El Raval

El Raval (Catalan pronunciation: [əl rəˈβal]) is a neighborhood in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona, the capital city of Catalonia. The neighborhood, especially the part closest to the old port, was formerly (informally) known as Barri Xinès or Barrio Chino, meaning "Chinatown".[1] El Raval is one of the two historical neighborhoods that border La Rambla, the other being the Barri Gòtic; it contains some 50,000 people.

Carrer del Carme.
El gato del Raval (The Raval cat), by Botero
Carrer de l'Hospital.
Sant Pau del Camp church.
Plaça dels Àngels, with the MACBA main building in the background.

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 to its central location has become a minor attraction of Barcelona. It currently has a very diverse immigrant community (47.4% of its population was born abroad, ranging from Filipinos, South Americans, and Pakistanis, to a more recent Eastern European community, especially from Romania). It is home to many bars, restaurants, and night spots.

  1. ^ "How Chinatown Became Barcelona's Coolest Area". Discovery. 30 June 2017. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2021.