An Open-air Museum of Architecture, El Poble Espanyol was built in 1929 for the World Exhibition in Barcelona. Traffic-free, and in the quiet green Montjuilc, it is a pocket of calm away from the bustle of the city, but it was dismissed by some as little more than a paid-mall entry.
Designed by Puigi Cadaialch was as an architectural model of a typical Spanish village designed by Francesc Folguera and Raman Heventos. to scale the two examined 1600 towns and villages on the peninsula, with art critic and painter Miquel Utrillo Xavier in front of the display 117 buildings, streets and squares. Regions of Spain are represented in different architectural styles from Gothic to High Mudejar, and the village consists of a hall, a church, a monastery – that is a popular place for weddings – and houses. The main entrance to reproduce the Puerta de San Vicente, a 11th- Century port city of Avila, the town hall and the bell tower Valdrerobres Utebo be replicated.
Today the museum contains more than 40 workshops with artists at work show traditional crafts such as glass, ceramics, jewelry, leather, embroidery and basket weaving. A number of contemporary art is shown in a number of venues, including a sculpture garden, and Fran Daurel Foundation, the international artists and presents works by famous masters such as the Catalan DALF, Picasso and Tapley Barcel.
There are plenty of souvenirs and jewelry shops, together with numerous bars, restaurants, nightclubs and shows. It is a great place for children, craft workshops, shows, games and stories, and tours. The idea was to present different kinds of Spanish architecture under one “roof” for the presentation of the country to collect the rich cultural diversity.
