El Raval is located in the old town of Barcelona. It was an area of orchards and monasteries until the eighteenth century, when they began to build textile mills and housing for workers and peasants who came to the city. It became the most populated neighborhood in Europe.
Over the time, the factories moved out of town. The district acquired an intense commercial and associative activities and a great nightlife, which resulted continues inflow of people to Barcelona from all over the world and made it very multicultural. In the late twentieth century the government conducted a rehabilitation plan of public spaces and buildings.
Today the Raval attracts locals and tourists alike for its theaters, museums and cultural centers, its architecture, its schools and colleges, its art workshops and “La Boqueria” market. However, it is noted for the high risk of social exclusion faced by their inhabitants. It is the most populated district of Barcelona, with the highest percentage of immigrants, unemployment, teenage pregnancy, school dropout, poor housing, etc. So many public and private entities are working for the Raval.
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SOME DATA
Area
1,1 km2
Population Density
44.145 hab./km2
Population
48.471
Households
32,6
Persons living alone
47,9
Women Foreigners
Absolute Raval
Raval Percentage of population
Percentage foreigners Barcelona
Pakistan
4.928 (25,5%)
Filipines
4.067 (51,8%)
Bangla Desh
1.808 (12,3%)
Statistics Department. Barcelona City Council.
Source: Padró Municipal d’Habitants, June 30th 2009.