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Guide of Sant Martí

Sant Martí is one of Barcelona’s most dynamic and changing neighbourhoods. It was originally an area of farms, cottages and country manors but was taken over by industry until the Olympic Games in 1992, before which the area was transformed once again.

This is where you will find modern Barcelona but also relics of a forgotten past, where old factory chimneys stand beside towering new apartment blocks and characterful old buildings are gentrified to create cool places to live, shared office spaces for the self-employed, pop up markets and vibrant bars and nightclubs.

This area goes from the Barcelona beaches north of the Port Olímpic along to the Parc del Fòrum, where Avinguda Diagonal meets the sea. It goes inland as far as the spectacular Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau.

Old industrial Poblenou was transformed for 1992 and rebranded by many as the Vila Olímpica, where houses were built for competitors and the landmark twin towers of the Hotel Arts and Torre Mapfre stand proudly at the start of Carrer de la Marina which leads up to La Sagrada Familia.

This is also home to the technological area 22@, a centre of innovation with planned economic activity, education and new residential development. This initiative aims to usher in a successful future for Barcelona and the Torre Agbar is a towering indication of this intent.

Other projects that have significantly changed the neighbourhood include the extension of Avinguda Diagonal to the Fòrum, the partial covering of Gran Via and the complete restructuring of Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes with its huge shopping centre. New office buildings, hotels and public areas can be seen along the length of this stretch of Avinguda Diagonal.

Other fascinating landmarks include the Universitat Pompeu Fabra library, which is in the converted Dipòsit de les Aigües building that used to feed the fountain of the Parc de la Ciutadella. The Parc del Clot also provides residents with a green area where once stood factories and workshops. El Clot is one of the oldest settlements in Sant Martí.

Diagonal Mar is the shiny new area where Avinguda Diagonal meets the sea, and this is perhaps the area of most current change and growth. It was originally designed as a part of a street planning project around the time of the Fòrum Universal de Les Cultures de Barcelona in 2004. Since then it has been transformed into a barrio of open streets, shiny tower blocks and luxury hotels, based on an American concept of swimming pools, gyms and social clubs.