L'Eixample

Practical information about the Eixample

The Eixample district is one of the most famous neighborhoods in Barcelona, located in the city center of the Catalan capital, Spain. The Eixample is divided into two parts by the Diagonal avenue. For simplicity we speak of the eixample dreta (right eixample) and eixample left. The neighborhood is bounded by the following streets; To the north: Marina street/ To the east: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes street/ To the south: Paral-lel street/ To the west: Passeig de Gràcia.

To get to the Eixample by public transport, there are several options:

Metro: The metro lines L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7 and L8 all pass through the Eixample, serving the different areas of the different areas of the neighborhood. The most important metro stations are Passeig de Gràcia, Diagonal, Sagrada Família, Tetuan, Urgell, Hospital Clinic, among others.

Bus: There are also many bus lines that pass through the Eixample. The most frequent bus lines are H10, V15, V17, 20, 24, 39, 45, 47, 50, 51, 54, 56, 59, 62, 66, 67, 68, 141, N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, N9, N11, N12, N13, N14, N15, N16, N17, N18, N19, N20, N22 and N24.

Hop-on hop-off Bus: Eixample, Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, Perdera, Plaçade Catalunya.

Train: It is possible to get to the Eixample by train, especially with the R2 North train line which serves the Passeig de Gràcia and Clot-Aragó stations.

Map of the Eixample district

Eixample in Catalan means "Extension" or "Enlargement" because it was built in 1860 to enlarge Barcelona after the demolition of the medieval walls. Today, it is a wide commercial and residential area. With its intersection of perpendicular avenues, often photographed from the air, it illustrates a new vision of the city. At its heart, "Quadrat d'Or" - the Golden Square - like a small open-air museum, which concentrates the largest number of modernist buildings in Barcelona signed by Antoni Gaudí, Domènech i Montaner or Puig i Cadafalch among other architects of the Catalan Art Nouveau. Facades of stone, glass, wrought iron and ceramic: an architectural delight.

To see in the Eixample district 

The Eixample is known for its unique modernist architecture and famous monuments such as the

Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Arc de Triomf, Casa Amatller and Casa Lleó Morera. But we love to stroll along Passeig de Gràcia or Rambla de Catalunya for its stores of famous brands such as Hermès, Fendi, Versace CH Carolina Herrera, Moncler, Loro Piana, El Corte Inglés, Zara, Mango, Massimo Dutti, Desigual... And its many restaurants.

Our advice: You have understood, staying in this district is an excellent idea because this district is central, animated, rich of major monuments of the city andgreat for shopping > Your hôtel next to Passeig de Gràcia

The history of L'Eixample

The Eixample district was built in the 19th century, at a time when Barcelona was experiencing strong economic and demographic growth. The city had become too small to accommodate all the new inhabitants and it was decided to build a new neighborhood beyond the old medieval city limits. The Eixample urban plan was designed by the engineer Ildefons Cerdà, who won a competition to design the new neighborhood in 1859. The plan was innovative for its time because it was based on a regular grid of streets, with square blocks of about 100 meters on each side. This allowed for maximum use of space and smoother flow of people and vehicles.

A unique feature of Barcelona's Eixample urban planning is that the building blocks are cut diagonally on their sides. This diagonal cut allowed for larger and wider spaces at the intersection of the streets, thus improving the circulation of pedestrians and cars. In addition, the diagonal cutting of the corners also increased the amount of natural light entering the buildings, which was important at a time when the people of Barcelona did not have access to electricity and relied on natural light to illuminate their homes.

The construction of the Eixample took over 50 years. During this time, many architects were involved in the architects were involved in the design of the neighborhood's buildings, creating a mix of architectural styles ranging from Art Nouveau to Neoclassical. The facades of the buildings were decorated with elaborate ornaments and sculptures, giving the neighborhood an elegant and sophisticated appearance. Construction interrupted due to the economic crisis of the late 19th century and the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.

Tourist route in L'Eixample

More places to discover:

>>Take advantage of our good addresses such as restaurants and shops.This is also part of discovering a city.

>>> We recommend the best Hotels Barcelona Eixample district, both in the centre but slightly off the tourist trail, a great quarter for a stay... 

1- Casa Calvet***

Monument

Casa Calvet

The Casa Calvet, built as a dwelling and offices for the textile manufacturer Pere Calvet, is the first and least imaginative of the three houses Gaudí designed for Barcelona's Eixample (Extension).

 

The interest of the Casa Calvet centres on the imaginative resolution of the rear façade, the decoration of the hallway, and the design of the furniture, purely organic and breaking with everything before it.

