Barcelona: Street Art, Parc del Centre de Poblenou
I love nothing better then a treasure hunt, especially when it’s looking for awesome graffiti and street art and the neighborhood of Poblenou fulfills my wishes. I dragged DeLisa around the extremely NON-tourist area of the Parc del Centre de Poblenou.
The park itself is worth the trip. It was designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel and opened in spring 2008. It covers a surface area of 55.000 m2 between the Carrer Bilbao, Carrer Marroc, Bac de Roda and Diagonal. It provides an oasis of calm, which clearly defines the inclusive social spirit of the new Poblenou. The perimeter wall outside the park is covered with Mediterranean plants and a Gaudí styled gate leads inside.
The quality, quantity and sheer size of the images made it well worth a visit (for me). The 90F/32C weather made for a very warm treasure hunt. Thanks D, for indulging my love of treasure hunting AND street art AND walking!! You are a real friend.
Self Guided Street Art Walking Tour of Poblenou compliments of a blog I found and want to credit: https://barcelonalowdown.com/more-awesome-graffiti-and-street-art-in-poblenou/
Follow Carrer de Marroc along the west side of the Parc del centre de Poblenou. Just before you get to Carrer de Espronceda you will see a large metal gate which is the entrance to an old factory that is now an art research and production centre. If the gate is open take a look inside, otherwise continue along the perimeter of the site.
The walls are covered with street art from the pedestrian crossing around the corner and along Carrer de Espronceda for almost half a block. Don’t forget to look up or you might miss the the 5 story high corinthian column and the home made statue of an alien (on the other side of the road).
From here the route follows Carrer Pere IV. At first the left hand side of the road is fenced off by steel hoardings and brick walls. If you look over the wall you will see a haunting black face painted by Axel Void on a tower of the old La Escocesa chemical factory which is now a centre for artists.
After you pass the Parroquia del Sagrat Cor church there are a couple of large murals on the right hand side products of the second ÚS Barcelona street art festival by the artists Mariela Arias and Btoy.
Turn left along Carrer de la Selva de Mar. Once you pass the Nissan car showroom and auto repair shop the rest of the block as far as Carrer de Peru is covered with graffiti including several images by Rubicon1.
This street is in a continuous state of flux and the walls are painted over regularly.
Double back on yourself and head east along Selva de Mar, just after you cross Pere IV there is a portrait by Jupiterfab of an old man who was evicted from his home after his wife died. On the other side of the same building is a large painting by Crisa which at first glance looks like an eye but which I think represents the world and the universe. Further along on the other side of the road is a tiny temporary allotment with a large painting of a diabolic fruit tree.
Keep heading towards the sea, just before you reach Av. Diagonal are two of the largest works of street art in the area. The first is a large derelict building which has been turned into a giant head.
I then turned right onto Diagonal and made my way towards a cold beer and awesome pizza.
