El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria, Cultural center in Sant Pere district, Barcelona, Spain
El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria occupies a restored 19th-century market building with a contemporary glass structure that hosts exhibitions about the city's history. Transparent floor sections allow visitors to see archaeological remains beneath their feet, creating a direct connection to earlier layers of the neighborhood.
The building was constructed in 1876 as a market hall serving the neighborhood for more than a century. In 2013 it transformed into a cultural center that brings to light the hidden layers of the city beneath its floors.
The center reflects how Barcelona values its past through contemporary art and historical storytelling that connects different periods of the city. People come here to understand the layers of change that shaped their neighborhoods.
The center is within walking distance of the Gothic Quarter and easily accessible from major transit stops in the area. Visiting on weekday mornings allows for a more relaxed experience of the exhibitions and underground ruins without large crowds.
Beneath the building lie the remains of streets and houses from the early 1700s, offering evidence of everyday life before major upheaval in the region. This hidden city below the city becomes accessible through archaeological work, revealing how people lived in this area before circumstances transformed.
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