The district of Sant Andreu: Barcelona at its most authentic.
There are many Barcelonas, and the district of Sant Andreu is one of the clearest examples of this. Although outside the city centre, it is steeped in the essence of Catalonia: picturesque spots, history, centuries-old shops and futuristic amenities blend harmoniously. Come and visit and you’ll feel like a genuine Barcelonian.
A village inside a city…
When you walk through the old quarter of Sant Andreu you’ll think you’ve been teleported to a charming inland Catalan village. This is the impression you’ll get when you explore the area around the Plaça Mercadal, which is well worth posting on your Instagram account. In the Plaça de Orfila you’ll be able to admire the neo-classical church of Sant Andreu del Palomar. And at the church of Sant Pacià you’ll be able to admire a mosaic by Gaudí without having to queue! The main street, Carrer Gran de Sant Andreu, is Sant Andreu’s bustling shopping area.
…and a futuristic city inside a village
Sant Andreu has an industrial past and its old factories have now been transformed into amenities, parks and art centres meaning that the ambiance of the district comprises an interesting mix of families, lifelong local residents and young artists and artisans. The former Fabra i Coats cotton-spinning mill retains part of its original factory heritage but is now an art factory and a hotbed of creativity. The La Pegaso lorry factory is now a great park with a water channel running through it. Another successful renovation project is the old dog-racing stadium which has been converted into a centre for creative research and innovation. The La Maquinista shopping complex brings together more than 200 shops in a rational and open space. And Santiago Calatrava’s Bac de Roda bridge is an example of its new architectural heritage. Lovers of architecture and design mustn’t miss a tour of the Casa Bloc, designed by the GATPAC group and an example of 1930s rationalist architecture.
Eat, drink, shop…
It’s really easy to enjoy the flavour of Barcelona in Sant Andreu. The food market in the Plaça Mercadal has a number of iconic stalls, including the Bacallanería Perelló, which specialises in salt cod. Around the square, on the Carrer Gran de Sant Andreu, you’ll find a wide range of interesting eateries, including the Rabassada, a family-run restaurant serving dishes made with the finest-quality ingredients which has a delightful terrace, or the Bar Versalles, on the ground floor of a modernista house which is imbued with the atmosphere of a 19th-century café. Along the same street you’ll find another fine building that features on the city’s modernista trail: the Guinart chemist’s shop which dates from 1896: it’s a genuine showcase of modernista architecture both inside and out.
You can also see centuries-old emporia, such as the pork butcher’s and deli, the Cansaladeria Puig, which has a bomb casing dating from 1843 embedded into its façade or Catalonia’s oldest printing works, the Imprenta Baltasar, which was already supplying the Fabra i Coats factory in 1861.
The Can Tur bakery on Carrer Virgili, with its home-made bread, and the Churrería Sant Andreu, with its traditional sugar- and chocolate-coated fritters, are other examples of emporia with a history and tradition that are the pride of all the local residents. The same residents who gather today in the legendary Bar Colombia on the Rambla de Fabra i Puig, just as they did more than 100 years ago. It opened in 1913 and has hardly changed since.
Now you know. If you want a more enriching and authentic Barcelona experience, Sant Andreu is waiting for you.
Sant Andreu | Meet Barcelona
Sant Andreu proudly maintains its character as an independent town.
Much more than a neighbourhood
If you had to describe Sant Andreu’s character in two words, they would be tradition and struggle. And in the middle, the residents. Sant Andreu has residents, but the century-old associations, local shops, an active social life, and people greeting each other on the streets are what make it a real neighbourhood.
It still has traces of the village it used to be and which is still very much alive in Plaça Orfila and the historical centre, full of intimate little side streets and century-old shops, like those you can find on Carrer Gran de Sant Andreu.
But Sant Andreu conceals a lot more treasures. Some, even though you cannot see them, are documented and date back to Roman times. Like the remains of the aqueduct that served the Rec Comtal, the large canal that used to carry water across Barcelona. Others, which you can see, such as the Can Carasses masia or farmhouse, today the Escola Ignasi Iglésias school, speak of Sant Andreu’s agricultural past when it was tasked with supplying Barcelona, in the 17th century.
And yet more, treasures that describe the great industrial past of the 18th century, like the Fabra i Coats spinning mill that has now been reclaimed, after a long struggle by local residents, providing 30,000 square metres for public use including the Fabra i Coats-Creation, the Centre Cultural Can Fabra, the local library Biblioteca Ignasi Iglésias, the neighbourhood centre Casal de Barri de Sant Andreu, the Espai social i cultural Josep Bota and Plaça de Can Fabra.
