Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EIXAMPLE
If the Old Town is the heartof Barcelona and the green mountains of Tibid-
abo and Montjuïc the lungs, the Eixample is the city's nervous system - its
economic and commercial core. The area began to take shape in 1860 when
the city was permitted to expand beyond the medieval walls (for further de-
tails see
19th Century: Industry & Prosperity
). Its design, based on plans by
Catalan engineer Ildefons Cerdà, comprises hundreds of symmetrical grid-
like squares. Construction continued into the 20th century at a time when
Barcelona's elite was patronizing the city's most daring architects.
Modern-
isme
was flourishing and the area became home to the cream of Barcelona's
Modernista
architecture, with myriad elegant façades and balconies. Today,
a wealth of enchanting cafés, funky design shops, gourmet restaurants and
hip bars and clubs draws the professional crowd, which has adopted the
neighbourhood as its own.
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1. SAGRADA FAMILIA
Gaudí'swizardryculminatedinthisenchanting,wild,unconventionaltemple,which
dominates the city skyline (for further details see
Sagrada Família
)
.
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View photo
2. LA PEDRERA
A daring, surreal fantasyland, and Gaudí's most remarkable civic work (for further
details see
La Pedrera
).
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