Barcelona Gràcia District Apartments

Ah, Gracia…chic, beautiful, effortlessly stylish and authentically Catalonian! What more can one say? This delightful central district ticks all the right boxes for your stay in Barcelona. Located just north of the famous Eixample district its close proximity to all the major visitor attraction in the city will please anyone staying in this most unique of city neighbourhoods. Indeed Gracia existed as an entirely separate municipality for over two hundred years until 1897 when it reluctantly agreed to be swallowed up by the city’s boundaries. At this time the city went through a serious urban expansion in order to cope with the burgeoning population. Over one hundred years later the fiercely independent identity of this neighbourhood is still very evident and residents are understandably proud of their heritage. There is certainly something of a village-like attitude here which visitors will find refreshing after the modernista ambience of the neighbouring Eixample neighbourhood for example. The usual tourist traps of any capital city are remarkably absent in Gracia meaning it remains un-flooded by the masses. Its focus on history and roots has given birth to a number of underground political movements and an energetic liberal approach to life.

Highlights of Gracia
If you are keen shopaholic then Gracia is certainly the place to be during your holiday. The district is teaming with delightful one-off fashion and art boutiques ideal for that unique souvenir of your holiday. If you are a foodie with a spicy palette then you will simply adore the huge number of ethnic restaurants in the area.

Be sure to climb the local hillside El Carmel to explore the delightful Guell Park constructed at the beginning of the 20th century. You will be charmed by the fairytale designs of the buildings and structures here. Marvel at the unusual walkways and winding promenades. Antoni Gaudi lived in one of the houses and was responsible for the beautiful mosaics around the park including his famous dragon fountain located at the entrance. The house, now Casa Museu Gaudi (Gaudi House Museum), is open to the public and contains many of his original impressively organic-inspired pieces of furniture. Ironically, the man who was so obsessed with exterior and interior design was not actually responsible for the building he chose to live in.

 
If you are visiting Gracia in August it is possible you will be able to witness the city’s premier and much anticipated carnival-like festival, the Festa Major de Gracia. This incredible 8-day celebration of all things colourful, fiery, musical is the perfect excuse to let your hair down and join the locals in a spot of competitive exhibitionism. Grab your glad rags and dancing shoes and get yourself in the party spirit – it's extremely infectious and exhilarating particularly at night times.

Our Gracia Apartments
We provide a broad selection of outstanding holiday properties of variable sizes for rental in the much sought after Gracia district. In order to confirm the current availability and location information please simply enter your preferred dates and click the search button. If you require any further assistance or advice, please do not hesitate to contact our support team.
 

by James Fisher

This page was researched and written by James Fisher. The information was accurate at time of posting. We suggest that you confirm details directly with the locations before making plans. Copyright 2012.