Modernisme also left its mark in Sant Andreu, with properties such as Can Guardiola, today providing office space for non-profit associations, and Can Vidal, as did rationalism, with a gem of contemporary architecture, Casa Bloc, commissioned by Catalonia’s republican government in 1932 and who invited architects from all round the world to study the structure.
Festivals and traditions
Sant Andreu is a neighbourhood that has held on to its traditions and turned its festivals into unmissable events for everyone. It is the first Barcelona neighbourhood to hold the annual Tres Tombs festival, with its blessing of pets and domestic animals. For this a procession sets off from Plaça Orfila with ox-drawn carts and horse-drawn carriages, whose occupants throw tonnes of sweets to the watching public.
And from sweets to blunderbusses, trabucs in Catalan, because there is another kind of procession, a cercavila, that fills Sant Andreu’s residents with pride.
And that is the Esclat Andreuenc, where a group of trabucaireswake up the neighbourhood by firing off salvoes with their guns. Sant Andreu is the past, but it is also the present and the future that the associations and proud local residents are committed to maintaining.
Sant Andreu District of Barcelona, Spain – description, attractions and beaches
Sant Andreu
Properties in Sant Andreu
Apartments and apartments in Sant Andreu
Properties in the area
Sant Andreu
District of the city
Sant Andreu (Sant Andreu) occupies the northern part of Barcelona. The district became part of the city in 1897. Until that moment, it was a small village in the suburbs of Barca. In the 20th century, the area was actively built up with industrial enterprises, which are now gradually leaving the city. Now it is a quiet residential area in which, instead of industrial zones, more apartment complexes appear.
Tourists rarely appear here, and the locals are mostly families and pensioners. The area has good transport accessibility due to thoughtful transport interchanges and the metro line passing here. There are not a lot of entertainment and attractions here, so this area is more suitable for those who prefer silence and a relaxing holiday in the area’s many parks.
PROS AND MINUSES
quiet residential area
many parks and squares
good transport accessibility
no beaches
few attractions and entertainment
many industrial zones 9002 002 Northern part of the city of Barcelona.
Spain, Autonomous Community of Catalonia, Barcelona, Sant Andreu
Beaches in Sant Andreu
The area does not have its own beaches. Barcelona city beaches can be reached in 30 minutes by public transport. The nearest beaches are Sant Sebastia, Sant Miguel and Barceloneta.
Shops in Sant Andreu
Sant Andreu boasts a variety of small and large shops.
The area is home to the largest shopping center in Catalonia, La Maquinista. The area of the center is more than 250 m2. There are more than a hundred shops on the territory, which occupy only a third of the area of the center. The rest of the territory is reserved for streets and squares, for visitors to relax. The center houses the Carrefour grocery hypermarket, the electronic Media Markt and many clothing stores like Zara, Desigual, Lacoste and others. In addition, a large number of cafes, restaurants and a cinema. The shopping center is located at: Carrer de Potosí, 2, 08030 Barcelona. Shoppers will love Sant Andreu Street, along which there are also many small shops.
Entertainment in Sant Andreu
The main places for recreation in the area are the Parc de la Maquinista (La Macinista Park), La Massana Park (La Massana) and the small Pegaso Park (Pegaso). There are numerous small cafes and bars to visit. Or go to the cinema or go bowling at the La Maquinista mall.
Attractions in Sant Andreu
There are practically no attractions in the area. There are only two main tourist spots in the area. This is the Buck De Roda Bridge. Very beautiful bridge built by the architect Santiago Calatrava. The second attraction is the Church of Sant Andreu, over the reconstruction of which the famous architects Josep Dumenech-i-Estapa and Pere Falques worked.
Education in Sant Andreu
There are many kindergartens and more than 20 schools in the area. In addition, 6 higher educational institutions.
Medicine and clinics in Sant Andreu
There are a large number of small medical centers in the area, as well as a clinic and a hospital.
Renting and selling real estate in Sant Andreu
There is practically no luxury real estate in Sant Andreu. Basically, the real estate market is multi-storey apartment complexes and apartments with modern renovation in old houses.
Sales price of apartments
Average price per square meter 3000 €.
One bedroom apartment (1+1) – from 150,000 €.
Two-bedroom apartment (2+1) – from 170,000 €.
Four-room apartment with three bedrooms or more (3 + 1 and penthouses) – from 190,000 €.
Houses, Villas – from 800,000 €.
The cost of renting apartments
Short-term rental from 45 € per day. Long-term rental price starts from 900€ per month for a one bedroom apartment.
