Built on Montjuic for the 1929 International Exposition, the Poble Espanyol is an open-air architectural museum that reproduces 117 buildings from across Spain — Andalusian whitewashed houses, a Catalan Romanesque monastery, Castilian plazas, Basque farmsteads. What could have been pure kitsch has aged into something genuinely enjoyable, helped by the artisan workshops (glassblowers, potters, leather workers) that now occupy many of the buildings.
During the day it works as a relaxed stroll through regional architecture. In the evenings, the village comes alive with flamenco shows, bars, and live music on the main square. There is also a decent collection of contemporary art in the Fran Daurel Foundation gallery on site.