Poble Espanyol

The initial idea

Built between 1926 and 1929, the initial idea of this "Spanish Village" was to have representations, all in one place, of architectural features of all Spanish regions: the church, the houses (humble or mansions), bars and restaurants, shops, craft workshops - all are taken from the real thing. Plaza Aragonesa, Calle del Alcalde de Móstoles, Travesia del Maestrazgo, Gradas de Santiago, Calle de Los Arcos, Plaza del Carmen are names with a lot of meaning that takes us to different places in Spain.

The Catalan part is by Plaça de la Font, a copy of the plaça (square) in Prades (Alt Camp). There are buildings from Santa Pau and Besalú (La Garrotxa), Rupit (Osona), Camprodon (Ripollès), Isona (Pallars Jussà), Montblanc (Conca de Barberà), Premià de Dalt (Maresme), La Garriga (Vallès Oriental), Cornudella (Priorat) and Tàrrega (Urgell)

Passing the Porta de Prades you reach the Romanesque monastery, with a reproduction of the Sant Benet de Bages cloisters, and the church, reminding us of Santa Maria de Porqueres, for example.

Craftwork is an important feature of Poble Espanyol. When it was opened in 1929, there were blacksmiths, glassblowers, weavers, wheelwrights, barbers, coopers, potters, turners, basket makers, tailors making traditional regional clothing, and photographers. Food and drink were not forgotten either, with, in addition to a restaurant, cafe and hostel, a freiduria selling fried fish, and shops selling cold meats, drinks, wine, sweets, cakes, preserves, biscuits, turron and handmade chocolate, as well as a tavern selling Catalan wine. All together, next to a host of shops selling antiques and ceramics from Alcora, Mallorcan embroidery to mantillas, as well as birds and espadrilles.

The Village today

Today, as well as being a must for anyone who wants an overall view of architectonic and urban constructions in Spain, Poble Espanyol has become a meeting place for people who want to enjoy the theatre, concerts, or a good meal with friends in one of the restaurants there.