Barcelona

**Why is Barcelona considered one of the most successful cities in urban planning innovation?** Because 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. In short, Barcelona has been transformed into a city that provides a highly impressive urban environment to all who visit it.

Since 1987, the city has been divided into 10 administrative districts, each one with its own council led by a city councilor. Barcelona districts are:
 * How is the city of Barcelona administrative divided? How many districts does it have? What are their names?**[[image:bar2.jpg width="468" height="348" align="right"]]
 * Ciutat Vella
 * Eixample
 *  Sants – Montjuïc
 * Les Corts
 * Sarrià-Sant Gervasi
 * Gràcia
 * Horta-Guinardó
 * Nou Barris
 * Sant Andreu
 * Sant Martí

 The meaning of this Catalan word is "extension".
 * One of the districts' name is Eixample, what's the meaning of this Catalan word?**

 This district was design by Ildefons Cerdà
 * Who designed this district?**



**How is this district divided into?** The district is often divided for practical purposes in two: Esquerra de l'Eixample and Dreta de l'Eixample (left and right sides of Eixample, respectively). Traditionally and officially it is divided into five neighbourhoods. These are, in addition to the areas already mentioned, Sant Antoni, Sagrada Família and Fort Pienc, also known as Fort Pius.

 The foundation for Barcelona's transformation has been the city's Eixample district, a garden city expansion of 520 street blocks planned on a grid with major boulevards cutting through the pattern at 45 degree angles.
 * What are the main characteristics of the expansion?**[[image:bar4.jpg width="403" height="266" align="right"]]


 * What advantages did it bring to the city?**

=
<span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">Its high quality architecture, egalitarian design and ease of access have stood the test of time and it provides the model for modern city developments today, also improve the circulation and connectivity of the city. ======

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Well, here is a top 10 Barcelona tourist attractions ordered by number of visits/year:
 * <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">What are the most important landmarks and different neighborhoods? **<span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">

A Giant Temple designed by the master architect Antonio Gaudi. This building has been under construction since 1882 and they've still got another 30 to 80 years (depending on funding and resources) to go before it will be finished.
 * <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;">No. 1 Sagrada Familia by Antonio Gaudi ( 2,056,448 visits/year) <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">[[image:bar5.jpg width="396" height="243" align="right"]] **<span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">No. 2 L'Aquarium de Barcelona (1,375,271 visits/year)


<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Barcelona Aquarium is a popular Barcelona attraction to take the kids and young ones. The aquarium is at Port Vell (Barcelona Port Area).

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">No. 3 Poble Espanyol de Montjuic (1,346,938 visits/year) otherwise known as the Spanish Village
<span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">This Barcelona attraction is a small Spanish village with different quarters that replicate the style of houses and architecture from different parts of Spain. Poble Espanyol is also home to a whole host of specialist craft shops and workshops where you can see some traditionally made Spanish goods. Poble Espanyol is also the venue for the Famous Flamenco show at tablao de Carmen which maybe is one reason for its popularity at no.3

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">No.4 La Pedrera - Casa Mila by Antonio Gaudi (1,133,220 visits/year)


<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">This building used to be called Casa Mila but nowadays it's more commonly known as La Pedrera which means "quarry”. Gaudi was instrumental in completing this building and his characteristic wavy brick work and colorful tiles are also evident on this masterpiece.

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">No. 5 Barcelona FC Museum (1,032,763 visits/year)
<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">This museum has wall to wall trophies, pictures and statues of the greats. When you buy your ticket you have 2 options. You can buy a ticket for the museum and to see the stadium or you can buy a dual ticket where you get to see the museum and behind the scenes at the club e.g. changing rooms, VIP lounge, press conference areas etc.

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**No. 6 Barcelona Zoo ( 1,015,000 visits/year)**


<span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">Barcelona Zoo is based in the Park de la Ciutadella. The zoo has a wide variety of animals on show. The Zoo also has a restaurant, picnic area, a shop, electric cars, ponies and a mini-train.

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">No. 7 Picasso Museum (887,958 visits/year)
<span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"> The museum has arranged Picasso's paintings in chronological order from his early days to his final works. Arranging the paintings in this way gives you a fascinating insight into the development of Picasso thinking over time and shows how he developed the distinctive designs that he is famous for today.

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**No. 8 Imax Cinema (671,512 visits/year)**


<span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">The IMAX cinema is right next door to the Barcelona Aquarium.

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">No. 9 Miró Museum (518,869 visits/year)
<span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">This art gallery has a wide range of Miró's work dating back as far as 1914. This artwork collection not only includes his paintings but also a good selection of sculptures, tapestries and early sketches.


 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Write also your opinion about the expansion of Barcelona. **

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 115%; text-align: left;">I think that the expansion of Barcelona was a great and meticulous plan of Ildefons Cerdà that turned up in to a big success because it reinforced the connection of the city and also took into account that all the apples should have a central space without any construction that would be used as a central garden for its inhabitants.


 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Summarize your answers in two or three paragraphs **

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Barcelona was design by Ildefons Cerdà and since 1987, the city has been divided into 10 administrative districts, each one with its own council led by a city councilor. The foundation for Barcelona's transformation has been the city's Eixample district, a garden city expansion of 520 street blocks planned on a grid with major boulevards cutting through the pattern at 45 degree angles.

Barcelona has been transformed into a city that provides a highly impressive urban environment to all who visit it. Its high quality architecture, egalitarian design and ease of access have stood the test of time and it provides the model for modern city developments today, also improve the circulation and connectivity of the city. Today, Barcelona’s top three places to visit are: Sagrada Familia by Antonio Gaudi, L'Aquarium de Barcelona and Poble Espanyol de Montjuic otherwise known as the Spanish Village. media type="file" key="5.wma" width="300" height="45"