A guided tour reveals the Bohemian side of early-20th-century Barcelona
Beginning at 10.45 am on selected Saturdays throughout January, February and March, "La Ciutat Carmesí" invites participants to discover a previously hidden side of Barcelona between the Gran Teatre del Liceu and the El Molino Theatre
Between El Liceu and El Molino, the Raval district at the beginning of the 20th century was the epicentre of Bohemian Barcelona. During the daytime the separation of social classes was more than conspicuous: the bourgeoisie lived in the L’Eixample district and socialised around the Gran Teatre del Liceu, while the more underworld elements gathered around what was called the Barri Xino, or Chinese Quarter. At night-time, however, both classes attended the festivities in the Paral·lel area and all social distinctions disappeared.
During the first quarter of 2015, a tour entitled La Ciutat Carmesí (The Crimson City) invites participants to discover Barcelona’s Bohemian side. Beginning at the main entrance to the Gran Teatre del Liceu, film director Eusebio and his assistant Elia will escort participants through the film locations used in their latest super-production, a film set in early-20th-century Barcelona.
Under their guidance, participants will acquaint themselves with the bourgeoisie lifestyle of the era through a series of anecdotes relating to the former Barri Xino, including such characters as the Vampire of Raval, Enriqueta Martí, the Güell family and the death of Salvador Seguí, alias “The Sugar Boy”.
The tour continues along Carrer de les Penedides, towards the hub of the Raval district, towards Carrer Nou de la Rambla, where the Palau Güell is found, to later continue down Carrer de Lancaster to the Arc del Teatre, from where it turns up Carrer de Guàrdia towards the current headquarters of the Filmoteca de Catalunya. Following this the participants will take the Rambla del Raval, pass by the former Sant Pau del Camp monastery and arrive at Paral·lel. The entire tour begins at the Liceu and finishes up in front of El Molino, basing its route around the musical diversity present in Barcelona’s Bohemian past.
The Crimson City. From the Liceu, in Paral·lel, a theatrical route through early-20th-century Bohemian Barcelona
Date and time: 7th of February and 14th of March in Catalan, 24th of January, 21st of February and 21st and 28th of March in Spanish. Beginning at 10.45 am. Duration: 2 hours
Price: 16 €
Where: in front of Gran Teatre del Liceu
More informations here