FIELD TRIP #3: A look at the Born District

This past week, we went to the Born District with Xavi.  While we were at the Born District, we visited the narrow streets where 'Els Gremis' used to live.  We started off passing L'antic Teatre which is an old theatre that serves beer to local students.  Students from after class would stop in L'antic Teatre for a beer.  Once again, Xavi pointed out a spot for locals that I would probably never know about.

When passing an example of a "la casa-taller" Xavi pointed out the structure for the workshop.  The owners had these buildings where at the bottom it contained their workshop, whether they owned a shoe making shop or a metal making shop, that was always located at the bottom of the building.  The next floor contained the noble's flat and then at the top of the building, the servants had their apartment.  The buildings were narrow, as well as, the stairwells.

As we continued to walk down the streets of the Born district, I noticed a sign that said "Entrada" with a horse on it.  Xavi explained that this meant horses and their carriages were able to walk down that narrow street.  (There is a piece of history you readers probably did not know about!)

We also passed the market of Santa Canterina, where the roof was just put on.  It is extremely modern, and to me, looks out of place in the Born district.

When we finally entered the Born district, each street name was dedicated to craftsmanship of trades.  An example of this is Placa de la Llana, this was the middle of the Guilds and the wool stock market area.  Another street in the Born district is called Carrer de les Candeles, and this was dedicated to candle makers.  Another street is Carrer de las Cordes which was dedicated to the rope makers.  Ropes were used for everything back then.  The ropes and wool stock market were located right next to each other because the shepherds needed the wool and ropes for their work.  Another street is Carrer dels Cotoners and that was dedicated to the guild of cotton.  And Carrer de mirallers was for the mirrors.  Those who worked with the mirrors also made the stain glass for Santa Maria del Mar.  This all occurred around the 1300's and it is amazing that the Born district still has all of these streets dedicated to the craftsmen ship and traders.

A lot of the architecture in the Born district is from the 1300's.  The apartment buildings are still narrow, and some cannot even fit modern furniture.  Elderly women can live in some of these apartment buildings for as little as 100 euros a month because of the rent controlled apartments.  However, I personally think that the Born district is a bit ruined from all of the new architecture sprinkled through -- like the banks right outside the Santa Canterina market.

We finally ended up taking a look at Santa Maria del Mar.  The church was built from 1329 until 1383.  It is a perfect example of Catalan Gothic architecture.  The floors are covered with tiles that represent the artisans and people who donated money to build the church.  What makes this church different from the other churches, is that the people built this rather than the church.  We also looked at El Fossa de les Moreres which was located right next to Santa Maria del Mar.  El Fossa de les Moreres is a park built over a cemetery that had people buried there from the seize of Barcelona at the end of the War of Succession in 1714.

I think that the Born district is interesting and it allowed me to see a new part of the city that I did not know anything about.