Barcelona

> Barcelona is now widely recognized 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. The city of Barcelona is divided in 10 districts:
 * ** Why is Barcelona considered one of the most successful cities in urban planning innovation?
 * How's the city of Barcelona administrative divided? How many districts does it have? What are their names?

 10. Sant Martí The Eixample, is a district of Barcelona between the old city (Ciutat Vella ) and what were once surrounding small towns, constructed in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In Catalan it means “extension”.
 * 1) Ciutat Vella
 * 2) Eixample
 * 3) Sants-Montjuïc
 * 4) Les Corts
 * 5) Sarrià-Sant Gervasi
 * 6) Gràcia
 * 7) Horta-Guinardó
 * 8) Nou Barris
 * 9) <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Sant Andreu
 * <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">One of the districts' name is //__Eixample__//, what's the meaning of this Catalan word?



<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The revolutionary district was designed by the <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">progressive <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Catalan Spanish urban planner<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">, <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ildefons Cerdà.
 * <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Who designed this district?



<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">The Eixample<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> is divided in five administrative neighborhoods: <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Eixample is characterized by long straight streets, a strict grid pattern crossed by wide avenues, and square blocks with chamfered corners. Cerdà designed octagonal blocks. The whole district should be crossed by one diagonal road, which is called – not surprisingly – “Diagonal”. The blocks would not be higher then 4 floors, between the houses there should be space for parks and trees. The original idea was to make most of the streets traffic free.
 * <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">How is this district divided into?
 * § <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">L'Antiga Esquerra de l'Eixample
 * § <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">La Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample
 * § <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dreta de l'Eixample
 * § <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fort Pienc
 * § <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sagrada Família
 * § <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sant Antoni
 * <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">What are the main characteristics of the expansion?

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">In the beginning of the 19th Century, Barcelona had the highest residential density in the whole of Europe. Extension of the city was necessary, also to connect the areas around the center with the center itself. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Some parts of Eixample are rather well-to-do neighbourhoods, especially around the central areas such as <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Passeig de Gràcia, Rambla de Catalunya and the Avinguda Gaudi/ Sagrada Familia vicinity. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Given it’s importance, there are several landmarks in the area such as: <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Casa Milà: Largest abstract sculpture building in the world. Gaudi's unique design.
 * <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">What advantages did it bring to the city?
 * <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">What are the most important landmarks and different neighborhoods

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Plaça Catalunya: Barcelona’s main square. Dividing old city from new.
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Magic Fountain: Choreographed, dancing water fountain show. Night of entertainment for adults and children.
===<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">La Sagrada Familia : <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">large Roman Catholic church designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">. === ===<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">La Casa Ametller, Casa Batlló and Casa Lleó-Morera : three most important buildings in Barcelona's famous Illa de la Discòrdia ("Block of Discord"), noted for its unique modernist buildings.===

===<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Plaza Monumental de Barcelona: <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is the last bullfighting arena in commercial operation in Catalonia. === <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">