Discover Sant Andreu. Of course!
Sant Andreu speaks of a rural past where farmhouses and cultivated fields covered much of the area that the current district of Barcelona occupies today. Interestingly, its origins date back to the year 992, from which there is a document of exchange of an inheritance between Na Mel and abbot Otó.
Barcelona is made up of a total of 73 neighborhoods grouped into ten administrative districts, the ninth of which is Sant Andreu, recognized as one of those that still retains the essence of an old-fashioned neighborhood. This fact is understandable considering its location and history. The district is situated on the outskirts of the city, in the northern area bordering the Besòs River, which has allowed it to maintain its local character, away from the city center.
The seven wonders
The district actually comprises seven administrative neighborhoods: La Sagrera, El Bon Pastor, La Trinitat Vella, Baró de Viver, the strict Sant Andreu de Palomar, Navas, and Congrés i els Indians.
Sant Andreu de Palomar is considered the oldest core of the district and was not annexed to the city until 1897, when the regent queen María Cristina signed a decree of annexation which reads: "The municipalities of Gracia, San Martín de Provensals, Sans, Sant Andreu de Palomar, San Gervasio de Cassolas, and Las Corts are hereby wholly annexed to the municipal term of Barcelona". Here ended the history of Sant Andreu as a village.
Cultural heritage
The district of Sant Andreu has 13 elements of special heritage significance. The Fabra y Coats, founded in 1837 by Ferran Puig i Gilbert, marked the transition for the neighborhood from an agrarian culture to a modernized industrial society. Currently, the space is dedicated to supporting talent and creativity: it fosters synergies among creators.
As must-see elements, it is advisable to visit the lesser-known church of Sant Pacià, which houses a neoclassical style mosaic by Antoni Gaudí. Another safe bet is the 17th-century manor house called Les Carasses, which today has been converted into a public school.
Concepción Arenal
Concepción Arenal, one of the arteries leading into the heart of the neighborhood—the vibrant Fabra i Puig boulevard—is currently undergoing renovation. The housing development located at number 296, which Núñez y Navarro expects to complete within a year, features a garden area, swimming pool, and a children's area inside the block. It offers apartments with one, two, or three bedrooms.