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Sant Andreu is a great area for a quiet life in Barcelona
30 August, 2021 in Barcelona districts
Sant Andreu, located in the northern part of the city, is the ninth district of Barcelona. It borders on Sant Marti, Orta Guinardo and Nou Barris.
More than 100 years ago there was an ordinary Spanish village on the site of modern Sant Andreu, whose inhabitants were actively engaged in agriculture from morning to evening.
Only in 1897 this territory was annexed to the city.
Years of industrialization have turned the local rural landscape into an industrial one. Factories and factories were built here, as well as houses for workers. The mayor’s office of the city has carried out very large-scale infrastructure work here in recent years. Thanks to the construction of a convenient transport interchange, the district has received good communication with the city center: excellent bus service has been created here, there is a metro line, and there is also a railway station. And the entire territory of Sant Andreu is built up with modern apartment complexes.
The parish church of Sant Andreu del Palomar, located on Orfila Square, is one of the historical sights. Now the church is the face and symbol of the district.
Church of Sant Andreu del Palomar (Iglesia de Sant Andreu del Palomar)
The district is now a clean and peaceful sleeping area on the outskirts of Barcelona.
You don’t have to submit to the hustle and bustle of the city as it has all the amenities and services you need for everyday life. Sant Andreu has a total of 53 schools, 5 libraries, 6 health centres, 2 police stations and gyms.
By the way, the La Maquinista shopping center is located here, where more than 230 stores are collected. The number of brands is amazing! Also on the top floor are a cinema and a large number of restaurants.
La Maquinista Shopping Center
Here you can also start learning new foreign languages and maybe even improve your Spanish or Catalan language schools: Escola Numor, Escola Accent Idiomes.
The district is divided into 7 districts:
- Baró de Viver
- El Bon Pastor
- El Congrés i els Indians
- Navas
- Sant Andreu de Palomar
- La Sagrera
- La Trinitat Vella
By the way, the center of the district is Mercadal Square, where the old market is located, which has existed here since the 19th century.
Here you feel like in a real village – bargaining sellers, local residents who know each other by name and greet each other when they meet. Nearby, in the building of the former Fabra and Coats factory, the Center for Contemporary Culture and various creative studios are located.
Plaza del Mercadal
There is one object that you should definitely pay attention to – the Bac de Roda bridge. Most often, the design is called the name of the creator – the Calatrava bridge. Its slender contour, reminiscent of the lines and curves of the human body, is the border of the two Barcelona districts of Sant Marti and Sant Andreu.
In the Sant Andreu district you will find many places to walk: past old buildings with balconies decorated with flowers, through cozy streets and squares that hide real treasures… For example, in the church of Sant Pasia there is an authentic mosaic made by Gaudí himself.
Church of Sant Pacia (Iglesia Sant Pacia)
In general, Sant Andreu is an ideal place for those who are tired of the noise of the metropolis and dream of silence and solitude.
This district has retained the atmosphere of a provincial town. Mostly Catalan families live here.
As a curiosity, Sant Andreu holds one of the oldest events – Sant Antonio Abad – the feast of saints and animals. Today it is not so much a religious holiday as a spectacular show that gives adults and children the joy of communicating with animals. On the day of Sant Antonio, you can see horses, ponies and other four-legged creatures that are exotic for the modern metropolis. Thousands of Spaniards lead and carry their pets on this day to the priests, who perform the rite of their blessing.
Another event not to be missed is the Festa Major de Sant Andreu. Concerts and various shows will fill the streets of the district with traditions and culture.
Els castells is one of the events held on the occasion of the Festa Major de Sant Andreu
The offer of residential real estate in Sant Andreu is diverse: from old apartments at relatively affordable prices to apartments in new buildings.
You will not find high-end apartments created by fashion designers here, these are just good mid-range properties.
Sant Andreu is a county that is winning the hearts of more and more people. With low property prices in Barcelona, a diverse range of services, green areas and a privileged location, we believe it has the perfect characteristics to become one of your favourites.
The area is ideal for buying a home to own or rent to visitors. The fact that prices are not as high as in other parts of Barcelona also makes Sant Andreu a great place to invest.
1. Baro de Viver
Baro de Viver is one of the seven districts that make up the district of Sant Andreu. Its area is only 0.22 km², and the population is 2.511 people (2021).
With a century of history, it boasts of being one of the youngest districts in the city. It was named after Dario Rumeu y Freis, 2nd Baron de Viver and Mayor of Barcelona between 1924 and 1930.
This is the same place where they still serve coffee in a glass, children play outside and everyone knows each other.
