They say it’s impossible to go back in time. But as soon as you walk under the arches of the fortress gate on Mount Montjuïc, time doesn’t just stop, it flies back quickly, taking visitors almost back to the Middle Ages. The Spanish Village in Barcelona has become one of the most amazing open-air museums. There are no originals, but there are copies of 117 buildings from all over the country, recreated in minute detail.
History of a Spanish Village
The story of the creation of the Spanish Village is very unusual. It was built for the 1929 World’s Fair. Some of the buildings are reproduced in full size, others are reduced, but quite recognizable. After the exhibition, it was decided to preserve the unique complex as an open-air museum. It covers more than 42 hectares. The uniqueness lies in the fact that there are real craft workshops and it is a living and working quarter, really recreating the amazing atmosphere of ancient Spain. A visit to the complex is included in most sightseeing programs and leaves an unforgettable impression.
In Poble Espanyol, the most interesting buildings are collected in one place, they are recreated from the same material as the originals. Ancient monasteries, mighty impregnable fortresses and magnificent castles are gathered in one area. Now you can walk all over Spain at once, feeling the breath of centuries and the grandeur of the designs.
From the square to the Spanish Village neighborhoods
The Plaza Mayor served as the collective image of the old squares. As in the modern capital, the buildings clustered around it. Castilian houses lined both sides of the narrow, winding streets. They are small in size and made in full size. From the central square the streets scatter in different directions, forming Andalusian, Valencian and other neighborhoods with their national characteristics.
The Spanish Village gathered buildings characteristic of the area:
- Aragonia;
- Extremadura;
- Basque country;
- Andalusia;
- Castile;
- Navarra.
The idea proved very fruitful and the Spanish Village in Barcelona served as a prototype for similar museums in Turkey, Switzerland and other countries. The motto of the authors and leaders of the project was “To know Spain in an hour” and was fully realized. It takes much longer to explore the village, but once there, many people simply do not pay attention to the time, dissolving in the atmosphere of wonder.
The most striking and memorable from a tourist point of view were:
- entrance towers connected by a bridge;
- galli palace;
- Asturian mansion;
- Basque farmer’s house;
- statue of an undressed Andalusian lady on the balcony of a house.
Several already lost buildings characteristic of Murcia and Madrid have been erected in the park. To confidently navigate the intricacies of the streets, just take a guide at the entrance and carefully read the names on the walls of houses.
Handicraft workshops
A walk through the streets inevitably leads to the artisan quarter. It is full of life, sounds and smells. Craftsmen demonstrate familiar and long-forgotten crafts. The Catalans were considered unsurpassed masters in many areas, making not just things, but real works of art. Some of the crafts have now been converted to an industrial basis, but those displayed in the workshops of the Craftsmen’s Town amaze and delight with the beauty and fineness of the finishes.
Tourists are invited to take part in the process of creating clay pots, glass beads, to be setters of mosaics. Classes are available to all comers, and it’s not boring theory, and the real practice next to the masters.
It is very interesting to observe the work of embroiderers, glassblowers, leatherworkers, shoemakers and jewelers. Souvenir shops with a huge assortment are open all day in the quarter, where you can buy really author’s work, but the prices are high.
Evening Life in the Spanish Village
After sunset, the Spanish countryside takes on new features. It is located quite far from residential areas and the loud music does not disturb the peace of the residents. Therefore, along with the closing of craft stores and souvenir stores in the streets unfolds a real extravaganza of sound and dance.
The Spanish Village in Barcelona is known as the center of nightlife. Restaurants and nightclubs are opening. The famous Tablao de Carmen hosts the best flamenco festivals and dance evenings in the capital.
Operating hours and ticket prices for the Spanish Village
The only fixed time is the opening of the museum, at 9 a.m., and the end of the craft workshops, which close at 6 p.m. The evening schedule is regulated depending on the day of the week and the closer to the weekend, the longer the celebration of life lasts. If you look at the days of the week, it turns out that the Spanish Village stops working on Monday at 8 pm. On Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, the doors of entertainment venues are open until midnight. Wednesday music until 3 a.m., Saturday until 4 a.m.
Since the Spanish Village has the status of a museum, you must purchase a ticket to enter the area. The price for an adult is 14 euros, children under 12 are half the price. The right to enter in the evening will cost 7 euros.
A point to keep in mind! Prices in bars and restaurants are much higher than in other areas of the Spanish capital.
The Spanish Village is located near Plaza España on the north side of Montjuïc. The best way to get there is by cab or tourist bus as part of the tour.
Location on the map
If you travel independently, it is cheaper to take the subway to Pl. Espanya or on buses 13, 23, 150. Tickets are better to buy in advance in a travel agency or on the website of the museum, at the box office there are long lines, because wishing to get into this corner of history is a lot.
Only in the Spanish Village you can see mainland and colonial architecture in one day, admire the graceful balconies and Moorish patterns, mosaic paintings, cozy courtyards of Palma de Mallorca. And then take with you as a memento of stunning impressions of the beauty of medieval Spain.
Video overview of the Spanish Village
https://youtu.be/5KgmYfmfziA
