Its an really old village that was made part of Barcelona 1898, before that it was a village of its own for more than 300years. Gràcia is still complitely different than any other Barrio. Area is rather big, Parc Guell belongs to Gràcia, but Im talking now about the main thing. Vila de Gràcia. The Village. I find it very cool!
Buildings are small 2-4 floors, all with different colours and looks. Small squares with action 24/7 - cafes, bars, shops and funky people hanging around. Many of the streets are called with names we all know : Street Verdi, Mozart, Napoleon, Anne Frank square. Few main squares are : Placa del Sol , Placa de la Virreina, Placa de Revolution and Placa de la Vila de Gracia. All these squares have 2 names..the official name and then the name the locals call them.. a nickname like " the tower square".. but of course everyone knows them by the official name as well, just never use them. I've been there very many times, In Gràcia, but I still get lost almost every time and have to stop to think "where was I going again.." I think Grácia is the most hippie, bohemic, artistic neighbourhood there is in Barcelona.. touristic ofcourse as all BCN is but I think less than in the center.. its actually the real people who lives there hanging around and living a life..never seen a group of Japanese for instance with 5 cameras and sun umbrellas. No tourist buses, and its Catalan you mainly hear speaking everywhere.
Its always a joy just to go hang around.. with no rush to nowhere
Just a random day.. walking around.. you never know what you find..
This is Castellers, very old Catalan tradition, Human Towers. At the moment the record is 9 persons ( if I remember correct ) but Im pretty sure they are practising already taller ones.. nowadays there is a law the little girl who climbs the last to the top has to have a helmet, sadly enough this law only was made when it was too late for one girl few years ago. The top person also seems always be a girl.. never a little boy.. dont know why. All cities and villages in Catalunya has atleast one group of Castellers and apart from shows they do, they also compete with these towers.
Gràcia is full of cool little shops for clothes, shoes, home stuff, art, jewellery.. hundreds of bars and cafes that are all different with funky colours and decoration, as well as restaurants for all taste and price category.
Many many small theatres, and cinemas; showing also movies in original language everyday of the week.
My favorite bookstore, selling english language books is also in Gràcia, Hibernian Books. They have huge collection of used and new ones and especially the used ones are dead cheap. And when you've read it.. take it back and you get couple euros back in exchange.
Once a year in August Gràcia hits with a huge Barrio Party, Festa Major. Its mad its crazy its sooo coooool.. People plan this week all year and when its the party time its always something larger than life what they came up with. The idea is that blocks and streets have a competition.. whos the coolest and funkiest? they decorate streets, buildings and squares with some theme and its one big party for a week. With bars, music, food, theatre. Whatever they come up with each year! at the party- info desks they hand out maps of the area so you can really go around and not miss anything or any street.
This party goes on every night all night:
its August - the holiday month- , its hot and sunny and its lots of fun!
FIESTA MAJOR DE GRÀCIA 2012
Another crazy thing we once saw in Gràcia.. Correfocs - the fire people! hih.. craaaazy.. they walk around the streets shooting fire everywhere.. they have very heavy drums with them and lot of shouting. Old Catalan tradition this as well. Its like a brotherhood who makes these, dressed like devils : kids, adults, boys and girls.. Dragons and Beasts is a procession they do all together, all the brotherhoods during a huge Barcelona Festival called La Merce in September, and that one is big! goes on main roads of old town and lasts few hours. We saw it last September with Ines and Oskar --Oskar was laughing but Ines got so scared she was just shaking and we left.. she probably still remembers the devils shooting fire. Also the noise is amazing what they make, you can hear it really far.
GRÀCIA IS COOOOOOOOL!
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