Raval Walking Tour: Barcelona's Gritty Past

Raval Walking Tour: Barcelona's Gritty Past

3 Reviews

Tours Culture & history Walking tours Wheelchair accessible

Get to know this vibrant neighborhood and its edgy roots away from the tourist crowds.

Highlights

Hear the blood-chilling legend of the Vampiress of the Raval.
Visit a former house of mercy that hides chilling secrets within its walls.
Discover the dark history and cool graffiti of the south side of Raval

Description

Begin your Raval Walking Tour outside the church of Sant Pere Nolasc Mercedaris, located right by the buzzing Plaça de Castella. From here, you’ll journey through the vibrant streets of Barcelona’s grittiest neighborhood, the Raval. First up, we’ll visit the Casa de la Misericordia, where children were abandoned and some (they say) still walk the halls. From that spooky start, we’ll take a turn to stroll down Raval’s narrow medieval streets, crowded with eclectic shops and striking architecture. And when you least expect it, we’ll stop by a vampire — well, by the place the Vampire of Raval used to live. But, do vampires ever die? You’ll see for yourself how the lines between life and legend blur with this story of Barcelona’s most infamous serial killer. At the former Hospital of la Santa Creu, wander the grounds and a garden where shows and spells of the most macabre once took place. Passing next by La Rambla de Raval, we’ll continue to the Church of Sant Pau del Camp. This Romanesque building over 1,000 years old is Barcelona’s oldest church and has a troubled past. As the tour comes to a close, you’ll discover Raval’s southern side. Hear shocking tales of the clubs, cabarets, and casinos that used to be the main attractions here a century ago. A few have even survived to the modern day — your guide will point them out to you. This is also a great place to see street art. Close to a former power factory, you’ll admire colorful graffiti art that is constantly changing. If you’re lucky, you’ll even see street artists in action!

Includes

Guided tour

Important Information

This tour covers around 2 miles at a leisurely pace. We offer a 100% refund or the option to reschedule up to 24 hours prior to your tour start time. Within 24 hours of your tour, we would have incurred hard costs and therefore cannot allow rescheduling or cancellation without costs. Our tours run rain or shine. If there’s extreme weather and we have to cancel, you’ll get a full refund. Tips aren’t included but are always appreciated by our guides. If you think your guide did an outstanding job, a tip is a great way to show that.