IN FOCUS: L’Eixample
Pronounced ‘lay-sham-pluh’, L’Eixample was born as Barcelona began to outgrow its burgeoning population, fuelled by the industrial growth of the 19th century. Indeed, the vicinity’s name literally translates as ‘expansion’. The district lies at the top of La Rambla, beginning at the Plaça de Catalunya and was originally styled on the boulevards of Paris.
Constructed in the modernist architectural fashion of the time, in this young district you will encounter some of Barcelona’s most iconic highlights, including the Sagrada Família and Gaudi’s masterpieces of the Casa Batlló and La Pedrera on the scenic boulevard Passeig de Gràcia. This central avenue encapsulates the finest examples of Catalan Art Nouveau.
The entire district encompasses six separate neighbourhoods, arranged in a grid-like layoutand separated into Esquerra de l’Eixample and Dreta de l’Eixample (the left and right sides of Eixample, respectively). Despite this breadth, the area is easily explored on foot.
Bursting with happening night spots, high-end restaurants and designer boutiques, L’Eixample is the beating heart of Barcelona.
