lEixample

L'Eixample is a district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, known for its planned urban expansion in the 19th century and its concentration of Modernist architecture. Located to the northeast of the Gothic Quarter and extending across a large rectangular area, it is divided into Eixample Dreta (Right) and Eixample Esquerra (Left) by the main arterial avenues Passeig de Gràcia and Avinguda Diagonal.

The district was conceived after the demolition of Barcelona's medieval walls, with the 1859 Plan de urbanización of Ildefons Cerdà guiding its development through the 1860s and 1870s. The plan introduced a regular grid of wide streets, long blocks (manzanas) with chamfered corners to improve sunlight and traffic flow, and ample public spaces. This layout remains a defining feature of l'Eixample.

L'Eixample is renowned for its Modernisme architecture. The area hosts works by Antoni Gaudí, such as Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (La Pedrera), as well as buildings by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, reflecting the district's architectural heritage. The central thoroughfares—Passeig de Gràcia and Carrer de Mallorca, among others—combine housing with shops, offices, and cultural venues, including the Sagrada Família and the Hospital de Sant Pau located nearby.

Today l'Eixample functions as Barcelona's principal residential and commercial district, balancing dense urban life with opportunities for walking, shopping, and sightseeing. Its grid plan and modernist legacy continue to shape the city's image and daily life.