When people hear “Sagrada Família”, they immediately think of the modernist monument, but there is actually a neighbourhood in Barcelona that goes by the same name. La Sagrada Família is one of the six barrios that form the district of Eixample.
Formerly known as “Poblet”, it used to be a rural area with country houses and farmland. Today, ShBarcelona will tell you more about points of interest in the neighbourhood of La Sagrada Família; a nice and peaceful residential area, most famous for Gaudí’s unfinished monument.
Table of Contents
The neighbourhood of La Sagrada Família
The monument
This monumental work by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí started being built in 1882 and is still under construction today. Inspired by nature, Gaudí created new shapes and structures, which made others see it as a laboratory of constructive experiments.
Photo by kai-and via Pixabay
The exterior of the building depicts religious and natural themes while the inside presents awe-inspiring views filled with color and colossal columns.
La Sagrada Família is the single most visited monument in Barcelona, with more than 3 million visitors a year, and the most important work of the Catalan modernist movement.
Address: Calle de Mallorca, 401
Live in the barrio La Sagrada Familia
Plaza de la Sagrada Família
Located right in front of the Sagrada Família church, Plaza de la Sagrada Família is a plaza/park designed by architect Nicolau Rubió i Tudurí.
With its trees, flowers and bushes, the plaza is a pleasant place for a walk or to sit and read a book.
Photo by pasja1000 via Pixabay
There are two works of art in the plaza: Escultura de Milú, by Àngel Tarrach, and Monumento a los donantes de órganos y tejidos, by Judit Masana.
Related article: How to buy tickets to the Sagrada Família?
Avinguda Gaudí
This pleasant avenue connects the two biggest points of interested in the neighbourhood: La Sagrada Família and Sant Pau Recinte Modernista.
The street has restricted vehicular access, being mostly pedestrian, with a variety of cafés, restaurants and shops on both sides.
Photo by Oh-Barcelona via Visualhunt
The avenue is also home to several street lamps designed by Pere Falqués, another famous architect from Barcelona.
Sant Pau Recinte Modernista
The Sant Creu I Pau hospital was built at the beginning of the 1900s, designed by Lluís Domènech I Montaner, and it is one of the most important Art Nouveau architects of the time.
In 2009, Hospital de Santa Creu I Pau opened new installations, better prepared for the practice of modern medicine and the vacant Art Noveau complex began a restoration process.
Photo by Design_Ex via Visualhunt
The main rehabilitation work has been focused on restoring the façade of the buildings and uncovering the beautiful inner design and decoration that had been hidden under layers of plaster for many years.
Sant Pau Recinte Modernista has been declared by UNESCO as a Historical Artistic Monument and World Heritage.
Address: Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167
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