporary showcase for the 1929 International Exhibition, but it was so successful that its doors are still remain open today.
Most of the original setting remains intact, with scale reproductions of buildings, squares and streets of different regions of Spain. The area is packed all year round and provides endless entertainment with a varied programme of events, shops, workshops, bars and restaurants.
Whether you visit during the day, or venture into its bustling nightlife, Poble Espanyol will give a real taste of authentic Spanish life – all without leaving Barcelona!
By day
If you head to Poble Espanyol during the day, you’ll have a perfect view of the full scale replicas of 117 buildings. Its creators visited 1,600 towns and villages around the Iberian Peninsula and Southern Portugal to choose the buildings and aspects that best represented Spain’s architecture, food and nightlife.
Shopping here is one-of-a-kind, with 20 artisans making and selling unique handicrafts from glass and leather to ceramics and jewelry. You’ll not only discover buildings, but also artisans you can watch live as they work in the 20 different craft shops around the village, as well as viewing pieces of contemporary art by universal figures like Dalí, Picasso, Miró o Guinovart at the onsite The Fran Daurel Museum.
Poble Espanyol has especially stepped up its game for 2017. The Feeling Spain exhibition, now open, uses immersive audiovisual elements, to help you really delve into then Spanish experience. Once you’re done you’ll have a full on feel, sights, smells, wealth, wonders, customs and traditions of various Spanish regions.
By night
Turn up at night and Poble Espanyol becomes a unique experiece for dancing, flamenco shows, great food, wine tasting and more. If days here replicate the best of Spanish lifestyle, this will give you a taste of real Spanish nightlife – and how lively things actually are!
Summer nights here replicate Spain’s perfectly, where you can sit in the open air and enjoy a drink and traditional tapas. To get the ultimate Spanish food and drink experience, ask for a tinto de verano (part red wine, part soda) and the local pulpo (octopus). Seafood not your thing? You can’t go wrong with some chorizo and queso curado!
If you’re looking for some entertainment, La Terrrazza, built like an impressive Majorcan manor house, is perfect for dancing, with a canopy of trees around the pumping open-air disco. If you’re more in the mood for concerts, talks, or even a late-night burlesque show, Upload in the Plaça Major is the place to be.
If you visit during the summer months, you’ll be lucky enough to experience the aptly named Summer Nights, a monthly series of events that include Riuestiu, the Barcelona Summer Festival of Humour – which includes performances by top comics and leading companies -, screenings of short films from the Mecal (Barcelona International Short Film Festival), blues concerts and other events related to music or the cinema.
When will you visit Poble Espanyol? You can always choose both day and night!
There’s a lot more to discover in Barcelona. Head to Tiqets.com to find out more or read the blog for more travel inspiration.
