Barcelona’s Ciutadella Park has more to it than meets the eye. Its epic history of wars, destruction, politics, art, and expos have shaped it, and in doing so, changed the face of Barcelona forever. On this walking tour, we’ll do more than simply stroll through the celebrated park, we’ll venture into the medieval streets of El Born, once a seaside suburb and thriving industrial area where many became wealthy. The further you walk, the more you’ll get a sense of how local people lived in one busy, entrepreneurial area where aristocrats and the working class coexisted. You’ll stroll down Passeig del Born and find out how the area transformed from a jousting strip into a market and, much later, into one of the city’s main thoroughfares. Along the way to Barcelona’s Arc de Triomf I’ll reveal how, thanks to a (so-called) accidental excavation, you’re now able to see what the streets would have been like in the 1700s. I’ll also tell you how the city’s modern street names still hold clues about what occurred on them centuries ago. On this 75-minute stroll, you’ll: • Pass by various cultural centres including El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria, Picasso Museum, Moco Museum Barcelona, and Palau de la Música Catalana • Find out how Barcelonians crowdsourced the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar • Spot the hidden Gaudi sculpture on Cascada Monumental fountain • See Barcelona’s shortest street, Carrer de l’Anisadeta, it takes two seconds to walk it. • Gaze upon a statue of La Carassa’s female form, a ‘signpost’ that showed people where to find brothels in the 1600s • Hear about the links between Capella d’en Marcús (Chapel of Marcus) and the first postal service in Europe • Discover the origins of Sant Pere, one of Barcelona’s medieval neighbourhoods • Peak inside Santa Caterina Market, where you’ll find tasty treats and ancient ruins This tour covers a wonderful area of Barcelona with an incredible history and many awesome sights that’s often overlooked in favour of the Gothic Quarter. On this tour, I’ll show you why you need to visit both to truly get a taste of my favourite city in the world. By the end, I hope you’ll agree that El Born is the coolest area in town!