 

What most calls attention on the façade are the symbolic elements. Over the door, the owner's initial, C; and supporting the main gallery, a cypress, symbol of hospitality. On the main storey, the relieves represent mushrooms, because Pere Calvet was a mycologist. Above the gallery, the horn of plenty. The three heads of the crown represent Saint Peter the martyr (Pere Calvet's patron), Saint Genesius of Arles and Saint Genesius of Rome, patrons of Vilassar, in el Maresme, where the family came from.

You can not visit the Casa Calvet in Barcelona but you can discover the very good restaurant Casa Calvet inside the building.

More info

Address : C. De Casp,48
Opening hours : Can not be visited.
Phone : + 34 93 412 40 12
Metro/Bus : Metro: L4 L1 Urquinaona / Bus: 17, 39, 45, 47, 62, B21

2- The Passage of Gràcia

Monument

Passeig de Gràcia

Passeig de Gràcia

Passeig de Gràcia was from the beginning designed to be Barcelona's Grand Avenue. It is Barcelona's most elegant avenue and one of the best architectural walks in the city with lots of Modernist buildings (la Casa Batlló, La Casa Milà...). The quality and quantity of modernist buildings is unrivalled.

 

It's origins can be traced back to Roman times when it was a path that linked to the Via Augusta. In medieval times the city's door to this road was the Portal dels Orbs (blind people's gate), today the Portal del Angel pedestrian shopping area.

 

 

For the shopping:

 Aside from being one of the best places to see Catalan Modernist architecture, this avenue is one of the major streets for shopping in Barcelona. All national and international fashion houses have their boutique here. Among prestigious designers, you will find Adolfo Dominguez, Loewe, Chanel, Yves-Saint-Laurent, Hermès, Laurel. Foreign brands, such as Ermenegildo Zegna, Max Mara, Escada and Armand Bassi stand beside Spanish ones such as Purificación García, Camper and Loewe. Even more accessible brands like Zara, Mango, Globe, Benetton and Laura Ashley. More shopping in Barcelona..

 

To stay:  Hotels near Passeig de Gràcia Metro 

More info

Address : Passeig de Gràcia
Metro/Bus : Metro: L3, L2, L5 Passeig de Gràcia and Diagonal / Bus: 7, 16, 17, 22, 24, 28

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4- Casa Mila***

 

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5- Manzana de la Discordia***

Monument

Manzana de la Discordia

Casa Batlló (designed by Antoni Gaudí): This house is one of Gaudí's most emblematic works. It is famous for its colourful, organic exterior and undulating forms. It is often described as an example of Catalan Modernist architecture.

Casa Amatller (designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch): This house features a combination of architectural styles, including Modernista and Neo-Gothic. It is mainly associated with the Modernista architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch.

Casa Lleó Morera (designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner): This house is another example of Catalan Modernista architecture, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner. It stands out for its architectural details and ornamental sculptures.

 

La Manzana de la discordia or the apple of discord

La Manzana de la discordia means the apple of discord, but also, by a subtle play on words, manzana means the block of houses. This block of houses became famous precisely because of the feud between the three wealthy owners of these three houses. Each of them appropriated the genius of an architect to build his own palace. Three palaces, three architects: Puig I cadafalch, Domènech I Montaner and Antoni Gaudí, and three different architectural styles are the result, much to our delight today.

More info

Address : Passeig de Gracia, 43
Opening hours : Casa Batllo: Everday from 9am to 9pm
Phone : Casa Batllo: 00 34 +34 93 488 06 66
Metro/Bus : Metro: L3 Passeig de Gràcia

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6- Tapies Foundation***

Museum

Antoni Tàpies foundation

The Antoni Tàpies foundation was created by the Catalan painter  Antoni Tàpies in 1984 to promote the study and understanding of modern art and culture.

 

Articket: Art Passport Card for 6 Art Museums in Barcelona

Of course you will find works from all periods of the artistic development of Antoni Tapies. You will appreciate the beautiful library devoted to modern literature and documentation on the art and artists of our century.

 

The foundation is housed in a building by the modernista architect Lluís Domènech i Muntaner.

 

The roof terrace alone is worth a visit.

 

After 2 years of architectural reforms by the firm of architects Ábalos-Sentkiewicz, the foundation was reopened in March 2010 with renewed exhibition spaces in order to recuperate the industrial character of the building and a new entrance to the museum to improve the areas of reception and bookshop… To see!!

More info

Address : Aragó, 255
Opening hours : Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 7pm // Closed 25 and 26 December, 1 and 6 January.
Phone : +34 934 870 315
Metro/Bus : Metro: L3 Passeig de Gràcia

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Last comment

a district not to be missed

Luise (29 Mar 2023 - 10:18)

Eixample of course!!! mainly for la Pedrera and Batllo...
shopping is the same as everywhere in the world so nothing new ;-)

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