Without a doubt, Baro de Viver is the area that has benefited the most from the creation of the motorways Ronda de Dalt and Ronda de Littoral surrounding the area. This contributes to the destruction of its primordial isolation. The opening of the metro station in 1983 was also a significant event for this place. But accessibility still remains an unresolved issue in the eyes of local residents.
It was Baro de Viver that was one of the four districts of Barcelona where a group of so-called cheap houses was located. In the 1980s, Barcelona began a process of redevelopment of the area, which led to the replacement of these houses with new ones.
Baro de Viver still faces some commercial inconvenience, but the residents of this place are clearly enjoying one of the most peaceful and tranquil areas in Barcelona.
Average property price here: 3.406.3€ per m².
2. El Bon Pastor
El Bon Pastor is a district of Sant Andreu that developed around cheap houses built in 1929.
A group of 784 one-storey houses of approximately 40m² was built for sale or rent to immigrants from elsewhere in Spain. It was the largest of the four polygons of cheap houses in the city. It was built on land affected by the changes of the river and, in a certain sense, was left to fend for itself.
The renovation of El Bon Pastor in terms of housing is one of the most important activities to be carried out in the coming years. The project includes the replacement of those same 784 low-cost houses with a modern area of 1,000 new houses built in compliance with environmental and energy-saving criteria, as well as the creation of new green areas.
El Bon Pastor is now fully integrated into the city. It has social, medical, educational and sports facilities, and since 2010, a metro station.
El Bon Pastor is easily accessible by car due to its location next to the Ronda del Litoral motorway.
The cost of residential real estate is the lowest in the area: 2.
122.7 € per m². But this may change soon.
3. El Congress and Els Indians
Els Congres and Els Indians is one of the districts of the district of Sant Andreu, which arose as a result of the merger of two settlements into one. This was done in order to enjoy the benefits of living in an area of almost 15,000 people: a community center and a powerful associative fabric that ensures that the area is self-sufficient.
The area takes its name from the Plaça del Congrés Eucharistic and the old district of the Indians, where Catalan entrepreneurs who returned after searching for a fortune in America settled.
Some houses from that time have been preserved. The most prominent is the house known as Torre Rosa, built in 1920 and today converted into a cocktail bar.
Torre Rosa
Els Congres and Els Indians is the most populous part of the district of Sant Andreu after Navas. The main population is the working class.
Smart urban design and public service offerings explain the attractiveness of this place, which outperforms the socio-economic performance of other districts in the district, although clearly below that of Barcelona. There are good bus and metro connections (Sagrera, Congrés y Maragall).
One of the outstanding issues in this zone is the revival of trade. Xavier Sabate, president of Unión de Comerciantes Congrés-Indians, which brings together 52 stores to develop local commerce, says: “The area is very calm and peaceful, but it does not have a strong commercial structure.” Fortunately, the necessary measures have already been taken in this regard to improve the situation.
Residential prices: €2.836.0 per m².
4. Navas
Navas is a small and modern area in the district of Sant Andreu. It extends through part of the old territories of El Clot and La Sagrera on both sides of Meridian Avenue. The district owes its name to Navas de Tolosa Street, one of the main streets of the district, where the metro station of the same name is located.
Until the 19th century, Navas was a farmland that belonged to the municipality of Sant Martí de Provencals.
Navas was practically uninhabited until the 20th century. Several of the buildings that stood in these fields were farmhouses.
It began to take shape when the governor’s houses were built in 1944, so named because they were promoted by the civil governor of the time, Antonio Correa Weglisson. The design followed that of the architect Mariano Romani, who was inspired by English garden cities. The result is a complex of low-rise buildings surrounded by communal gardens.
There is also Iceland Square in Navas. In a triangular space created by the confluence of three paths, architects Andreu Aviola and Karme Fiol designed in 1995 a fountain with a geyser, from which five metal structures emerge, reminiscent of the five great Icelandic waterfalls.
Geyser in Iceland Square (Guèiser de la plaça d’Islàndia)
Thanks to the reconstruction and persistence of the neighbors, the district managed to renew its image and strengthen its identity in 2006.
Now Navas is considered a modest, quiet and hospitable area.
It is very well connected to the rest of the city. Not only are there many buses here, but there is also a stop on the busy red metro line that runs through some of Barcelona’s main arteries such as Urquinaona, Universidad, Plaza Catalunya o Plaza España.
Navas offers the highest residential property prices in the area: €4,709.8 per m².
