Sant Martí · 67
la Vila Olímpica del Poblenou
The Olympic Village looks as though it appeared whole in 1992, but it stands on Icària, a small industrial quarter of about forty companies and 504 residents that bulldozers began to clear on 3 August 1987.[1]
Walk into Parc de la Nova Icària and look at the lake: it is shaped like the Greek island of Icaria, an echo of the name of the old industrial quarter.[2][1]
In 1986 a mixed public-private company, Vila Olímpica SA, was set up to carry out the operation. The village was completed in 1992 as housing for the athletes of the Summer Games, and it recovered this stretch of coast for the city with a port, parks and beaches.[3]
The design team was Oriol Bohigas, Josep Martorell and David Mackay (MBM arquitectes) with Albert Puigdomènech. Four towers were planned, but the Ministry of Public Works limited the number to two, Torre Mapfre and Hotel Arts, under coastal protection law.[3]
la Vila Olímpica del Poblenou (neighbourhood 67) highlighted. Other neighbourhoods in Sant Martí: el Camp de l'Arpa del Clot, el Clot, el Parc i la Llacuna del Poblenou, el Poblenou, Diagonal Mar i el Front Marítim del Poblenou, el Besòs i el Maresme.
Where the name comes from
Vila Olímpica says what the district was for: housing the participants of the 1992 Games. Del Poblenou places it within the older industrial Poblenou.[1][2]
The project was called Nova Icària after the old quarter, Icària, a name that comes from the utopian socialist ideas of Étienne Cabet.[1][2]
Before the neighbourhood
Before the Olympic Village the site was Icària, an industrial quarter of about forty companies and 504 residents, mostly workers from Valencia and Huesca.[1]
Displaced residents received compensation or were rehoused in municipal housing on Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes.[1]
How the streets were made
Parc de la Nova Icària, 6.34 hectares, was designed by MBM arquitectes in 1992 on former industrial land. The Ronda del Litoral ring road runs through it, partly underground beneath Plaça dels Campions.[2][4]
Port Olímpic opened in 1991 and hosted the sailing events of the 1992 Games.[2][4]
Dates that changed it
- 1986 Vila Olímpica SA is set up to carry out the Olympic Village operation.[3]
- 3 August 1987 bulldozers begin demolishing Icària.[1]
- 1991 Port Olímpic opens.[4]
- 1992 the village houses the athletes of the Summer Olympic Games.[3]
- 21 July 2024 the transformed Port Olímpic reopens with a public celebration on Moll de Mestral.[5]
- 19 May 2026 the press reports the floating docks on all four piers finished.[6]
People behind the buildings
Oriol Bohigas, Josep Martorell, David Mackay and Albert Puigdomènech
Bohigas, Martorell and Mackay (MBM arquitectes) and Puigdomènech formed the design team of the Olympic Village.[3]
Institutions
What can still be seen
Torre Mapfre
154 metres and 44 floors, completed in 1992 to a design by Ortiz.León Arquitectos; with the Hotel Arts it forms the gateway to the port. Of the four towers planned, two were built.[7][3]
Parc de la Nova Icària
A lake shaped like the Greek island of Icaria, crossed by wooden bridges, and Plaça dels Campions with the names of Olympic champions.[2]
What disappeared
Icària
An industrial quarter of about forty companies and 504 residents was demolished from 3 August 1987; no building of architectural heritage was kept and only the chimney of Can Folch survives, today in the 22@ area.[1]
The neighbourhood today
In 2026 it had 9,293 residents, 100.5 residents per hectare, a mean census-section income of €36,618 in 2023, 92.5 hectares, and 24.8% of residents held non-Spanish nationality.
Non-Spanish nationality (2026): 24.8%
What is changing
As of October 2026 the remaking of Port Olímpic, begun in 2020, is largely finished. The port reopened on 21 July 2024 with a public celebration on Moll de Mestral, and a promenade more than 500 metres long now runs along the breakwater.[5][6]
On reopening day the Balcó Gastronòmic, a 24,000 m² restaurant area on Moll de Gregal, was still under construction, with completion announced for late August 2024.[5][6]
Work on the water went on: according to the press of 19 May 2026, floating docks have replaced the fixed ones at the Xaloc, Gregal, Mestral and Marina piers, for €4.5 million paid by BSM. The marina has 674 berths.[5][6]
Read it on foot
Start: Ciutadella | Vila Olímpica (L4)[3] · End: Parc de la Nova Icària[2]
Walking (excluding stop time): 11 min · 790 m · Estimated visit (with stops): 51 min
The geometry follows the pedestrian network between the three marked points, but it has not been verified as step-free. The approach from public transport is not included in the stated distance.
la Vila Olímpica del Poblenou (neighbourhood 67) highlighted. Other neighbourhoods in Sant Martí: el Camp de l'Arpa del Clot, el Clot, el Parc i la Llacuna del Poblenou, el Poblenou, Diagonal Mar i el Front Marítim del Poblenou, el Besòs i el Maresme.
Coordinates
Coordinates
Coordinates
Sources for this page
Dates, figures and historical claims are linked to the records used for this page.
- [1] VilaWeb (2022-07-10). Icària, el barri arrasat pels Jocs Olímpics del 92. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
- [2] Viquipèdia (2025). Parc de la Nova Icària. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
- [3] Viquipèdia (2025). La Vila Olímpica del Poblenou. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
- [4] Wikipedia (2025). Port Olímpic. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
- [5] betevé (2024-07). El nou Port Olímpic reobre diumenge amb una festa ciutadana. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
- [6] Metrópoli Abierta (2026-05-19). Inversió de 4,5 milions per al Port Olímpic: culmina la seva reforma amb amarratges més sostenibles. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
- [7] Viquipèdia (2025). Torre Mapfre. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
- [8] Ajuntament de Barcelona — Open Data BCN (2026-01-01). Padró municipal d'habitants (pad_mdbas) — població per barri. Accessed: 2026-07-17.
- [9] Ajuntament de Barcelona — Open Data BCN (2021). Densitat de població per barri. Accessed: 2026-07-17.
- [10] Ajuntament de Barcelona — Open Data BCN (2023). Renda disponible de les llars per persona. Seccions censals. Accessed: 2026-07-17.
Last reviewed: 3 October 2026 · 10 sources consulted