☛The area
known as Poblet was once a neighbourhood of fields and low-rise houses. During
the 19th century, factories were set up here, fostering the growth of the area.
It was here, in 1881, that building work commenced on the church of atonement
for the citizens of this expanding city. In 1882, the original Sagrada
FamíliaGothic church project, designed
by Francesc de Paula Villar, was taken
over by the young Antoni Gaudí, who
transformed it into the most fascinating church of all time. An architectural
bible called the Sagrada
Famíliawhich has
become a Barcelona icon. The
building, which is still under construction, has lent its name to the area and
made it world famous. After all, the Sagrada Família is a vibrant neighbourhood
with its own unique personality. The Avinguda
Gaudí, a delightful pedestrianised boulevard, links the
basilica with the Hospital
de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, the most representative civil building from the
modernista period, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner. Both
these outstanding modernista landmarks have been declared UNESCO
World Heritage Sites.
