Eixample Barcelona

Eixample Barcelona - This district of Barcelona is the opposite to the narrow winding cobbled streets of the old city. It's very modern and structured with large tree-lined avenues and boulevards full of up-market shops, restaurants and bars and separated from the old city by Plaça Catalunya.

It's a modern grid-like extension of the old city, built by affluent industrialists of the 19 century. There are two main areas of l'Eixample - Esquera and Dreta (left and right). On the right are the upmarket areas of Passeig de Gràcia, Rambla de Catalunya (which leads to Gracia). This area has many of Gaudi's famous buildings and this is why it's called the 'golden square'. Check it out on the map of Barcelona.

Architects such as Gaudi and Puig i Cadafalch were employed to build the most stunning and beautiful houses for the wealthy upper classes of Barcelona.

The result is that the area has been transformed into a treasure trove of modernista architecure.

This is especially so of the Golden Mile which encompasses Passeig de Gracia, one of the most upmarket and beautiful areas of Barcelona where all the amazing shops and Gaudi architecture is.

As well as a special shopping bus to take you around the area, you'll also see the famous Gaudí landmarks such as Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and Casa Batlló.

If you're staying around Gran Via or Carrer Diputació (just off Passeig de Gracia), the Sagrada Familia is just a ten minute walk away from Plaça Tetuan. At the end of either street is Carrer Marina and a few minutes away is Carrer Mallorca and the stunning Sagrada Familia.

A nice route to the beach from this area is to go down Passeig Sant Joan passing the Arc de Triomf with El Ribera/Born on your right.

Go through the Parc de la Ciutadella (city park) and then from here take Avinguda Icària onto Barceloneta and the famous waterfront which is about a ten minute walk from the zoo.

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