Working class town, medieval monastery, hilltop prehistoric village

Working class satellite town of Barcelona. Substantial numbers of shanty town dwellers who were evicted from Montjuïc to make way for the great exhibition of 1929 were resettled here, but it’s now probably best known as a focus for Al Qaeda recruitment. Sights include: early twentieth century villas, currently being demolished en masse to make way for tower blocks; auto-construction, fruit of the 1960s economic boom; related facilities, like this petanque alley; modern sweatshops, typically employing illegal Chinese; our lady of bullfighting; graffiti 1 and 2; the multicolour flats you only ever see from the train and motorway.

At the top of town, things get more spectacular, with views of the nearest town on the coast, Barcelona’s emblematic power station chimneys

We then head down into a valley to check out a ruined monastery and one that is still functional, complete with its tenant gardeners (visits bookable, interior shots: 1/2/3/4/5/6).

Climbing up past the monastery, we take in classic Mediterranean flora: lots of pine (umbrella,stone), chunks of Quercus ilex, standard array of flowers, cacti.

The ridge has more power station views, several chapels, Andalusian/gypsy palaces and guard dogs, as well as interesting junk and the odd bit of smack gear.

Getting towards the top, various prehistoric remains, including a natural cave where human and pottery finds were made in the 1950s, Barcelona views. Then, on the hilltop, a rehabilitated Iberian village, with foundations, a reconstructed hut, and good information displays.

Finally, a superb 360º panorama of Barcelona and the coast, Montjuich, Collserola, Montserrat (on a good day), Montcada, Sant Llorenç del Munt etc:

Back in town, various interesting lunch options, including a market bar with three tables, a Galician…