Libraries in El Raval

Located in the city centre, El Raval has the special charm that is common to all the traditional Barcelona neighbourhoods. A place with plenty to offer when it comes to leisure and entertainment, it is also home to several universities. Due to this, whether you are looking to study or to just relax and let your imagination fly with a good book, you won’t have any trouble finding a library in El Raval.

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Public libraries

Some of the city’s most important libraries are in El Raval. One example is the National Library of Catalonia, located in an incredible 15th-century building that includes a garden and other annexes. This has been the library’s home since 1931, and it has a total surface area of 8820 m2. Inside its walls, seemingly endless shelves hold no less than 3 million books! It’s pretty easy to find – you’ll spot its entrance quickly once you enter the street of the old hospital. Nearby, also between Carrer del Carme and Carrer de l’Hospital, you’ll find the Sant Pau-Santa Creu Library. A favourite amongst the locals, it often organizes activities that promote community engagement.

El Raval is also home to Catalonia’s Film Library. Located at Plaça de Salvador Seguí, it is an extraordinary resource for fans or students of cinema, with over 30 thousand books documenting the history of the art, as well as magazines, photographs, movies and exclusive memorabilia.

Offering further confirmation that El Raval is indeed the place to go where looking for books, the Consortium of Libraries of Barcelona itself is located in the neighbourhood, more specifically in Palau de la Virreina. Additionally, museums in the area, such as MACBA or CCCB, also have unique book collections that you can consult.

Related article: CCCB’s cool secret library

University libraries in El Raval

Some of the educational institutions in El Raval have their own libraries, as is the case with University of Barcelona’s Faculty of Philosophy, Geography and History. Their library is located in Calle Montalegre, right in front of the CCCB.

Ramon Llull University’s Faculty of Communication Sciences also has a great library. Formerly installed in the faculty’s premises, it is now located in a spectacular building of large dimensions right at the beginning of Calle Valldonzella.