5. Sant Andreu de Palomar
Sant Andreu de Palomar is another district in the district of Sant Andreu in Barcelona, and the oldest part of the district. The first written information dates back to 992, when a place called Palomar is mentioned in the document of the exchange of inheritance. It was an independent old city with over 1000 years of history before it was annexed to Barcelona on April 20, 1897.
Tall buildings on large avenues, combined with historic two-storey houses in narrow streets, squares and a feel that is hard to find in other areas of the city, make Sant Andreu de Palomar a place with a special personality.
With its agricultural origins, industrial development and many commercial traditions, this area is changing at a rapid pace. Such changes improve the old industrial premises and integrate them into the new Sant Andreu de Palomar.
The Gran de Sant Andreu, the basis of the old municipality and the current district, has witnessed all the changes brought about by the millennium. It is also the backbone of the region. The center of Sant Andreu de Palomar is a residential area with low-rise buildings, while the industrial areas are far from the center.
Due to its location next to Ronda de Dalt, the area offers easy access by car. There are also good bus and metro links (Fabra i Puig, Sant Andreu and Torras i Bages).
Today, Sant Andreu de Palomar is going through a period of change. The development of trade, the improvement of land communications and the creation of major cultural and artistic centers have a common goal: to make this area the center of cultural, administrative and land communications of Barcelona.
Price policy: 3.159.2€ per m².
6. La Sagrera
La Sagrera is a residential area of Barcelona located between two major arteries, Paseo Maragall and Meridiana Avenue. It borders on the north with Sant Andreu de Palomar and on the east with the surroundings of La Verneda; in the southern part is an area called Navas, and in the west – El Congres and Els Indians.
Previously, these were sacred lands that surrounded churches and were under the protection of the clergy. When La Sagrera was a rural center, the peasants stored their crops in church warehouses called sagreras. Since it was a sacred place, it was protected from wars and robberies. Thanks to this origin, the area still retains peace and tranquility, which contrasts with the bustle of Sant Andreu.
This is a calm residential area with inexpensive real estate, where the middle class lives.
Green space model to be erected
Today the area is well connected thanks to public transport, especially Sagrera metro station.
Its commercial activities are located at different points that are not centralized. There are schools, medical centers and other important government institutions. By the way, the new station is the subject of controversy among neighbors. Some believe it will increase the area’s activity and accessibility, while others believe it will end its tranquility.
Cafés, bars and shops tucked away in cozy streets reminiscent of neighborhoods like El Clot, Sants or Gracia district. Among them is the real gem of the area, Masadas Square, a place with a special charm.
Plaza Masadas
As for real estate, there are many houses of all types. Large buildings located on Meridian Avenue, built in 1970 and reaching 15 floors, are combined with one-story buildings that usually do not exceed four floors.
In recent years, housing prices in the area have declined. In 2021, the average cost of an apartment is 3.263.3€ per m².
7. La Trinitat Vella
La Trinitat Vella is located in the extreme north-east of Barcelona, between the Besos River, the Ronda de Dalt motorway and Meridiana Avenue.
It was once a peasant area, where the Trinitat chapel was located, from which the name of this place comes.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that this area is “in the fifth pine”. The origin of this expression is explained by the fact that he was on a hill. In addition, at the final stop of Finestrelles, where the fifth and farthest gallows of medieval Barcelona was erected, on which those sentenced to death were hanged. This place, dating from the 14th century and known as Pla de les Forques, existed until the 19th century.
Trinitat Park (Parc de la Trinitat)
Much has changed this area of Sant Andreu, turning it into the current Trinitate Vella with a population of just over 10,000 people. The locals are desperate to preserve the closeness between neighbors and the village spirit that has characterized them for decades.
An area with narrow and steep streets, with many squares and terraces, always full of life, such as Plaza de la Trinitat or Josep Andreu i Abelló, and long evening conversations on the Sarajevo bridge, one of the most emblematic points of Trinitat Velha, at the entrance to the city .
Paradoxically, this is where one of the city’s most iconic entry points is currently located: the giant sign “Benvinguts a Barcelona” (Welcome to Barcelona).
Unfortunately, at the moment Trinitat Velha is the third poorest area of the city after Ciutat Meridian and Valbona. In the index, in which 100 represents the average value for the entire city, this area occupies the penultimate position with an index of 47.1. This information has no doubt been taken into account by the municipal authorities when they roll out the 35 million euro Trinitat Velha Comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan, which includes social, environmental and economic measures to improve the quality of life, reduce this disparity in inequalities and improve living conditions and public space. Rehabilitation of residential buildings will be one of the main parts of this plan with an investment of 21.6 million euros. According to forecasts, the first work could begin in 2022, and the project will be completed in 2030.