Grącia district of Barcelona - District 6


Grącia is a district of the city of Barcelona. Inside Grącia are the neighbouds called Vila de Grącia, Vallcarca i els Penitents, El Coll, La Salut and Camp d'en Grassot i Grącia Nova. Grącia is located above the district Eixample to the south and sandwiched between the districts of Sarrią-Sant Gervasi to the west and Horta-Guinardó to the east. Around 120,000 people live in the entire Grącia district and around 55,000 of those in the neighbourhood Vila de Grącia. The name Grącia originates from a Carmelite convent dating back to 17th January 1626 called 'Nostra Senyora de Grącia' (Our Lady of Grace). Up until 1897 Vila de Grącia was a separate village and municipality from the city of Barcelona. To get through the fields from Barcelona to Grącia there was a road called Passeig de Grącia which means "road to Grącia". This road still has the same name to this day, but now it is no longer a country lane but is Barcelona's most exclusive shopping street and hotel street and one of the most expensive streets in Spain.

In 1897 Grącia village was annexed to Barcelona and as the city expanded Grącia was surrounded by the city expansion. But the village structure remained largely intact, which explains why the oldest barrio of Grącia called 'Vila de Grącia' still has plenty of old world charm despite being in the middle of a modern city like Barcelona. It’s this special 'village' atmosphere of Grącia that makes it a popular residential area for locals and foreigners. Nowadays the Grącia atmosphere is a vibrant mix of bohemian charm mixed with a dose of anti-estabilishment defiance. About 55.000 people live in the densely populated narrow streets of Vila de Grącia. 

Grącia has an strong feeling of local identity and local charm. There are no major tourist attractions in Grącia, which means that tourist buses, street artists and fast food chains have not be able to claim the shops and the streets of Grącia. This has left space for the residents to weave a neighbourhood tapestry of hipster bars, bohemian craft shops, cafes and restaurants. The most popular street in Grącia is perhaps Carrer de Verdi, which is kind of the 'rambla' of Grącia. Verdi has many charming small shops and restaurants. The only time when tourists generally visit Grącia in large numbers is during the annual Festa de Grącia street festival, which is centered in the Vila de Grącia area. During the Grącia festival week over half a million visitors drop into the Vila de Grącia neighbourhood for a drink and a stroll around the festive decorated streets. The Festa Major de Grącia has grown to be the most popular and largest neighbourhood festival in Barcelona, only surpassed in size and visitor numbers by the Barcelona Merce festival, which is in September every year.

Other districts Barcelona

Ciutat Vella - district 1
Sant Marti district - District 10
Where to stay in Barcelona
Top 10 attractions Barcelona
Festa de Grącia English guide

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 31 July 2024 13:36
 

Saturday, 07 March 2026


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