The neighbourhood was built on land that was reclaimed to join the island of Maians to the mainland. In the 19th century, the area underwent massive industrial development that led to the construction of large factories such as La Maquinista Terrestre y Marítima, which have now been converted into leisure centres or schools and colleges.
La Barceloneta is triangular in shape, bordered by the neighbourhood’s beaches and the sea, by Port Vell’s Spain wharf (Moll d'Espanya in Catalan), the neighbourhood of La Ribera, França Train Station and the Olympic Marina (Port Olímpic).
The layout of this neighbourhood is a prime example of Enlightenment town planning, with straight streets and evenly sized blocks. Initially, the first houses were single-family houses with entrances from two streets, to create good ventilation.
At the centre of the neighbourhood is the Plaza de la Barceloneta, presided over by the church of Sant Miquel del Port. The neighbourhood is also home to Pompeu Fabra University’s Mar Campus.
Since January 2008 it has also been home to the headquarters of Gas Natural: a building with a unusual shape, known as Torre Marenostrum, designed by the prestigious architects Benedetta Tagliabue and Enric Miralles.
If you want to spend a fantastic day at the beach without ever leaving the city, go to La Barceloneta. To visit this area, we recommend that you use one of our Saba public car parks, located on Calle Abat Safont and open 24 hours a day.
