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Gràcia · 31

la Vila de Gràcia

La Vila de Gràcia was an independent municipality from 1850 to 1897, and the bell tower of Plaça de la Vila, its squares and its markets still carry that memory.[1][2][3]

Begin in Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia and look at the bell tower. During the 1870 Quintes revolt it rang continuously while residents, mostly women, stormed the town hall. Then notice the benches, terraces and doorways of the square: the same space serves as a meeting place, a thoroughfare and the front yard of everyone who lives around it.[3][2]

La Vila de Gràcia, known simply as Gràcia, was an independent municipality between 1850 and 1897, when it was annexed to Barcelona. Catalan Wikipedia calls it one of the most popular and active neighbourhoods of the city.[1][2]

It has many associations of castellers, gegants, music and recreation, and the Festa Major de Gràcia is held every August.[1]

la Vila de Gràcia (neighbourhood 31) highlighted. Other neighbourhoods in Gràcia: Vallcarca i els Penitents, el Coll, la Salut, el Camp d'en Grassot i Gràcia Nova.

Where the name comes from

Etymology: certain[2]

Gràcia comes from the convent of Nostra Senyora de Gràcia, which Carmelite friars built in 1626.[2]

Between Eixample (Diagonal/Passeig de Gràcia hinge), other Gràcia neighbourhoods and hill approaches.

Before the neighbourhood

In 1626 Carmelite friars built the convent of Nostra Senyora de Gràcia, which gave its name to the town that grew around it.[2]

How the streets were made

Plaça del Diamant owes its name to the jeweller Josep Rossell Imbert, who bought the land in 1860 and named streets and squares after precious materials. Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia has had several names, Plaça de l'Orient, de la Vila, de la Constitución and de Rius i Taulet, until it recovered its present name in 2009.[4][3]

Dates that changed it

  1. 1626: Carmelite friars build the convent of Nostra Senyora de Gràcia.
  2. 1850: Gràcia becomes an independent municipality.
  3. 1862–1864: the bell tower of Plaça de la Vila, designed by Antoni Rovira i Trias, is built.
  4. 1870: Quintes revolt: residents, mostly women, storm the town hall and burn the conscription records.
  5. 1888–1893: the Mercat de la Llibertat is built.
  6. 1897: Gràcia is annexed to Barcelona.
  7. 1992–2001: works uncover shelter 232 under Plaça del Diamant, rehabilitated from April 2001.
  8. 2009: Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia recovers its name and the Mercat de la Llibertat is renovated.
  9. 2018: the Mercat de l'Abaceria closes for works and its stalls move to a provisional market on Passeig de Sant Joan.

People and collective life

Antoni Rovira i Trias

He designed the bell tower of Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia, an octagonal tower with a four-faced clock and a bell known as la Marieta.[3][2]

Josep Rossell Imbert

A jeweller who bought the land of Plaça del Diamant in 1860 and named its streets and squares after precious materials.[4]

Institutions

Mercat de la Llibertat

A municipal market whose plans were signed by the municipal architect Miquel Pascual i Tintorer and is also attributed to Francesc Berenguer i Mestres, with a metal frame and three naves; it was built between 1888 and 1893 and renovated in 2009.[5]

Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia

A casteller group that performs in Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia during the Festa Major.[1]

Struggles that left a mark

The Quintes revolt of 1870

Demand: Residents, mostly women, stormed Gràcia's town hall and burned the military conscription records while the tower bell rang the alarm.[3][2]

What can still be seen

Campanar de la plaça de la Vila de Gràcia

An octagonal tower about 33 metres high, built between 1862 and 1864 and designed by Antoni Rovira i Trias, a symbol of the independent municipality.[3][2]

Refugi 232 de la plaça del Diamant

A Civil War air-raid shelter found in 1992 twelve metres down, with room for about 200 people; it was rehabilitated from April 2001 and can be visited.[4]

The neighbourhood today

La Vila de Gràcia had 51,477 residents in 2026, a density of 389.7 people per hectare, mean census-section income of €28,444 in 2023, 132.1 hectares, and 28.7% of residents with non-Spanish nationality.

