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The Born district or the Ribera, situated in the
Ciutat Vella (Old City), was the economic centre of the city in XIII and XV Centuries and, in the last years, it has converted in to one of the most
chic areas for its bars, restaurants and shops of Barcelona.
The district lost its importance in XVI Century when the economic centre transferred to the Mercè district and, in 1714, suffered one of its biggest transformations: a great deal of its buildings were demolished to construct the fort of the Ciuadela (citadel) and a great esplanade around it, now converted in to the
Parc de la Ciutadella.
In the last years, the Born has made a turn and has changed in to the one of the funkiest areas of the city as its streets and lanes are full of modern bars and restaurants and shops of young designers.
In the centre of the neighbourhood the spectacular Gothic Basilica of
Santa María del Mar sits, surrounding it is the centre of all the activity of the area, and also the palaces of Montcada street, where the great merchants took residence in times maximum economical heights of the Born and that, currently, holds institutions and museums, like the
Museu Picasso. Because of its architect importance, it fits to mention also the Gothic Lonja situated between the squares of Antonio López and the Palau square and the old
Mercado del Born (Born Market).
It is very easy to get there with public transport (the stop Jaume I, of line 4, is the most adequate), but once you have arrived to the Born, the best option is by foot and get lost in its intricate maze of streets and lanes and saturate yourself with a pleasant and bohemian atmosphere.