{"id":30700,"date":"2024-07-30T13:38:08","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T13:38:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/?p=30700"},"modified":"2024-07-30T13:38:08","modified_gmt":"2024-07-30T13:38:08","slug":"a-walk-down-the-passeig-de-gracia-everything-to-see-and-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/a-walk-down-the-passeig-de-gracia-everything-to-see-and-do\/","title":{"rendered":"A Walk Down the Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia: Everything To See and Do"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cHere we come to the Catalan Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es!\u201d That’s what most tourists think when they see the Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia for the very first time. But this avenue has a totally different charm \u2014 and also a different story \u2014 that will enchant you, wherever you start your walk from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m a local guide for tours in Barcelona<\/a>, and it will be a pleasure to show you my personal walk down Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia. I\u2019ll be starting in the north and heading south. This avenue, developed in 1827, was originally created to connect Barcelona to the ancient town of Gr\u00e0cia, which was not part of the city until 1897, when modernist architecture<\/a> was reaching its highest point.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a consequence, Passeig the Gr\u00e0cia became the heart of the Catalan bourgeoisie, who could afford nice modernist mansions designed by the most famous Catalan architects, even by Antoni Gaud\u00ed himself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Come along as we explore the many different things to do on the Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia in Barcelona. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Visit the Palau Robert<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Palau
Photos by Cristina Carrisi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This neoclassical palace can easily go unnoticed among the many over-decorated houses of Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia, but if you give it a chance, you\u2019ll be happily surprised. Once the residence of the rich Robert Robert i Sur\u00eds, the Palau Robert is now home for many exhibitions you can visit for free! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the surprises aren\u2019t over. The exhibitions change depending on the time of year, so there\u2019s always something new to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guide tip: <\/strong>If you take a look behind the palace, it\u2019s highly likely you\u2019d find a photo exhibition in the back garden. Don\u2019t miss it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Admire La Pedrera\u2019s terrace and view<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"La<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This last Gaud\u00ed\u2019s masterpiece is a declaration of love to nature. Inside, the king of Catalan modernism meant to sum up all the characteristics <\/strong>of his previous works, where nature was the star.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you decide to enter la Pedrera and go up to the terrace, you\u2019ll feel like you\u2019re climbing a mountain and swimming in the sea at the same time. The \u201cwaves\u201d will take you to the beautiful rooftop. And the view is priceless! From here, you can see the center of Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia<\/a> and even Tibidabo hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Find a book in your native language at La Casa del Llibre<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"La<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Are you in Barcelona and want to read a book, but you don\u2019t know Spanish or Catalan? Don\u2019t worry, because La Casa del Llibre \u2014 translated as The House of the Book \u2014 is there for you. In the heart of the Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia, this bookshop has plenty of English volumes to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you want to read about Barcelona in French, German, Italian or in many other languages, it\u2019s here too. In La Casa del Llibre, there\u2019s an entire section for travelers who want to know more about Barcelona and its history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

4. Ponder the meaning of beauty at the \u201cThe Apple of the Discord\u201d block<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Want to hear a story?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once upon a time, in ancient Greece, the future parents of Achilles got married and they organized a big wedding without inviting Eris, who got really angry about being left out. So she went to the wedding holding an apple addressed \u201cTo the Most Beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one knew who deserved the apple between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, so Paris, a Trojan prince, decided to give it to Aphrodite, who had offered him the most beautiful woman on earth. And that\u2019s how (they say) the Trojan War started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, imagine that Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite are the three most famous houses of the block of the discord: Casa Amatller, Casa Batll\u00f3, in the picture above, and Casa LLe\u00f3 i Morera, in the picture below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which one would you give the apple to? Is it hard to decide?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barcelonians agree. We call the block the La Manzana de la Discordia because manzanas (apples) is the name for blocks in the Eixample district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\"Barcelona\n\t\t\t\"Barcelona\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExplore brilliant designs by Gaud\u00ed and other Modernist masters<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Barcelona Architecture Walking Tour With Casa Batll\u00f3 Upgrade<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

5. Take a walking tour of modernist gems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Casa<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Would you like to know more about those Barcelonian apples? Do you want to know the story hidden behind those buildings? Then, come walk with us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just outside the Recinte Modernista Sant Pau, our walking tour<\/a> begins. As we tour the Eixample district and stroll along part of the Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia, you\u2019ll learn the secrets of these marvelous modernist architectural treasures in Barcelona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\"Sagrada\n\t\t\t\"casa-mila\"\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSee Barcelona's Modernist treasures, all on one tour<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Best of Gaud\u00ed: Barcelona Architecture Walking Tour<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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If you decide to join us, we\u2019ll bring you from the three houses of the Block of the Discord right up to Sant Pau Hospital, passing by other modernist houses, such as Casa de Les Punxes and Palau Macaya, along the way. And, of course, we\u2019ll see the unmissable Sagrada Familia!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Capture the beautiful details of the Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Lamppost<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While walking down the Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia, don\u2019t forget to glance at (and photograph) the many modernist details of this magical avenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lampposts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

They were designed by Pere Falqu\u00e9s i Urp\u00ed at the beginning of 20th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These lampposts, which you can see in my photo above, totally match the modernist style of this avenue. They are made of wrought iron, the most commonly used material during that period. You\u2019ll see the same wrought iron used for the balconies of La Pedrera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The benches<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Benches<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you look down from the lampposts, you\u2019ll notice benches made of ceramic pieces. They were put together with the trencadis<\/em> technique used by Gaud\u00ed to create decorations made of broken pieces of different materials<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tiles<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Tiles<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even if the tiles are a bit worn, due to many people walking on them every day, you can still see the details of the walking path\u2019s tiles designed by Gaud\u00ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look closely. You\u2019ll find a starfish, seaweed and a snail fossil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Enjoy (cheap) Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia views<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you think the Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia is one of those expensive places where, if you want to enjoy the view, you need to buy a pricey drink on the terrace of a bar, you might be wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are two viewpoints I suggest you visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

H&M Caf\u00e9 <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"View<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Just go up on the last floor of H&M to enjoy this view while sipping a coffee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safestay Hostel of Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"View<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the last floor of this hostel \u2014 located in the corner with Carrer del Consell de Cent \u2014 you can enjoy the beautiful view you can see in the photo above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my opinion, this is the best view of Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia and you can even glimpse both Tibidabo hill and the sea!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Savings alert:<\/strong> You can enter the terrace for free, but if you want to enjoy the view with a coffee or a beer, you can buy it at the second floor\u2019s bar, which belongs to the hostel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Take a look at the latest works of art at Villa del Arte<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Villa<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Villa del Arte is a very young art gallery, opened in 1999, where you can find the latest creations from emerging national and international artists. Everyone can enter the gallery for free, but buying a piece of art is a tad pricier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guide tip:<\/strong> You can find two more branches in the Gothic Quarter<\/a>, plus in the entrance and in the garden of the Mandarin Oriental, a very luxurious hotel located in Passeig de Gr\u00e0cia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Taste Spanish food in El Nacional<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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