Non-Spanish nationality (2026): 28.7%

What is changing

The Mercat de l'Abaceria returns to its building on Travessera de Gràcia

The market has been closed for works since 2018 and trades from a provisional market on Passeig de Sant Joan. It was due to reopen in summer 2026; at the request of the stallholders, who want to return together, reopening was put back to September or October 2026. The new market will have 51 stalls and a supermarket. As of 3 October 2026 the market's website announces no reopening date and the stalls are still in the temporary market.[6][7][8][9]

Read it on foot

Start: Fontana (L3) · End: Mercat de la Llibertat

Walking (excluding stop time): 14 min · 1080 m · Estimated visit (with stops): 44 min

The geometry follows the pedestrian network between the three marked points, but it has not been verified as step-free. The approach from public transport is not included in the stated distance.

la Vila de Gràcia (neighbourhood 31) highlighted. Other neighbourhoods in Gràcia: Vallcarca i els Penitents, el Coll, la Salut, el Camp d'en Grassot i Gràcia Nova.

1
Plaça del Diamant
Plaça del Diamant
Look in the square for la Colometa, the bronze sculpture of the heroine of Mercè Rodoreda's novel with her pigeons.[4]
The jeweller Josep Rossell Imbert bought the land here in 1860. In 1992 works uncovered Civil War shelter 232 under the square, for about 200 people.[4]
Coordinates
41.40406, 2.15585 · OpenStreetMap
2
Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia
Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia
600 m · 8 min
Look at the octagonal bell tower with its four-faced clock and the bell known as la Marieta.[3][2]
In 1870 the bell rang the alarm continuously during the Quintes revolt. The square recovered its present name in 2009.[3][2]
Coordinates
41.40009, 2.15742 · OpenStreetMap
3
Mercat de la Llibertat
Mercat de la Llibertat, Plaça de la Llibertat 27
480 m · 6 min
Look up at the roof of three naves on a metal frame, with the central nave taller than the side ones.[5]
The plans were signed by Miquel Pascual i Tintorer and are also attributed to Francesc Berenguer i Mestres; the market was built between 1888 and 1893 and renovated in 2009.[5]
Coordinates
41.39986, 2.15349 · OpenStreetMap

Sources for this page

Dates, figures and historical claims are linked to the records used for this page.

  1. [1] Viquipèdia (2026). Vila de Gràcia. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
  2. [2] Wikipedia (2026). Gràcia. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
  3. [3] Viquipèdia (2026). Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
  4. [4] Viquipèdia (2026). Plaça del Diamant. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
  5. [5] Viquipèdia (2026). Mercat de la Llibertat. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
  6. [6] Betevé (2025-03-25). L'obertura del Mercat de l'Abaceria s'ajorna fins passat l'estiu a petició dels paradistes. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
  7. [7] Ara (2025). Final stretch for Barcelona's new Abaceria market: here's the schedule. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
  8. [8] Ara (2023-10-23). Les obres del nou Mercat de l'Abaceria comencen cinc anys després del trasllat provisional. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
  9. [9] Mercat de l'Abaceria Central (2026). Mercat Abaceria Central. Accessed: 2026-10-03.
  10. [10] Ajuntament de Barcelona — Open Data BCN (2026-01-01). Padró municipal d'habitants (pad_mdbas) — població per barri. Accessed: 2026-07-17.
  11. [11] Ajuntament de Barcelona — Open Data BCN (2021). Densitat de població per barri. Accessed: 2026-07-17.
  12. [12] Ajuntament de Barcelona — Open Data BCN (2023). Renda disponible de les llars per persona. Seccions censals. Accessed: 2026-07-17.

Last reviewed: 3 October 2026 · 12 sources consulted

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