Fun to visit when you’re in Barcelona is the La Ribera area in the Ciutat Vella district that is located in the historical centre of the city. Between the 13th and 15th century this zone was the economic centre of Barcelona. In this neighborhood there were built a lot of manors of which you can still admire many in the Carrer de Montcada.

The name La Ribera is derived from ‘riba’ which means ‘bank’ (river) in Catalan. That is in that time the area was situated near to sea. Besides, the nearby quarter of La Barceloneta was an island called ‘I’illa de Maians’ that time.

La Ribera is divided into two sectors: the area near Via Laietana and the area that nowadays is known as El Born. El Born stretches out around the basilica Santa Maria del Mar and was built against the old city walls. The quarter was in that time called La Vilanova or Vilanova del Mar. Nowadays the name El Born is also used to indicate the whole quarter La Ribera.

The La Ribera area lost her most important position in the 16th century when the economical activities moved to the La Mercè area in the new harbor. In the beginning of the 18th century the half of La Ribera was tore down to built a fort there. This on the location where now the Ciutadella Park and the indoor market of El Born, the Mercat del Born, are situated.

Some interesting attractions in La Ribera are: the Llotja de Barcelona (also called Llotja de Mar) where formerly the merchants came together, the basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, the in reconstruction being Mercat del Born and the Picasso Museum. Moreover you’ll find numerous trendy boutiques and fashionable bars and restaurants there.

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