The old part of Barcelona
If I talk about Barrio de la Ribera I'm sure very few know it. Currently it is better known for el Born, el Mercat de Santa Catarina, Santa María del Mar, the Picasso museum, or Ciutadela park.
Vilanova de Mar, this is how this area used to be known, one of the most interesting, fascinating and beautiful places in Barcelona, called "de la Ribera" (shore) because it used to touch the shore of the sea.
The neighborhood dominates the wonderful Santa María del Mar (overworked since a few years ago due to the novel "La Catedral del Mar"), center of Barcelona from the 13th century till the 15th century. The very famous street of Montcada provides class and nobility, full of palaces (and of tourists depending on the time of the day). Montcada street was once what the Paseo de Gràcia now represents.
