Eixample

Eixample is a district within the city of Barcelona in Spain. The place-name is Catalan for ‘extension,’ as the district is located outside of the old city or Ciutat Vella and beyond it are the former towns that were incorporated into the city itself.

Sights & Activities

This particular district is known for its fantastic buildings that are considered unique in their architectural style and detailing. In fact, the central thoroughfare of Eixample, the Passeig de Gràcia, is considered the most expensive street in the whole of Spain, with astronomically high rental rates and property prices.

Along Passeig de Gràcia is Casa Milà, another masterpiece of Antonio Gaudi, who designed the yet unfinished Sagrada Familia church. The structure also bears the name of La Pedrera or ‘the stone quarry,’ as it is likened to a cliff with wrought iron balconies and sinuous lines everywhere. On the attic of the building is the L’Espai Gaudi, a museum that showcases the life and works of the renowned architect.

Eixample is the location of yet another work of Gaudi, the Casa Calvet located along Carrer de Casp. As with his other works, this structure bears a lot of symbolism in connection to the livelihood of its owner, the Calvet family. Though considered as the most conventional work of Gaudi, it still has a lot of interesting architectural features, such as its façade that is composed of wrought iron and stone. Because of their cultural values, this structure and the other works of Gaudi scattered all over the city are included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Another impressive building in the district is the Casa Antoni Amatlier, which bears a design that was the result of remodeling done by Josep Puig i Cadafalch in 1900. Its highlights include its beautiful stonework, the decorative sculptures on the façade, and colorful tiles.

Situated along Carrer Valencia is the Museu Egipci de Barcelona, a museum that showcases Egyptian artifacts, some of which are three thousand years old. Of particular interest is its collection of sarcophagi that range from simple terracotta to the more elaborately designed ones. There are also displays of ceramics, jewelry, and porcelain.

In the eastern part of the district is the Passeig de Sant Joan, a major thoroughfare that is also an ideal tourist destination, with quaint shops and boutiques lining it. The area around it is home to many immigrant communities that contributed to the development of a unique culture in the area and in the rest of the district. This street terminates to the south with another popular Barcelona landmark, the Arc de Triomf.

Eating Out

Not surprisingly, there are numerous restaurants established within Eixample. Along the Passeig de Gràcia are Pomarada, the Costa Gallega, the tourist-friendly Tapa Tapa, the Al Jaima that serves Lebanese cuisine, the Restaurante Nono, and the Cómico Cómico which offers traditional Catalan dishes.

Within Casa Calvet is a restaurant bearing the same name and serves Mediterranean fare.

Along the Gran Via Corts Catalanes is the Italian restaurant Puttanesca while a branch of the Vietnamese restaurant Hanoi is located on Plaça Doctor Letamendi.