One of Barcelona’s 10 districts, Sant Martí is a great place for you to explore during your stay in the capital of Catalonia. Located by the seaside, on the eastern side of the city, far from the centre and its crowds of tourists, it is divided into 10 neighbourhoods, the most famous amongst them being Poblenou.
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22@
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A business hub famous for its numerous technology startups, Barcelona is a city that’s always at the cutting edge of innovation – and the district of Sant Martí plays a huge part in that. In the west side of the district, where the old industrial area of Poblenou used to be, you’ll find 22@, a business area created by the city council in the year 2000 with the intention of making the Barcelona a technological innovation centre. This led to large multinational companies such as Microsoft and Yahoo! coming to the area and working with local universities and research centres, helping the district develop at a quick rate over the last two decades. Today, Sant Martí is one of the most modern parts of the city, always bristling with youth, commerce and entrepreneurial spirit.
Related article: Best restaurants in Sant Martí
Architecture
Sant Martí has many buildings that majorly contribute to the world-renowned beauty of Barcelona’s skyline. Take a look, for instance, at Torre Agbar, a 38-story skyscraper designed in collaboration by famous architects Jean Nouvel and Fermín Vázquez. The headquarters of multinational business group Agbar, it is widely regarded as one of the best examples of high-tech architecture (or late modernism) in the city.
Another place that should make the must-visit list of anyone interested in architecture is El Mercat dels Encants (also known as Els Encants Vells). Barcelona’s biggest second-hand market, it was also designed by Fermín Vàzquez and is particularly noteworthy for its ambitious rooftop mirror, which produces a truly original and fascinating effect.
Related article: Chill out in Sant Martí
The good life
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In addition to being business-oriented and architecturally rich, Sant Martí is also a great place to live. Free of tourists for most of the time, its proximity to the beach, its beautiful parks, its two main shopping malls (Diagonal Mar and Les Glòries) and some of the best nightclubs in Barcelona (such as Razzmatazz) make it a great place for leisure and entertainment. If you ever feel like having a good relaxed dinner out on the town or some tapas and a drink in the afternoon, head over to one of the many bars and restaurants in Poblenou’s Olympic Port (built ahead of the 1992 Summer Olympics) and you’ll be guaranteed to have a great time in beautiful surroundings.
Will you visit the Sant Martí district during your stay in the capital of Catalonia? Let us know using the comment box below. Have fun in Barcelona!
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