El Raval EX

The Raval is the area to the right of La Rambla when walking towards the sea. Many of La Rambla’s main attractions are here, including the Betlem church, the Palau de la Virreina, the Boqueria, the Liceu theatre and the Centre d’Art Santa Mónica. There are visitor attractions located within Raval too, but its main appeal lays in the vibe of the barrio. Raval is one of the most colourful areas in the city, and a melting pot of cultures. North Africans, Filipinos and Pakistanis have stamped their mark on the neighbourhood, with curry houses, Asian food shops and even children playing cricket in the streets. More recently, a wave of Andean immigrants has added to the mix. There is still an edge to the area, and the darker, more isolated alley ways, with open prostitution and some seedy characters, are best avoided at night, especially if alone. But, some alternative, anything-goes bars and a buzzing music scene have also emerged. It’s too buzzing for some though, and Raval is at the heart of a new city-wide struggle by authorities to clamp down on noise pollution.

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