Urban and socioeconomic trends in Ciutat Vella

Abstract

In the context of a monographic work on Immigration, Households and City, focused in the area of Barcelona, it becomes inevitable to devote an article to the historic centre of the city. Ciutat Vella, which comprises the districts of Casc Antic, Gòtic, Raval and Barceloneta, preserves within its boundaries the history of the city until current times. It has been witness to the growth and consecutive urban changes and home to varied population. Its retains the architectonic traces of bygone times, of former industrial, commercial and leisure functions, which combine with the more modern ones of services and tourism. It continues to be a cultural and symbolic benchmark for its citizens and for those who are permanently or temporarily lodged in the city. We wish to present a synthetic approach to the actual reality of the district of Ciutat Vella, showing its morphological, population, economic and social evolution. We also wish to present Ciutat Vella as the paradigm of the Mediterranean city historic centre: entrance door of consecutive immigration, receptacle of history, culture and symbology where synergies slow down, if do not avoid, the development of the typical processes of Anglosaxon cities.