What To See And Do In L'Eixample, Barcelona
L’Eixample, which means ‘the widening’ in Catalan, was the brainchild of Ildefons Cerdà that quite literally widened the city well beyond the old city center. As one of the largest and most planned-out neighborhoods in Barcelona (from above it actually looks like a perfect grid), l’Eixample has plenty to offer visitors. From modernist architecture to markets and museums and beyond, here’s what to see and do.
1. Arc de Triomf
Architectural Landmark
At the end of Passeig Lluís Companys is the triumphal arch, designed by Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas, that was constructed to serve as the entrance to the 1888 Barcelona World Fair, which took place at Parc de la Ciutadella that same year. This neo-Mudejar monument, built in a style that was popular in Spain around the time, was intended to symbolize ‘Barcelona’s respect for the nations and provinces taking part in the exhibition.’ The year the Arc de Triomf was built is also important because it is often considered to be the year that Modernism took off in Catalonia.
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