The Carlos II Apartment in Barcelona

Plaza Cataluña/Paseo de Gracia

Plaza Cataluña
Catalonia Square is the largest square in the centre with 30.000 meters square it is the third biggest square in Spain. Some of the most important streets and Avenue interconnects with this important square, famous for its fountain, and statues. Until almost half of 19th century the Plaça de Catalunya was mainly a rural zone located outside the city walls.
It was only in 1858 that the Madrid's central government finally ordered the defensive walls to be torn down., approving also the construction outside the walls so a public contest was organized in search of a design of a new district. The first place was awarded to a design by Rovira i Trias but the head government ended up choosing a far more modern design with a grid plan by Ildefons Cerdà.
Eventually the local and head government agreed add a new plan. A design by the architect Puig i Cadafalch (author of the modernist building 'Casa de les Punxes') resulted in the current enormous square, created between 1925 and 1927.
Nowadays it is also a main interconnecting point, where transport is widely available, such as metro, buses, taxis, etc. And it is there that the airport bus and the touristic double decker bus have its last and first stop at Plaza Catalunya, right opposite to the famous department store, El Corte Inglés.

Passeo de Gracia
One of the most famous Avenues in Barcelona and it is a 1.50 kilometers stroll to Plaza Catalunya and Las Ramblas, Passeig de Gracia is the street that has the most designer shops per meter square in the whole of Barcelona. From this location, other zones of interest such as the Gothic Quarter, and the very trendy El Borne are just a stone's thrown away.
Visitors staying at this area will find the superb food and produce market called La Boqueria on Las Ramblas, an absolute must for any visitor to Barcelona and will be able to stroll along the very up market Passeig de Gracia with its designer shops and some of Gaudí's most emblematic buildings such as Casa Battló and La Pedrera which have been listed as Human Heritage buildings by the Unesco. This popular Avenue is the closest to The Champs Elysés in Paris, right here is the vibrant capital of Catalonia. The first urbanistic proyect that gave life to this amazing avenue begun back in 1821 by the famous architect Ramon Plana.
Guests are expected to have a shopping experience just waiting to happen all around you. Paseo de Gracia alone will keep you busy for hours.