Sants used to be a town of its own, which experienced a huge boom when it became an industrial area specialised in textile industry. Due to Barcelona’s rapid expansion, it soon became part of the city. However, it is known for still preserving a feel of community and its local traditions. It has all facilities you may need for your everyday life and is by far the best choice for those who intend to travel non-stop during their exchange. Sants is mainly a residential area with very few touristy attractions, but it is very easy to get anywhere you want. Within 10-20 minutes’ walk, you can reach Plaza España, Montjuïc Mountain, Fira Barcelona (one of the most important and active fairgrounds in Europe), Poble Espanyol (an open-air museum resembling a typical Spanish village), and L’Illa Diagonal (a trendy shopping mall). You may already know this, but Barcelona is considered one of the best cities for skateboarding. Sants is a particularly popular neighbourhood for skaters due to its many concrete squares and wide open spaces. Three hotspots to skate in Sants are Parc de l’Espanya Industrial, Plaça de Sants and Parc de Joan Miró. Photo Credits - Flickr user: Riccardo Cuppini