How did Barcelona change thanks to the wealth brought back from the Americas?

From the mid-19th century until the early 20th century, a group of enterprising Catalans left home to try their luck in the Americas. Some of them managed to earn vast fortunes and decided to come home. Once back here, they invested part of their fortunes in transforming the city’s architecture and urban design. This fascinating process will be explained by Aymara Arreaza and Lorena Bou, experts on the topic, on one of the classic routes that the Barcelona History Museum offers: “Barcelona and the Wealth from the Americas. Overseas businesses and urban change, 1835-1916” (Barcelona i els indians. Negocis d'ultramar i canvi urbà, 1835-1916). The tour seeks to spotlight the entire visible legacy left by these magnates from the Americas. Much of the explanation will revolve around telling the stories of some of these men and women, such as Josep Xifré, the Vidal-Quadras brothers and Dorotea de Chopitea. In short, it will be a walk through Barcelona’s railways and shipyards, its financial and real estate circuit, and the tobacco, coffee and sugar industries on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Plus, the slavery system which benefitted these businesspeople will also be discussed.

The route “Barcelona and the Wealth from the Americas. Overseas businesses and urban change, 1835-1916” will be held on 12 October at 10:30 am. It will begin at Pla de Palau, 18, across from the Faculty of Nautical Studies, and it will end in the Eixample district. The route lasts three hours and is held in Spanish.

To participate in this activity, you have to reserve your spot and pay €8.50. You can do both on the Barcelona History Museum website.