Poble Sec, Pueblo Seco ("Dry Village"), is one of the most well-known neighbourhoods of the Sants-Montjuïc district, located between the hill of Montjuïc and Avinguda Parallel, running down to the seashore and bordering El Raval and Eixample barrios. Poble Sec, historically, was the first extension of Barcelona, the neighbouhood found outside the city walls that joined in mid-19th century, even before the more famous extension, Eixample, was constructed.
Just like other barrios, Poble Sec had been mostly rural prior to the industrial evolution, but its close proximity to Montjuïc, which had military fortifications and the hated Castell de Montjuïc installed by Madrid to intimidate Barcelona, influenced the barrio's development as well. During the industrial evolution the main trades of the neighbourhood were fabric dying and masonry, advancing thanks to ample stone coming from Montjuïc. The barrio's name, the Dry Village, stuck due to the absence of running water in the area: the first water fountain was installed here only in 1894.
During the 20th century Poble Sec, and its main artery Avinduga Parallel, enjoyed the increasingly Parisian vibe due to many theatres, cabarets and cafés opening in the area. Parallel in particular has become an important entertainment street both for Poble Sec and the neighbouring Raval, and even today it retains the most emblematic of its venues: Teatro Apolo, Teatro El Molino, Teatro Victoria, and Teatro Condal.
Poble Sec is a modest neighbourhood with quiet streets, green squares and its own atmosphere loved by many. The park of Montjuïc, the MNAC (Catalonia's best art museum) and Plaza España being nearby, Poble Sec is visited by many every year, but it is also a popular place to live and share apartments which are in general newer than those in Ciutat Vella and Raval and more reasonably priced than those in Eixample.
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