Barcelona: Passeig de Gracia

Of all the streets of the Eixample, Passeig de Gràcia is the most iconic. First, it was just a road connecting Barcelona and the former town of Gràcia, now a major district of Barcelona. It became a promenade where Barcelona’s citizens went to relax, and was filled with restaurants, coffee shops, ballrooms, theaters, parks, and even rollercoasters.

Unfortunately, these amenities were only available to the upper and middle classes, as they were often part of private gardens. When construction of the Eixample started, all of these features were removed to make room for buildings, but it did not diminish Passeig de Gràcia’s importance. Many rich citizens decided to build their houses there, hiring the most famous modernist architects, who created some of the most iconic landmarks of the city, such as the Casa Lleó Morera from Domenech i Montaner, the Casa Amatller from Puig i Cadafalch, or La Pedrera and the Casa Batlló, both from Gaudí, just to name a few.