Barrios of the Eixample

The Eixample district is the extention of the original city of Barcelona beyond it's old city walls, and was constructed in the 19th century and designed by Ildefons Cerdà. Eixample means extension in Catalan. The grid system is cut through by two main roads: Avinguda Diagonal and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes and otherwise forms a uniform pattern with the crossroads creating octagonal shapes.

The Eixample area is divided into six main barrios: Dreta de L'Eixample, L'Antiga Esquerra de L'Eixample, La Nova Esquerra de L' Eixample, Sant Antoni, Sagrada Família and Fort Pienc.

Dreta de L'Eixample (or Eixample Derecha)

This was the first part of the Eixample to be built, and extends from Calle Balmes to just past Passeig de Sant Joan including the magnificent Passeig de Gràcia. Famous buildings located in this barrio are Casa Mila (otherwise known as La Pedrera) and Casa Batlló by Antonio Gaudí, and Casa Ametller.

L'Antiga Esquerra de L'Eixample (or Eixample Izquierda)

The areas to the left of Calle Balmes is generally known as Eixample Izquierda, and reaches to Calle d'Urgell and includes the University of Barcelona and its hospital. Much of this areas is now the gay district of Barcelona. It's a vibrant area of the city with many restaurants and shops.

Nova Esquerra de L' Eixample

The Nova Esquerra de L' Eixample, is really slightly further from the city centre and was created later than the other parts, hence the name which means New Left Extension. Avinguda de Roma cuts through this district which reaches to Parc de Joan Miró (very close to Sants station).

Sagrada Família

The Sagrada Família area is named after Gaudí's famous cathedral of the same name, which takes up one whole grid of this barrio and means Sacred Family. It incorporates the barrio of Encants to its lower end – close to Plaça de les Glòries – with Avinguda de Gaudí cutting across from the Cathedral up to Hospital de Santa Creu, built by the Catalan architect Domènech i Montaner. Both the cathedral and hospital are now World Heritage Sites designated by UNESCO.

Fort Pienc

The barrio of Fort Pienc is just to the left of Plaça de les Glòries and is bordered by Avinguda de Diagonal, Avinguda Meridiana and Passeig de Sant Joan and includes the Parc de l'Estaciò del Nord. It's close to the city centre and can be slightly less expensive area to live in.

Sant Antoni

Sant Antoni is very close to the old town, next to La Raval. It has an excellent market housed in its original iron building built between 1872-1882 (on Sundays the market sells second-hand books). Very central but with a bit more space than the old town.