The Poble Espanyol was designed to give visitors to the 1929 International Exhibition an insight into the cultural wealth and diversity of the different towns and villages of Spain. From the beginning, it was conceived as a real Spanish "village" embodying the main characteristics of towns and villages on the Iberian Peninsula.

One hundred and seventeen buildings, streets and squares were reproduced to scale, creating a true open-air museum of architecture and a privileged viewing point overlooking the city of Barcelona, set out like a traditional village, free of traffic and among woodland.

Although the village was supposed to be dismantled after the International Exhibition, its success earned it a reprieve and it became a designated area of craft interest, thanks largely to more than 40 arts and crafts workshops on the site. The Poble Espanyol currently hosts family activities and is a popular Barcelona night-spot.