Barcelona: Passeig de Gràcia

Of all the streets of the Eixample, Passeig de Gràcia is the most iconic. First, it was just a road connecting Barcelona and the former town of Gràcia, now a major district of Barcelona. It became a promenade where Barcelona’s citizens went to relax, and was filled with restaurants, coffee shops, ballrooms, theaters, parks, and even rollercoasters. Unfortunately, these amenities were only available to the upper and middle classes, as they were often part of private gardens.

When construction of the Eixample started, all of these features were removed to make room for build…