Gràcia is one of the most authentic areas of the city of Barcelona, a charming neighbourhood that inspires both artists and entrepreneurs, and attracts any type of visitor with its Annual Festival.
On the hills above Barcelona, there is the historic centre Vila de Gracia, now transformed into one of the most distinctive districts of the city. Being both traditional and bohemian, Gràcia still conserves the Mediterranean charm of a cosmopolitan metropolis.
Its streets and squares have unique styles, its stores and restaurants convey a special fascination and its neighbours experience an inexplicable love for this tiny city within the capital.
From centric Vila de Gràcia to Camp d’en Grassot, Gràcia Nova, Vallcarca, Els Penitents and La Salut i El Coll, Gràcia keeps a local touch that breaks every mould.
This special charm becomes even more attractive during its Annual Festival.
Let’s get to know Gràcia Neighbourhood!
Its origin and lifestyle
The first references of the old Vila de Gràcia date back to 1626. Its history changed its path after the construction of Eixample and the extension of the big city of Barcelona, resulting in the inclusion of the neighbourhood to the metropolis in 1897.
Gràcia Neighbourhood is characterized by lower buildings and simpler architecture, compared to Eixample Neighbourhood. Its simplicity is sometimes broken by some residential buildings with modernist designs (Art Nouveau), including flower patterns and wrought iron.
In the heart of the district, Vila de Gràcia allows children to play in the squares, their parents to spend some time in a terrace and their grandparents to chat under the shadow of the trees. The lack of huge monuments, like La Pedrera or Sagrada Familia, situated towards the south and east of this neighbourhood prevents this area to be full of tourists.
However, this is not totally true as summer arrives. During an 8-day period in August, Gràcia Neighbourhood celebrates its Annual Festival, one of the most popular ones in Barcelona. Its neighbours feel pride when showing this impressive celebration, including street decorations and music concerts.
Spots in Vila de Gràcia
Surrounded by huge avenues, like Passeig de Gràcia, and open-air spaces, like Parc Güell, Vila de Gràcia stands out for its little and enchanting corners, among which are some historical squares:
– Plaça de la Revolució de 1868: The word ‘revolution’ can be read on its floor, and its taste can be tried in some of its ice-cream parlors and bars. The well-known Verdi Street, famous for its restaurants and historical cinemas, is born from this square.
– Plaça del Diamant: It makes reference to the Civil War through the novel with the same name by Mercè Rodoreda, features that give this square plenty of symbolism. However, its name comes from the old former owner of this area of Vila de Gràcia, a jeweller who also baptized the adjacent streets (Gold Street, Ruby Street, Topaz Street, among others).
– Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia: It also has the name of the last mayor before the inclusion of the neighbourhood to the big city of Barcelona, that is, Rius i Taulet, and its distinctive feature is a huge clock tower.
– Plaça de la Virreina: In the past, it housed the palace of Viceroy of Peru’s widow, as well as Sant Joan Parish Church. Today, it is a place for games and walks among locals.
– Plaça de la Llibertat: It is located in front of Mercat de la Llibertat, a modernist market by Francesc Berenguer i Mestres, Gaudí’s assistant.
– Plaça del Sol: This is a meeting point, traditionally surrounded by bars and restaurants, which becomes one of the summer’s most lively squares of the neighbourhood.
A neighbourhood to live in
The symbolism of Gràcia Neighbourhood is usually limited to Vila de Gràcia. This nucleus with more that 50,000 inhabitants and small streets is surrounded by other important neighbourhoods.
Towards its north, and above Plaça de Lesseps, there are the neighbourhoods of Vallcarca and Els Penitents, located between two hills, Putxet and Coll, which extend along Vallcarca riverside. On its upper area, and on the foot of Collserola, there is Petinents area.
Towards the east of Vallcarca and Els Penitents, there is La Salut Neighbourhood, an area in which the most important attraction is Parc Güell by Antoni Gaudí.
Above La Salut, towards the north-eastern corner of Gràcia Neighbourhood, there is Coll Neighbourhood, named after the small hill on which it is located. It shares its name with Parc de la Creueta del Coll.
Finally, Camp d’en Grassot and Gràcia Nova are the two neighbourhoods left, which are also situated apart from the heart of Gràcia Neighbourhood. Both of them peacefully combine the charm of Gràcia with the design of Eixample de Ildefons Cerdà. Among its facilities, the Church Inmaculat Cor de María stands out.
These are all places that are attached to the fascinating Vila de Gràcia, the most enchanting neighbourhood of Barcelona.
