It’s the mid-19th century. For almost 150 years, the city of Barcelona has been considered a strategic
stronghold under military control. For that reason, it was not allowed to grow outside its walls,
resulting in buildings and factories being cramped within and making it the most densely populated city in
all of Europe. Living conditions in old Barcelona were very poor.
Shortly after the walls were finally destroyed, Ildefons CerdÀ, who is now considered the inventor
of urbanism, presented the plan for the creation of the “Eixample,” the expansion that Barcelona so
desperately needed. Its construction began in 1860.