What to visit / Barcelona, district by district / Sants-Montjuïc / Sants and Hostafrancs

Sants and Hostafrancs

The neighbourhood of Sants is the most important part of the Sants-Montjuic district, from which it takes its name. It was originally a rural community but the arrival of steam-driven textile mills in the second half of the 19th century in Barcelona triggered rapid industrial growth resulting in a large influx of people. The current residents of Sants continue to inject the neighbourhood with an incomparable energy, just like their forebears, which is reflected in the variety of its many shops, bars and restaurants, as well as cultural and community centres, such as the Centre Cívic de les Cotxeres de Sants and the Casinet d'Hostafrancs.

The neighbourhood's proximity to the centre of Barcelona, together with its retail offering, make it one of Barcelona's most visited and popular districts. And tucked away behind its shopping streets is a maze of narrow streets with a true village feel, which you are bound to be surprised by. The Parc de l'Espanya Industrial, located on the site of a textile mill, and the local markets of Sants and Hostafrancs, are other essential places to visit in the neighbourhood.

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