My city of ruins

Last weekend we visited a new space in Barcelona: el Mercat del Born Centre Cultural.

A few years ago the city council decided to reform the modernist iron structure market of El Born neighborhood in order to repurpose it as Barcelona’s Public Library. During the process of its remodelling the most amazing thing happened, they found archeological ruins belonging to the city and aged to be from the 14th to 18th centuries, before that part of the city called La Ribera was bombed. From that moment they declared the place a national historic site and decided to construct a museum inside the market to show the ruins.

In fact the ruins are preserved so well that you are able to walk down the streets, see the houses (just a half of them) and try to imagine the life back at the 18th century. But what I like most about this new space is that although there are concerted paid visits to walk down the street, you can see everything from the upper structure they have built inside the public market.

This time we skipped the museum visits and just enjoyed the sights, took a few pics and ended the morning eating some tapas at El 300 by Moritz bar.

Come inside with us!

Fusion dance - The cat, you and us

Performing our fusion dance in front of el Mercat del Born ;)

Mercat del Born - The cat, you and us Watch your ruins - The cat, you and us

Looking at the groups visiting the ruins, and hey! I’m holding tight my new phone sleeve (Christmas’ present!)

Dani at Mercat del Born - The cat, you and us Damaris at Mercat del Born - The cat, you and us

The ceiling structure is impressive, isn’t it? love how it let’s the light get in from so many places.

Nice thing sweater - The cat, you and us

My embroidered sweater is from Nice Things (sale score); I love how soft it is. It is a shame the embroidery detail does not show enough in the picture.

Ruins - The cat, you and us Watch for your ruins - The cat, you and us

From here you have fantastic views of the ruins, I appreciate that this is open to public without having to pay for the museum.

Damaris at El 300 - The cat, you and us

Ready for some tapas! The restaurant is inside the market (you can tell from what’s in my back) and we got the table nearer to the door (last one), so I had to add my fake fur necktie to be more comfortable :)

Patatas bravas - The cat, you and us

Patatas bravas are our absolute obsession when eating tapas, we are always on the hunt of our favorite bravas bar.

Eggs and ham - The cat, you and us

Here some eggs with Iberico ham & olives. Classic tapas.

Eating some patatas bravas - The cat, you and us

Dani had to repeat my same pose holding the plate but he couldn’t help himself to start eating :)

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14 Comments

  1. frotfrot ADDS...

    Ale! No sabia que ja es podia visitar! Te bona pinta!! I hi ha llocs per jalar veig!! Ja ens hi portareu!!

    17th January 2014
    • We reply...

      Jejeje, fet! Si et dic que lo de enterar-nos que hi havia un lloc de jalar allà és el que ens va acabar de convèncer per fer la visiteta no t’estranya, oi? ;)

  2. Mariko ADDS...

    What a truly remarkable place. I love how they just built around the ruins and made them part of the attraction. And those tapas photos are making me so hungry. I love patatas bravas. We even try to make them at home sometimes, but I doubt they are anywhere as good as in Catalan.

    17th January 2014
    • We reply...

      How fun to know that you also make them at home! We have tried several times but never achieve what they do in bars around here :)

  3. Ice Pandora ADDS...

    What a big place and these ruins are
    interesting to see, like miniature stone
    town or something :P the tapas
    looking reaaaally good!
    Xx

    18th January 2014
    • We reply...

      Hahaha, exactly it is like a little stone town cut in half :)

  4. Fiona ADDS...

    That is so neat, we’d never have something like that here in Australia – makes me want to visit Barcelona :) Talking all things Barcelona, do you know this artist, http://www.katcameronillustration.com/ she posts a lot about Barcelona but it only just clicked you guys were from the same place when she posted about the markets you went too and I was like – hang on!

    I remember being in Japan and someone asking if I knew there friend in Australia and I tried to tell them nicely that Australia is a big place – he he he. I don’t expect you actually know her but sometimes it’s fun to follow bloggers in the same place as you :)

    19th January 2014
    • We reply...

      Hahahah so funny that they thought you could know his friend from Australia, it would have been a magic coincidence :) I think it is easier with Barcelona which is much much much smaller. However I didn’t know about Kat Cameron, thanks for introducing us to her blog. I see we like the same places, I will have to check those that we have still not visited of her must lists.

  5. Jane Y. ADDS...

    this is such a neat space!

    21st January 2014
  6. leeda ADDS...

    that is just the coolest thing! i love that that space is being preserved!

    ok. confession time. i’ve never had tapas. T______T

    –Leeda
    at this volume

    23rd January 2014
    • We reply...

      Hahaha loved your confession time, every comment should have one :)

  7. Itzel ADDS...

    My mouth is salivating! Patatas bravas rule my world and I can’t imagine anything better than iberico with eggs. Lucky girl! Lovely photos. :)

    http://hippiesandtea.com

    9th February 2014
  8. Anja ADDS...

    Looks lovely!

    25th February 2014
  9. Anja ADDS...

    Looks lovely! Nice pics!

    25th February 2014

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