THE BARRIO CHINO: FROM BARCELONA'S UNDERWORLD TO EL RAVAL
Barcelona's El Raval has undergone a dramatic transformation over the last century. Today, the neighbourhood is known for its multicultural population, restaurants, independent businesses, art institutions and cultural spaces. However, parts of the area once had a very different reputation and were widely associated with prostitution , nightlife, crime and poverty. The nickname Barrio Chino was introduced by journalist Francisco Madrid in 1925. Despite the name, the area did not develop around a Chinese or Asian community. Instead, Madrid borrowed the American concept of a Chinatown to describe an urban environment that he considered dense, exotic and socially marginalised . The expression became associated with the darker and more controversial aspects of the neighbourhood. The southern part of the Raval, particularly streets such as Carrer de Robadors, Carrer de Sant Ramon and Arc del Teatre, became known for cabarets , taverns, brothels and inexpensive accommodation. Its lo...