Eixample - The district of Modernism

Quite contrary to the narrow streets of the Barri Gòtic is the L'Eixample district (pronounced: laschampla).
Around 1850, with the beginning of industrialisation, Barcelona began to grow over the city walls to extend the living and working place for the fast-growing population. During this time, the distinctive checkerboard pattern of L'Eixample (extension) was designed by the city planner Ildefons Cerdà.

Cerdà had the floor plans of American cities as a model. Cerdà saw the streets with wide and generously extended crossings (Passeig de Gracia has six lanes), to highlight the crossings were blocks to the chamfered corners.
The blocks are all square and have a big yard, but most of today is built. From the original idea Cerdàs, there is plenty of green for the residents to provide very little remains.
1859 was the controversial development plan approved by the town council.

The middle part of L'Eixample is often called "Quadrat d'Or", golden square, describing the elegance of this area. The north main road leading Passeig de Gracia connects the medieval city with the artist Gràcia district and is lined with chic boutiques and upscale restaurants. Two of the most famous monuments of Barcelona's most famous citizen Antoní Gaudí can be done at Passeig de Gracia admire the Casa Millà and the Casa Balló. Farther east, the Sagrada Familia cathedral. Overall, the square d'Or about contains 150 historically protected buildings.

The sights of the Eixample

The Eixample is dominated by the buildings of the Catalan Art Nouveau, the Modernism.