Class Group Visit
In my class called Barcelona: The Mediterranean City, we visited a section of Barcelona called El Born. In El Born we went to the Centre de Cultura i Memòria. This place was very enlightening into what life was like in the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th century for Barcelonians. What was left in the center were ruins of the medieval city of Barcelona that were demolished after the War of Succession in 1714. The backstory of how they discovered this site was super interesting, I did not know if you dig far down enough while constructing, you can discover entire old sites and historical data.
The Old Market of Born is emblematic of the economic and social dynamics of the time. Our tour guide shared the gender roles during this time: Men could sell in the market place in the morning because they were deemed as more respectable, while women would stay home and take care of the home. Women could then sell goods later in the afternoon. Women during this time were shunned and sometimes exiled if they were found doing sex work, which we spoke about in class.
People from different social classes sold different things. One of the families who were very wealthy were actually string makers for violins and other instruments. My tour guide explained the reason why string making shops were right next to the butcher shops. This was basically a marketing strategy to get people more inclined to shop in both places! Drug stores were also common. These drug stores were a place to obtain medicines and other goods related to health, hygiene, and general well-being.
In conclusion, my visit to the El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria provided a captivating immersion into the layers of Barcelona’s past. Exploring the Old Market of Born shared not only economic dynamics but also insights into gender roles, marketing tactics, and the array of goods available in the once thriving town. I left this experience with a deeper understanding of Barcelona’s past and cultural development.
Vanessa Leftwich
Major: Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Program: Spain – IES Business & Art Barcelona