At the end of the Passeig del Born, the pretty promenade that is the heart of the neighborhood is the Mercat del Born, the city's steel-and-glass ode to the industrial age. Inspired by Les Halles in Paris, it acted as the city's wholesale market until 1973, and its closing marked the beginning of the neighborhood's decline before its current renaissance. Having lain abandoned for over 3 decades, a decision was made in 2003 to turn the edifice into a library and cultural center. When the renovation work started, the remains of entire streets and homes from Phillipe V's demolition orders were discovered underneath. Work still continues at the time of writing and includes plans to see these significant remains via glass flooring.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Barcelona, 2nd Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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