Questions about the Eixample District

Why is Barcelona considered one of the most successful cities in urban planning innovation?

Barcelona is now widely recognised as one of the most successful cities in the world, internationally acclaimed for its innovative urban planning.  It has survived the economic, environmental and social changes of the last decades through focusing upon the provision of knowledge-based and information services to place itself in the forefront of a new urban wave, in which city planning provides high-quality opportunities for people to live and work. In short, Barcelona has been transformed into a city that provides a highly impressive urban environment to all who visit it.

How's the city of Barcelona administrative divided? How many districts does it have? What are their names?

Since 1987, the city has been divided into 10 administrative districts, each one with its own council led by a city councilor. The composition of each district council depends on the number of votes each political party had in that district, so a district can be led by a councilor from a different party than the executive council.

The districts are: Ciutat Vella, Eixample, Sants-Montjuïc, Les Corts, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Gràcia, Horta-Guinardó, Nou Barris, Sant Andreu and Sant Martí

One of the districts' name is Eixample, what's the meaning of this Catalan word?

The Eixample (Catalan for "extension", Spanish: Ensanche) is a district of Barcelona between the old city (Ciutat Vella) and what were once surrounding small towns (Sants, Gràcia, Sant Andreu etc.), constructed in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Who designed this district?

The Eixample is characterized by long straight streets, a strict grid pattern crossed by wide avenues, and square blocks with chamfered corners (named illes in Catalan, manzanas in Spanish). This was a visionary, pioneering design by Ildefons Cerdà.

How is this district divided into?

The district is often divided for practical purposes in two: Esquerra de l'Eixample and Dreta de l'Eixample (left and right sides of Eixample, respectively). Traditionally and officially it is divided into five neighbourhoods. These are, in addition to the areas already mentioned, Sant Antoni, Sagrada Família and Fort Pienc, also known as Fort Pius.