Barcelona and its Streets
A SPECIAL CITY
Barcelona is the most beautiful city in Spain, according to some, even more beautiful than Madrid. Barcelona is famous for the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, for the La Seu Cathedral and for its numerous museums that praise art and the culture. However ,once you are in Barcelona, visit Eixample. It will definitely impress you.
WHAT IS EIXAMPLE?
Eixample is a network of streets situated in Barcelona. The network, called Eixample, which means ”The new extension”, dates back to the 19th century. That was the period when Barcelona was extending to the west, so everyone was beginning to forget about Eixample.
But not Antoni Gaudi; he is the main architect of this network of streets. Here tourists can find fashion shops, exquisite art galleries and sophisticated restaurants. A small part of the network is very controversial, as it represents the centre of the gay community in Barcelona.
SIGHTSEEING IN EIXAMPLE
Antoni Gaudi had wonderful plans for Eixample. If you are in Barcelona and if you decide to go sightseeing in Eixample, it is sure that the first thing you will see is the Sagrada Familia. The Cathedral is still unfinished, but its beauty is breathtaking. Its uniqueness comes from the amazing number of pointing towers that decorate the Cathedral. The history that lies behind the building is tragic.
Its construction started in 1882, but it had to be interrupted because of the First World War. Gaudi spent many years of his life designing the Cathedral, but by the time he died, only the Nativitat facade was finished. Since then, the construction has been very controversial.
Josep Maris Subirach realised the Passion facade in 1986, but he brought to attention the problem of the rigidity of the Cathedral and the fact that it is unattractive.
Despite all of these drawbacks, tourists seem to contradict him. Thousands of them choose Spain just because they want to see the work of Gaudi. On the list of sights in Eixample you will find the crypt where Gaudi is buried, the Mila House and the Batllo House. Don’t miss the Torre de Bellesguard, the Parc Guell and the Gaudi Museum House too.
ACCOMMODATION
Barcelona is full of places where tourists can spend their free time. Hotels and villas are at every step of the way. However, you should choose a villa: it is private, very relaxing and elegant, but most of all, the villas are very comfortable and cheap.