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Barcelona's Born district is one of the city's most popular destinations for tourists and locals alike. It used to be Barcelona's main shopping centre, but now it's a centre for shopping, gastronomy and culture. It has a lot to offer tourists, so to make sure you don't miss out on anything, we recommend you take a Free Tour like the ones we offer at Guruwalk.
The district was founded in the 12th century in what was once a marshy area near an itinerant stream called El Born. The name "born" comes from the Catalan word for "well". The first houses were built there around 1160 on land owned by Arnau Amalric. The parish church of Santa Maria del Mar, which still stands today, was built more than 300 years later, in 1329.
In 1592, King Philip II gave permission to create a market on Sundays and public holidays in El Born, making it a place where people could shop.
Today the neighbourhood has not lost this commercial nature and can be seen in expressions such as the Born Food Market.
The Born Market is a market located in Barcelona that sells food that is grown, preserved or cooked in or near Barcelona.
This market focuses on providing food to the community and is an example of how the global food system is changing as people demand more fresh produce. What better way than to soak up the day-to-day life of the market by strolling around the stalls and sampling fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood and cheeses typical of Catalonia.
The cafés with terraces in the Born are also part of the neighbourhood. Here you'll find a variety of restaurants, bars, shops and other places to explore. These cafés are becoming increasingly popular, as they provide an excellent place to have a coffee during the day or enjoy a few drinks in the evening with friends while taking in the beautiful Barcelona cityscape.
El Born offers a mix of the new and the old. It is a creative district, with 1800's architecture mixed with hotels, flats, restaurants and shops. If you stroll through El Born, you'll find Gothic churches, baroque mansions and modernist works.
As you can see, this is a Barcelona neighbourhood with a lot of history, charisma and life.