Why you should live in Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Família is a neighborhood that gets its name from the famous church by Gaudí, which can be found at the center of it. This neighborhood is part of the unique Eixample district, meaning “expansion” in Catalan, built between the 19th and 20th centuries as the first expansion of the original city of Barcelona ("Ciutat Vella" or "Old Town"). The Eixample was designed in a strict grid pattern, to facilitate traffic and airflow, which makes navigation very easy in this part of Barcelona.

In the heart of this area you will find the famous church of La Sagrada Família, a symbol of Barcelona still under construction. Gaudí started the project at the end of the 19th century, and building started in 1882. Now it is one of the main attractions of Barcelona, and many people come just to enjoy the beauty and the complexity of this basilica. Other than that, in this residential neighborhood, you will enjoy many beautiful parks such as the gardens of the Indústria and the Gaudí park, as well as some quiet streets.

The residential streets are very peaceful, and more than half of the residents there were born in Barcelona. The area has an aging population without many students, nor is there much tehnic and international influence here when compared to the rest of the city.

Despite the large streets that characterize the entire district of Eixample, La Sagrada Família was, up until the second half of the twentieth century, a heavily industrialzed zone with many factories. Some of the older, smaller and quieter streets can still be found in this area. Eventually all factories closed and some moved elsewhere, but besides the bigger and more modern apartments in this area, the neihghborhood still retains some of its original, small apartments and workshops. 

• Accomodation
  
• Arts and Culture
  
• Beaches
• Dentists
• Education
• Expat Groups
• Health and beauty
• Healthcare
• Hospitality
• Recreation and leisure
• Walks and wildlife

The area around the basilica is typical of the wider L’Eixample district; long, broad street laid out in a grid pattern. In this popular district you’ll find lots of typical Catalan tapas bars, cafés and souvenir shops. Away from the excessively touristy areas, you will also have plenty of contact with the locals. Its location, relative serenity and lack of traffic during the night all help make it a good choice if you’re after a peaceful stay in the city.

• Metro: The two metro lines L2 and L5 can be found here. The main stop is Sagrada Família, right in front of the famous basilica of the same name. Many different bus lines run through this area as well.  
• Distance to the Beach: 6km

Sagrada Familia

The most famous work-in-progress in the world, the Holy Family began on a modest scale in 1882 before Gaudí took charge in 1884. The artist then devoted the rest of his life to the temple, right up to his death in 1926 when he was run over by a tram. Work restarted after the Civil War in the 1950s using his original plans and is still ongoing today. Despite the cranes and scaffolding usually covering it, you can see that it is beginning to take shape and the project is expected to be completed in the next 20 years.

Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau

The Hospital Sant Pau is a beautiful complex from the time of the Modernisme, a masterpiece by the architect Lluis Domènech i Montaner. You will feel comfortable and wonder why not all hospitals are built that way; Rightly the hospital is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage.

Jardins de la Industria

The beautiful metropolis, Barcelona, has many oasis: Squares, parks and gardens. Jardins de la Industria is one of them. It’s a nice quiet place, situated on the corner of Carrer de la Marina and Carrer de la Industria, 300 meter from Sagrada Familia.