Carrer Girona: Where Authentic Barcelona Life Unfolds
- Hostal Girona
- Oct 14
- 3 min read
From Eixample Expansion to Everyday Life on Carrer Girona
When you step out of Hostal Girona, you find yourself on Carrer Girona, a street that reflects the everyday rhythm of Barcelona's Eixample district.
In the mid-19th century, the city had outgrown its medieval walls. The old quarters were dense and unhealthy, and a new urban plan was needed. That's when Ildefons Cerdà, a visionary Catalan engineer, designed the Eixample — meaning "the expansion" — a plan that would open Barcelona to air, light, and modern life.
Cerdà's design focused on balance: wide streets for movement, green-lined avenues for wellbeing, and public spaces for community. The Eixample was not only a technical project but also a social one — a city model that valued both function and human connection.
More than a century later, Carrer Girona embodies that vision — not as a monument to it, but as a living example. It's central yet calm, linking key streets like Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes and Avinguda Diagonal, while keeping a more local and residential atmosphere. With parts of it turned into semi-pedestrian zones, it's ideal for a relaxed walk, a bike ride, or simply enjoying a coffee as you watch the neighborhood go by.
Modernist Architecture Highlights on Carrer Girona
The Eixample is famous for its Modernisme architecture, and Carrer Girona offers a quieter gallery of the movement's elegance. Each building here tells part of Barcelona's architectural story.
Casa Burés (Corner of Carrer Girona and Carrer Ausiàs Marc)
Architect: Francesc Berenguer i Mestres 1900-1905
One of the area's most distinguished Modernist mansions, beautifully restored and admired for its craftsmanship.
Casa Manuel Felip (Carrer Ausiàs Marc 20)
Architect: Telm Fernández Janot 1888-1910
Recognizable for its exquisite stone carvings that embellish each balcony.
Cases Tomàs Roger (Carrer Ausiàs Marc 37-39)
Architect: Enric Sagnier Villavecchia 1888-1910
Two houses share a unified façade distinguished by its intricate sgraffito decoration.
Casa Antoni Roger (Carrer Girona 20)
Architect: Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia
An elegant early work by Sagnier combining eclectic and Modernist details.
Casa Antoni Perelló (Carrer Girona 67)
Architect: Roc Cot i Cot, Josep Graner Prat, Salvador Sellés 1888-1910, 1922
Two upper floors with a curved finish and graceful balcony railings crown this elegant structure.
Casa Isidre Valls (Carrer Girona 83)
Architect: Salvador Sellés Baró 1911-1929
Classical charm meets elegance with intricate decorations and stylish balconies adorning the symmetrical façade
Casa Isabel Pomar (Carrer Girona 86)
Architect: Joan Rubió y Bellver 1904 -1906
A charming building with green ceramic tiles and a distinctive tribune balcony.
Casa Lamadrid (Carrer Girona 113)
Architect: Lluís Domènech i Montaner 1888-1910
A stunning example of Modernisme by one of Catalonia's most celebrated architects
Casa Granell (Carrer Girona 122)
Architect: Jeroni F. Granell Manresa 1888-1910
An unusual façade features paired windows with floral motifs and stained glass and the walls adorned with intricate plant-themed sgraffito
These façades are part of a larger story — a period when architecture expressed the city's growing confidence and cultural identity.
You can read more about this movement's origins in our related article: Catalan Modernism: The Expression of a Nation's Cultural Renaissance.
Carrer Girona: A Street That Feels Local
What makes Carrer Girona special is its balance between central location and local character. You're just a short walk from major avenues, yet the pace here is slower. The street has breathing room.
Locals shop at neighborhood stores, chat at cafés, and children ride bikes along the quieter parts of the street. It's an area where you can see daily Barcelona life unfold naturally, away from the city's busier tourist spots but still within easy reach of them.
For travelers staying at Hostal Girona, it's the perfect setting to experience the city's authentic side while staying connected to everything it offers.
Why Carrer Girona Is Worth a Visit
Carrer Girona combines the charm of local Barcelona life with the architectural beauty of the Eixample. Discover its Modernist façades, relaxed atmosphere, and authentic rhythm just outside Hostal Girona.
Experience what it's like to live on this street — stay with us at Hostal Girona and step into the authentic rhythm of Eixample life each morning.
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