El Ingenio, building in Barcelona Province, Spain
El Ingenio is a shop in the Gothic Quarter founded in 1838 that produces handmade cardboard carnival figures. Located on the narrow Rauric street, it creates and sells large painted figures called cabezudos and giants used in local parades and celebrations.
Founded in 1838, the shop operated under its original owners for over a century before passing to the Cardona family in the 1920s. Recently the business faced closure, but a community crowdfunding campaign saved the workshop and helped preserve its long-standing craft tradition.
El Ingenio has been run by the same family since 1920 and serves as a gathering place for artists and writers in the Gothic Quarter. The shop embodies the tradition of handmade carnival figures, which have played a role in local celebrations and events throughout the city's modern history.
The shop is located on the narrow medieval Rauric street, easily accessible on foot from the main part of the neighborhood. Hours may be limited and interior space is small, so calling ahead or checking online before visiting is helpful.
The shop displays a large cardboard caricature of Pablo Picasso outside its entrance, a piece that visitors often photograph. This prominent figure is one of the most striking visual markers on Rauric street and reflects the artistic connections that have defined the shop.
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