The busiest street in the El Born district is a perfect illustration of the wealth of merchant families who once lived here. In the 13C and 14C, Barcelona's fleet dominated Mediterranean commercial traffic between the Balearics, Sicily and southern Italy. This straight thoroughfare links the centre of the city with Vilanova del Mar, the port at the time. Beyond Carrer de la Princesa, the first street in Barcelona to be paved, it is lined by a unique array of palaces from the late Middle Ages.