No Barcelona district has managed to combine history and modern flair quite like the Born. Crowned by the 14th-century Bas?lica de Santa Mar?a del Mar (the city's best example of Catalan gothic architecture), the medieval Born is a vibrant neighbourhood that in recent years has become a centre for art and design in Barcelona. Apartments here are just footsteps away from the area's fashionable boutiques and are tucked among the district's ultra-modern shops and restaurants.

In the middle ages, this area sat by the shore and was a fishermen's quarter, which is why it is sometimes still referred to as "La Ribera" ("the waterfront"). With time, Barcelona built into the sea and now La Ribera is a good ten-minutes' walk from the beach! These days the quarter is most often referred to as El Born, after the its main street, the Passeig del Born, and the old market that sits at the end of the Passeig. The Passeig del Born is packed with lively bars and clubs and is one of the major nightlife hotspots of Barcelona. With an apartment here, you won't have trouble finding ways to stay entertained!

Another of the Born's main streets is Carrer de Montcada; we have several apartments for let just off this busy Barcelona thoroughfare. A pedestrian-only street, here you'll find the Picasso Museum, the Textile Museum, a pre-Columbian art museum and barrage of touristy souvenir shops. The Picasso Museum is one of Barcelona's most popular; it houses a broad collection of the famed artist's work and also hosts important exhibitions featuring other artists.

On the edge of the Born is the Palau de la M?sica Catalana, a Modernist jewel designed by Llu?s Dom?nech i Muntaner. Dripping with tiles, mosaics and coloured glass, this concert hall is the most ornate building in the city. The best way to appreciate it is to hear a concert inside it or to request a guided tour.

In the evening, the Born's numerous wine bars wake up and fill up. One of the best-known wine bars in Barcelona is La Vinya del Senyor, a tiny place whose tables sprawl onto a stone plaza in front of the Santa Maria del Mar Basilica. Few things are more delightful than a pre-dinner aperitif in this magical setting.

Those who choose to rent an apartment in the Born will also be close to central sights like the Cathedral and Las Ramblas. It's a 5- to 10-minute walk to Barcelona's Cathedral and a 10- to 15-minute walk to Las Ramblas.