Poblenou

Poblenou ("Pueblo Nuevo," Spanish; "New Village", English) is an extensive neighborhood of Barcelona (Sant Martí district) that borders the Mediterranean sea to the south, Sant Adrià del Besòs to the east, Parc de la Ciutadella in Ciutat Vella to the west, and Horta-Guinardó and Sant Andreu to the north. It is technically part of the Eixample, its layout having been drafted by Ildefons Cerdà, although the historic center of the neighborhood predates the grid, and was in fact a town entirely separated from Barcelona.

History

During the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, Poblenou was the epicenter of Spanish industry, earning it its sobriquet of the "Catalonian Manchester". Surrounding the extensive cluster of factories stood mostly working class residential areas. After a period of decay, the neighborhood has undergone a dramatic transformation. Many of the areas that have been developed—including the Vila Olímpica, the Diagonal Mar area, and the Forum area—arguably comprise their own neighborhoods. Completing its original, unfinished plan, The Avinguda Diagonal now stretches from Plaça de Gloriès to the sea. The massive 22@ plan sets to convert Poblenou into the city's technological and innovation district, as well as to increase leasure and residential spaces. Much of Barcelona's world-renowned urban planning manifests itself in Poblenou.

Alongside the newly-built, upscale Vila Olímpica and Diagonal Mar areas, many artists and young professionals have converted the former factories and warehouses into lofts, galleries, and shops. Art & Design schools and studios have also opened, making the area known for its creative outlook. The leafy Rambla de Poble Nou, which stretches from Avinguda Diagonal to the beach, is an alternative to Barcelona's more well-known (and touristed) Rambla.

Landmarks

Notable buildings of Poblenou include the Torre Agbar (Jean Nouvel), Herzog & de Meuron's Forum Building (which houses Europe's largest scale model of a city), and the Habitat Sky Hotel (Dominique Perrault). Major public spaces include the Parc de Diagonal Mar (Enric Miralles), the Plaça de Gloriès Catalanes, the Parc Central del Poblenou (Jean Nouvel), the beachfront Parc del Poblenou, the vast Parc del Forum, as well as many kilometers of beaches.

In popular culture

The 1994 Catalan-language TV3 soap opera Poblenou was chiefly set in this area of the city.

ee also

*Primavera Sound Festival
*2004 Universal Forum of Cultures

External links

* [http://www.bcn.es/turisme/english/turisme/rutes/pnou_fr.htm/ Online tour of Poblenou from the City's web]
* [http://www.22barcelona.com/index.php?lang=en/ Website of 22@ 'The Innovation District']
* [http://www.elpoblenou.cat// Poblenou neighbourhood association]
* [http://www.geocities.com/medit1976c3/poblenou.htm/ Information on the Parc Central del Poblenou]
* [http://www.bcn.es/santmarti Sant Martí council]
* [http://pallars172.blogspot.com/ The real Barcelona, real Poblenou. Know the truth]