GRACIA

In 1820, Gracia was a mere village of about 2,500 inhabitants. By 1897, the population had swollen to 61,000, making it the ninth largest city in Spain, known as a radical centre of Catalanism and anarchism. This is reflected in some street names Mercat de la Llibertat and Placa de la Revolucion. Since then, Gracia has been engulfed by the expanding city, yet even now it maintains a village like, no-frills, bohemian atmosphere and the Graciens still call the city folk Barcelonins.

There are no real 'tourist' attractions here, except Gaudi's first major commission, Casa Vicens (Carrer de les Carolines 24), still a private home. Gracia's real appeal is its muddle of narrow atmospheric streets and squares, including the Placa del Sol, an ideal place to stop for a coffee and watch the world go by. You'll also find great shopping along the Carrer Verdi and a  concentration of reasonably priced bars and restaurants in Gracia.